Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Participants will learn basic skill needed to continue working with horses and gain an insight to contemporary equestrian culture. While learning practical skill, participants will develop an understanding of the complex field of posthumanism and learn to recognize how humancentric modes of design affect non-humans. The course will provide tools for reading build environments using observational techniques which evoke sentiments of attachment and solidarity. This can aid in the development of designs and technologies which are depended on collaborations with non-human life.
Credits: 3
Schedule: 23.04.2021 - 28.05.2021
Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Tim Smith
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Tim Smith, Eero Yli-Vakkuri
Contact information for the course (valid 31.03.2021-21.12.2112):Eero Yli-Vakkuri / +358505729743 / eero ät storijapan.net
CEFR level (applies in this implementation):
Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):
Teaching language: English
Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
The course merges manual labor with critical thinking and introduces posthumanism as a design praxis. Posthumanism as design praxis is depended on face-to-face collaboration and dialogue with nonhuman critters. Participants will engage in chores which are necessary for maintaining the wellbeing of horses, who live (and work) at the Tapiolan ratsastuskoulu stables. After gaining insight to the animals’ behavior and needs, participant will learn the basics of horse grooming and riding. While learning how horses are cared for, participants will begin developing critical observational techniques for reading build environments (“observation walks”). The technique stems from the traditions of contact improvisation and aims to keep the wellbeing of non-human creatures in consideration. All activities involve group work. The work with horses is counter-balanced by lectures which offer insight to posthumanism as a field of critical thinking and the historical role horses have had in the development of European cities. The lectures will focus on infrastructure which has been made with (and sometimes for) horses. Weekly reading and writing are expected. Participants will maintain a collective online study journal, through which the group can share links and observations. Participants will prepare presentations for the group which express how they have been affected by their engagement with horses (presentations can be prepared in groups). The presentations will be documented to the study journal, which will be edited into a zine and shared publicly.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Participation in stable chores, learning horse handling, taking part in observation technique exercises and lectures is assumed. Participation in group discussions and writing to the collective study journal is expected. Participants will prepare presentation which express how they have been affected by being introduced to horses. Presentations will be made for the group at the stables (presentations can also be prepared and executed in small groups). Presentations should be documented into the study journal. All of the text in the study journal will edited and published as a simple zine.
85% Participation in Stable Chores, Observation Exercises, Lectures
15% Involvement in Study journal writing and Zine editing
Workload
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
The course consists of 24 hours of contact teaching and voluntary independent work (study journal / zine editing). Attendance to activities at the horse stables is compulsory. Arrive on time, horses don't wait.
DETAILS
Study Material
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
We will be working mostly outdoors and face dusty/muddy conditions. A detailed gear and wardrobe recommendation list will be provided before the course starts. It is recommended to wear work clothes and gloves and to prepare for the possibility of rain (Rubber-boots aka Wellingtons). On the days we will learn horseback riding, participants are advised to wear tight jeans (cotton or other natural textile) & shoes which have pointy toe caps and slightly elevated heels. For daily communications (regarding weather conditions, unexpected changes etc.) participants will be asked to install “Wire app” personal messengers (https://app.wire.com/ ). We will use a web-based collaborative word processor (similar to Google docs), with our personal mobile devices to write the collective study journal.
We will read text weekly. Texts discuss human perception of living habitats (Ingold), how architecture inscribes behavior (Schweder) and how ideological goals are enforced through design (Weizman). Texts will also introduce posthumanism as a cultural movement (Haraway) and give examples of how it can be used in critical praxis (Despret). The texts we will read are short and each weekly reading task is balanced by videos-lectures/podcasts which discuss the same topic. Participants can use the collective study journal for sharing links to inspiring materials.
List of proposed text:
Despret, Vinciane. 2016. What Would Animals Say If We Asked the Right Questions?
Haraway, Donna. 2016. Staying with the Trouble
Ingold, Tim. 2011. The Perception of the Environment. Essays on Livelihood
Korhonen, Pauliina. 2014. Ratsastusreitit kaupunkialueella – Suunnitteluesimerkkinä Länsi-Vantaan ratsastusreitit
Schweder, Alex. 2011. Performance Architecture
Weizman, Eyal. 2015. The Roundabout RevolutionsApplies in this implementation:
NOTE: I think we can handle communications without installing "Wire app personal messenger". Emails for details and the shared online document for ideas. Also... We will use Google Docs because it handles photos better then etherpad. There is no need a google-account and are free to edit it anonymously.
Prerequisites
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
No prerequisites
Horses and Built Environment course welcomes students who do not have prior experiences with horses. Participants who fears horses are warmly accepted. The course aims to develop understanding on how the presence of horses changes our behavior.
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
10 Reduced Inequality
15 Life on Land
17 Partnerships for the Goals
- Teacher: Smith Tim
- Teacher: Yli-Vakkuri Eero