Somewhere along their academic endeavor, the idea of inclusion and belonging in higher education becomes erased for many marginalized students. What happens in these instances? Why is this a common experience? The answer may be because of the history and structure of the university itself. Inspired by the works of la paperson, Janelle Monae and Robin D.G Kelley, this course will help us to unveil the history and the impact of the American universitie's connection to settler colonialism.

 
The Third University is an extension of the Third Cinema which came about in the 1960's as a cinematic movement and a dramatic alternative to First Cinema, which was produced in Hollywood, for the purpose of entertaining its audiences; and from Second Cinema that increased the author's liberty of expression. Fundamentally different, Third Cinema films sought to inspire revolution against class, racial and gender inequalities.

In this 8-week OlioCourse, we will see how the sentiment of the Third Cinema has grown into a movement towards decolonizing the modern university.

Together, we'll examine the settler colonial history of the university and the different ways we can create decolonial projects applying this blueprint to almost any institution’s structure.  We'll be launching our conversations using the work of different thinkers and projects such as  La paperson’s "A Third University is Possible", Janelle Monae's critically acclaimed album "Dirty Computer" and Robin D. G. Kelley’s "Black Study, Black Struggle".

 
 La paperson’s A Third University is Possible creates a scaffolding in which we will look at different types of universities. Janelle Monae’s, Dirty Computer and emotion picture of the same title is based on the artist wanting to tell her story “before it was erased.” In the current sociopolitical climate, Janelle Monae was inspired to create an album for Black women, LGBTQIA, immigrants, people with disabilities and other marginalized communities. She not only wanted to represent for these communities but as an artist, felt it was her responsibility to do so. Robin D. G. Kelley’s work looks at what it means to be “in but not of” the university and how that perspective creates change. All three works lead to how we can build decolonial projects in and outside the universities.

 
This OlioCourse will expose the veneer of the university and colonial machine that it is. It will show how some were able “take a byte” and reconfigure the university into decolonial projects. Moreover, our 8 sessions will help us to understand why being a dirty computer is not such a bad thing and in fact, could be the blueprint for changing a system. 


Week I & II: The Source & Structure

Before we get to the university, we have to start on the land that it is built upon. In this session, we will explore how settler colonial origins and technologies are employed to maintain the universities structure.

 

Week III & IV: Resistance, Reactions and Responses

What does it look like when students and faculty of the universities decide to resist curriculum and spaces of oppression? In these sessions, we will look at what happens when marginalized students and allies begin to refuse the university.

 

Week V & VI: Scyborgs in the System

Scyborgs are created within the university. These scyborgs can rewire the machinery of the institution for their own intention. These sessions will examine how scyborgs of all kinds have “screwed” the institutions that they are affiliated with. We will time travel with the android, Cindi Mayweather and scyborg, Janelle Monae to look at the resistance in and out of the college campus and the wider institution of the university.

 

Week VII & Week VIII: Movies, Music and the Media

For these sessions we will step out of the university and see how scyborgs in the media industry apply the previous lessons into all kinds of works.

 
We will meet on Tuesday evenings beginning on February 23rd and concluding on April 13th.