Course Description: A house or a home? Often used as synonyms in daily conversations, the concept of house and home can mean very distinct things for different people. In this course, we will define “house” to be a physical structure and “home” to represent the abstract ideas contributed to the place that one sleeps at night — if that is their definition. We will explore the concepts of space, identity, materialism, belonging, and separation through the ‘house’ versus ‘home’ dichotomy. To further deepen the understanding of house vs. home, we will look at it through the eyes of people that have two houses: children of separated parents.
The final project will be an exhibition of photographs and supporting multimedia pieces.
Week 1: What is your “home”?
Rykwert, Joseph. “House and Home.” Social Research 58.1 (Spring 1991): 51-62. Web. 9 Sept. 2016.
Rykwert explores the idea of home through the linguistic vocabulary available within languages. He relays that “home” does not have to be a building, but can be any type of shelter. He advises architects and those involved with creating living spaces that they are not in the business of “houses,” but of “homes.”
Moore, Jeanne. “Placing Home in Context” Journal of Environmental Psychology 20 (2000): 207-217
Moore explores the idea of home throughout environmental literature and highlights gaps in discussion. It explores how home is viewed in psychology within social, cultural, and political frameworks.
Week 2: Why is “home” important?
Marcus, Clare C. “Environmental Memories.” Place Attachment 12 (1992): 87-97
Our upbringing is affected by the environment that we live in. Environmental Psychology says that environment has more to do with a child’s memory and identity creation than their social circumstances. Here Marcus, believes that the malleability of a child’s environment influences their ability to create valuable memories and identity.
Week 3: Stories of Separated/Divorced Families
Koenig, Ronnie. “Divorced Parents, Living Close for the Children’s Sake” New York Times. January 15, 2016. Web.9 Sept. 2016. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/17/realestate/divorced-parents-living-close-for-the-childrens-sake.html?_r=0
New York City provides an interesting opportunity for families that decide how they want to handle working with their kids after separating. In this article, it follows parents that moved only floors away from each other to allow their children to not have to move far to see each parent.
Week 4: Research and Documentation
Project Review: Home
Photographs will be the main focus of the final project in order to visualize the concept of home. First, we will look at past works and theories about photography.
Diane Arbus: Photography
Street photography focuses a great deal on candid shots and looking at people in their environment. This is the ideal focus for work in this class.
MoMA: Exhibition Experience
What does it take to put together an art show? What mediums and flow helps or hurts the ability for people to look at art?
