Some of the greatest writers, poets, artists, architects, and musicians have called New York City home. From Greenwich Village to Harlem, and from the glitzy Jazz Age to the gritty 1980s, artists across neighborhoods and decades have found inspiration in New York’s chaotic energy. In this interdisciplinary course, study the history of New York-based creatives: read works by Dorothy Parker, E. B. White, Truman Capote, Langston Hughes, and Joan Didion; view the artwork of Andy Warhol and his factory, Diane Arbus, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Chuck Close; visit famous neighborhoods and explore architecture; and listen to the music of Leonard Bernstein, Patti Smith, and Lou Reed. We will use the City as our classroom, tracing New York’s influence of on its artists, and the artists’ influence on the fabric and character of the City. Then, using these artists as inspiration, you will write a short story or personal essay, analyze a song or poem, or give a presentation on an iconic piece of NYC art or architecture.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) : 0

You'll walk away with

• An understanding of how the history of New York influenced its artists and how artists influenced the fabric and character of the City
• Basic exposure to the works of some of the greatest American writers and artists, as well as to famous neighborhoods and architecture

Ideal for

• High school students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11
• High school students interested in a career in the arts