What do humanities have to do with sustainability? The answer is that creative thinking and cultural production can be strategic tools to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
This course analyzes how the humanities are a key resource for human societies to fight against war, climate change, systemic racism, or social exclusion. This course will dive into the global challenges established by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through a humanistic approach. From philosophical theories that advocate for animal rights to art installations contributing to energetic transition, this course aims to help students develop critical and creative thinking skills in order to face the future from a humanistic perspective. Ultimately students in this course will learn from philosophers, artists, activists, and writers to engage actively within their fields to create a better future.
This course will start with an introduction to the challenges global contemporary societies are facing today through canonical critical theory texts to continue with thematic sessions specifically devoted to the Sustainable Development Goals where students will learn from humanistic, artistic, and cultural production examples around the globe related to topics such as climate action, gender equality, sustainable infraestructures, or food access.
Daniel Valtueña
Prof. Daniel Valtueña received his PhD in Cultural Studies from The Graduate Center | City University of New York. His research focuses on contemporary performing arts, queer theories, critical theory, and environmental humanities. During his graduate studies he served as an Andrew W. Mellon Humanities Public Fellow to reimagine the role of humanities in the higher-education system. He received the Alumni UCM Award Researcher in Arts & Humanities in 2022. He has taught at a college-level at institutions such as Hunter College and Baruch College. He has extensive experience in the field of arts management. He served as a Program Manager at the Queens Council on the Arts between 2020 and 2022 and currently works as an arts and culture consultant for a variety of organizations.
