SM2706 Critical Theory & Socially Engaged Practices

Sep-Dec 2017 / Dr. Cdric Maridet

Name: Tseng Chih-I (Elisa)

SID: 54479279

Weekly Reflection

Week/Lecture My Response and Reflection

What is critical thinking and socially engaged practice?
The first lecture opens with free answer question asking us what we
think about critical thinking. In my opinion, I think critical thinking is what
you want to believe and the ability to judge clearly to think what to do. To be
able to think critically, it must relate to different ideas, and evaluate into
different arguments. However, in this course, we are connecting critical
01
thinking to socially engaged practice, which seek to critical reflection on the
social practices, for example, anything related to the environment around
you or the society. I think it is really interesting that it can relate to the
participation of social action. For example the artwork Pad Thai (1990) at
the Paula Allen Gallery in New York involves social engagement by inviting
viewers to inhabit and active the artwork.
What is Critical Theory?
Critical theory could say to the extent that seeks to human emancipation
from slavery, the acts as liberating influence, and the works to create a world
that satisfies the needs and powers of human beings. Critical theory has
emerged in connection with many social movements that varied with the
02
domination of human beings in modern societies. The question that raised in
(No Class)
class, Do you think that inequality exists even in democracies? I have
thought a lot about this. At first, I didnt think that much and wouldnt
expect that there is so much inequality I would be aware of in the world. For
example those people wont have a choice even they have a chance to vote.
When people are born in certain family, and the income inequality.
 Participation: forum theatre
Todays class focused on the idea of theater should be encouraged with
the participation with the audiences. To encourage audiences to think
critically of the situations and character and get more involved to whats
happening on the stage. In the end of the class, we are formed into big
03
groups of 10 people and to discuss a particular situation of oppression. Our
group raised a situation of the oppression of language barriers for
internationals while talking to a taxi driver. I think this exercise is interesting
because it raises a question for us to think and we need to identify our own
problems within the situations.

04

05
06

07

08
09

10