Agency Artwork

Climates of Resistance’s third unit uses critical power theories to expand understandings of who is and should be involved in environmental planning and ecological conditions. After discussing a number of non-traditional actors in class and considering how those underrepresented players might affect (and/or be affected by) environmental (in)justice, the Unit 3 assignment invites students to showcase at least one of them through representational art.

Students may highlight any marginalised or underrepresented actor they wish, using any creative medium (e..g, painting, sculpture, poetry, animation, photography, etc.); however, the visual identity of the piece, and the accompanying artist statement, must accentuate the power and agency held by the actor - rather than emphasising victimhood.

The nature of this assignment pays tribute to a rich history of storytelling, singing, painting, and handicrafting being used for knowledge-sharing and activism around the world. While students are in no way assessed based on artistic talent or technique, they are expected to meaningfully engage with the assignments creative identity through their approach.


This assignment will support students in achieving Learning Objective 4: Interpret expressions of non-traditional agency produced by underrepresented parties in environmental action and policy.

Assignment Details: the Agency Artwork should summarise student learning on Radical Recognition by:

Students are expected to spend significant time creating an artistic output that showcases their chosen actor and that actor’s agency. There is no particular format requirement for the creative submission, though students are encouraged to speak with the professor well in advance to discuss their plans.

In addition to the work of art, students are required to write an accompanying Artists Statement. The statement should be ~250-400 words describing the creative process and explaining theories of power inspiring the piece.

Rubric: grades for this “Agency Artwork” assignment will be determined according to the five requirements below.

Recognise an actor that is underrepresented in mainstream environmental decision-making (5 points)

Tips for meeting the criteria:

You are, of course, also free to examine something entirely different.

Interpret how the actor displays and exerts agency (5 points)

Tips for meeting the criteria:

Amplify marginalised actors’ “voices” (5 points)

Tips for meeting the criteria:

Respond to how art has been teaching you in this class with a creative work of your own (5 points)

Tips for meeting the criteria:

Share information about environmental racism in an accessible way for diverse audiences (5 points)

Tips for meeting the criteria: