We chart a course across uneven terrains and disparate territories guided by the basic question of chaos theory (Prigogine and Stengers): how can we account for the world as deterministic and predictable (think Newtonian physics, 1990s New Economy computationalism, algorithmic behaviorist psychology, the inevitable heat death of the universe) given our experience suggesting it is otherwise radically open and indeterminate (accidents, relationality and group social dynamics, evolutionary biology’s sensitivity to rare events in sexual selection, the fallibility of weather prediction, and unforeseeable “Black Swan” events such as 9/11, Covid, gender revelation, or falling in love)?

We will follow these sources from their own disciplinary conclusions in philosophy, biology, poetics, Art is not about communicating anything at all— it is an equipment for cracking open the protective shell of “what we all know” and jettisoning into the indeterminate, a turbulent communion with the chaosmos (chaos-cosmos) that cuts across mental, social, and environmental ecologies. The artist returns having woven together variations of sensation that scramble the very possibilities of what we believed our bodies could do.

The artist creates the conditions for generating new modes of embodied moving, thinking, feeling, acting; art practice experiments in sensuous seduction, a surfing and surfacing flows of desire. They recode chaos into metastable existential territories, temporarily autonomous ways of life.

Art is a fucking scream, a fucking-screaming-throwing up rhythms of perception composing chaos, (trans)mutating the mundane, and engendering socio-genetic anomaly.

• develop a working understanding of the course's main areas of chaos theory, cybernetics, and process philosophy
• create and develop practices informed by chaotic, complex, or non-linear systems
• endeavor to work inter- or transdisciplinarily through course concepts
• cultivate an understanding of the distinct goals of artistic practice, philosophical inquiry, and scientific knowledge creation

To pass this class, you will need to engage deeply with texts outside of class, in discussion, and in your artistic practice. Your classroom participation and the assignments for this class will be opportunities for you to demonstrate this.

These texts are layered and extremely challenging. Many spend years of decades with them; they become old friends. Like friendship, even after decades of intimate exchange, there is no goal, completion criteria, or mastery in reading these texts. Certain conceptual moves and themes become more important and salient and others will fade away.

We have a mere fifteen weeks to spend with these texts; your patience is required. In some moments, you may expect to be in a state of exalted or frenzied confusion, like being adrift in a dark carnival intoxicated by some shimmering, ephemeral cohesion. In others you will feel and think a concept with clarity, having arrived onto a plane of abstraction whereby what you had grasped at before grasps you back. Sometimes you just be fucking confused. In those moments, show up for yourself, show up for the text. As Brian Massumi writes in the translator's introduction to A Thousand Plateaus, you can read it like jazz, play the concepts like a record.

I have designed these assignments both to give you a taste of deep engagement with the art of concept creation and to create onramps for your engaging with those concepts through experimental artistic practice. Here is the breakdown; there is more information on the assignments in the "assignment" tab of the course website.

• 40% concept map
• 20% practice luring theory presentation
• 40% chaosmotic experimentations

In this class, you are responsible to find personal and artistic source of inspiration and excitement that animate your engagement with these texts. You will find that sharing that excitement in class will reward and encourage your classmates; you will get the most out of what you share if it is crafted to invite engagement from your peers, not mere approval from your instructor.

I'm talking about an experience of collective enjoyment. To that end, participation in the classroom looks different for different people. Some work through understanding in classroom dialogue. Others think and feel actively without speaking. Some draw. Find a way to share this with others, and, challenge yourself to process these ideas differently than you usually do. The seminar is a laboratory; try something out.

SAIC Attendance and Participation Policy

Students are expected to attend all classes regularly and arrive on time. Full participation is required in all aspects of a course—including in-person sessions, synchronous online classes, and independent study.

Instructors may permit students up to two absences per semester—inclusive of absences due to illness and/or family/personal emergencies. If a student registers late during the add/drop period, they are responsible for catching up on all missed content and assignments; instructors may count those missed classes as absences.

Instructors have the discretion to define expectations around student tardiness, including policies related to late arrivals, mid-class breaks, and early departures. These expectations should be clearly outlined in the course syllabus and communicated to students during the first class to ensure transparency and consistency.

Instructors grant credit only to students who meet the standards and expectations of the course.

Students who are ill and unable to attend class should notify their instructor(s) by email or leave a message with the department office on the day they are absent. For extended absences due to illness, the student should contact Health Services, who will notify instructors. For other extenuating circumstances, students should reach out to the Academic Advising office. Please note that the written notification does not excuse a student from classes.

Federal Financial Aid Attendance Requirement: Recipients of federal aid must have begun attendance in classes for which their eligibility is based upon at the time of disbursement and, in the case of Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS), be enrolled at least half-time. Religious Holiday Observance: SAIC recognizes the diverse religious and cultural practices of our community. Students are expected to notify their instructors early in the semester to discuss reasonable accommodations for holidays they observe.

Class Progress Reports (CPRs)

Class Progress Reports (CPRs) are used to communicate between faculty, students, and academic advisors to give feedback on class performance. You may receive a CPR if you have missed class, or missed an assignment, critique, etc. These communications are intended to help you understand what you need to do to stay on track or get back on track and succeed in this class.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

SAIC is fully committed to complying with all laws ensuring equal opportunities for students with disabilities. Students with known or suspected disabilities are encouraged to contact the Disability and Learning Resource Center (DLRC) to schedule a virtual appointment. During this appointment, DLRC staff will review the student’s documentation and work collaboratively to determine reasonable accommodations.

Once accommodations are approved, the DLRC will email a letter outlining the accommodations to both the student and their instructors. Students should be aware that not all approved accommodations will be applicable to every course. It is recommended that students speak with each instructor to discuss how their accommodations may be applied in the context of each class before they are implemented. To ensure timely support, students should contact the DLRC as early in the semester as possible.The DLRC can be reached via phone at 312.499.4278 or email at dlrc@saic.edu.

Student Responsibility in the use of Accommodations

Students approved for accommodations through the DLRC are responsible for communicating with their instructors regarding the use and application of those accommodations. The implementation of accommodations requires an interactive process between the student and the instructor to determine how accommodations might be applied in the context of each specific course. Because course content, assignments, and learning objectives vary, accommodations must be considered on a course-by-course basis to ensure that they are both appropriate and do not compromise essential learning outcomes, which students are still expected to meet.

Accommodations do not excuse students from the standard requirements of communication and attendance. If a student needs to miss class or modify participation due to an approved accommodation, they must communicate with the instructor in advance whenever possible. In situations where advance notice is not feasible, students must notify the instructor within 24 hours of the missed class or academic activity. Failure on the student’s part to communicate in a timely manner may result in the inability to apply the accommodation for that specific instance.

Writing Center

Tutors are available in person and online to help students achieve their writing goals at any stage of their writing process. All students are welcome, and they can work on essays, artist statements, application materials, presentation texts, theses, proposals, creative writing, or social media posts. The Writing Center tutors are kind, encouraging, and interested!

Writing Center Hours (CST) Monday – Thursday: 9 AM - 7 PM and Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM Though drop-ins are welcome, the best way to guarantee an appointment is to schedule one via Navigate.

• Email: wcente@saic.edu
• Location: 116 S. Michigan Avenue, 10th Floor
• Phone 312-499-4138

Academic Misconduct

From the SAIC Student Handbook, page 12

Academic misconduct includes both plagiarism and cheating, and may consist of: the submission of the work of another as one’s own; unauthorized assistance (as defined by individual instructors and laid out in the course syllabus) on a test or assignment; submission of the same work for more than one class without the knowledge and consent of all instructors; or the failure to properly cite texts or ideas from other sources. Academic misconduct also includes the falsification of academic or student-related records, such as transcripts, evaluations, and letters of recommendation.

Academic misconduct extends to all spaces on campus, including satellite locations and online education.

Academic integrity is expected in all coursework, including online learning. It is assumed that the person receiving the credit for the course is the person completing the work. SAIC has processes in place, including LDAP authentication, to verify student identity.

Support Resources for Students

The Office of Students Affairs is here to help students achieve success in and outside of the classroom and studios. Staff members are available to assist students with a wide-range of issues and concerns, including mental and physical health concerns, food and housing insecurity, conflicts with others, and much more. We are available during typical business hours (9-5pm, Mon-Friday); however, we also have staff available after-hours to address emergency concerns.

In case of an emergency, please contact SAIC Campus Security, 24 hours a day, by visiting any campus security desk or calling 312.899.1230. They can assist you and/or connect you with a staff member who can provide support for you.

Food and Housing Resources

If you have difficulty affording groceries or accessing food every day, and/or do not have a safe and stable place to live, please contact the Office of Student Affairs - (312) 629-6800 / studenthelp@saic.edu during business hours. If you contact them after hours, someone will respond the next business day.

You can also find links and resources at this site, curated by Student Affairs: Student Support Resources and Information

SAIC Food Pantry

Spoonful Food Pantry is available to current SAIC students who are experiencing difficulty accessing food because of a financial emergency or ongoing constraints. Students can request a pre-packaged bag of non-perishable groceries (vegan and gluten free available) by completing the online form.

Once approved, students will receive a pre-packaged bag of non-perishable groceries.

Wellness Center

The SAIC Wellness Center, which includes Counseling Services, Health Services, and the Disability and Learning Resource Center, is also here to support students' mental health, physical health and accessibility needs. You may contact them at:

Counseling Services: counselingservices@saic.edu and 312-499-4271 (press 1 to speak to a counselor after hours) Health Services: healthservices@saic.edu and 312-499-4288 (After hours contact the 24-Hour Nurse Line at 877-924-7758)
Disability and Learning Resource Center: dlrc@saic.edu and 312-499-4278