The Festival of New

When The New School for Social Research opened its doors 100 years ago, it offered courses in the social sciences and public affairs—and a new vision of higher education. It was not a university; it did not offer degrees. The founders thought that people would come to the school for “no other purpose than to learn.” A century later, The New School has changed in almost every way. Design, the arts, a spirit of activism, and degree programs dominate. But the university continues to strive to offer disciplinary experimentation, political involvement, and a global lens that provides a critical perspective on higher education. In what ways have these values been realized (or not), and how? This course constructs answers to these questions by assembling a history of the university from scrapbooks of newspaper articles, memoirs, artwork, and interviews. The basis of the course is the academic and artistic works of The New School’s faculty and students since its establishment. Participants join in university centenary activities throughout the semester.