AWARDS // South Africa & USA

SLOW FASHIONh

https://www.docsville.com/videos/slow-fashion-56-min-docsville-copy-eme

ion

56m

Slow Fashion is a documentary that explores cultural appropriation of indigenous designs in Mexico by an international fashion designer and the way weavers and block printers in Laos and India are working with new sustainable designers, whose principals and practices are based on equality, not hierarchy. A major fashion designer from Paris has been appropriating traditional designs in the community of Tlahuitoltepec in the highlands of Oaxaca, Mexico. In response to this and other instances of global appropriation, Mexico's Ministry of Culture has asked global fashion brands for “a public explanation on what basis it could privatize collective property". Can credit and compensation be given to indigenous communities where the designs come from? Given the vast economic disparity between local communities of origin and the global companies, who are appropriating their designs; it becomes a matter of not only collective property rights, but also human and cultural rights. In Laos, craftmanship and the value of culture is examined by Nanci Takayama, professor/sustainable fashion activist. Working with communities of Laotian weavers, she raises the subject of empowerment of women artisans and weavers and explores alternative socially conscious ways of working with them in collaboration. She focuses on how designers should respect culture and not just take the artisans’ heritage, their designs, but also to give something back in return. In Jaipur, India; Mireia Lopez, a New York City progressive eco-designer, demonstrates how to respect artisans by working in a just and fair manner. Hierarchies disappear and true collaboration occurs, as a people-over-profit philosophy is practiced. Mirea, demonstrates how a fashion designer can practice fairness and collaboration. Metamorphosis is possible and real solutions occur as sustainable practices are chosen. Ultimately, fashion designers must be inclusive and rooted in local needs, resources, and culture. It must include women and give voice to communities, who have been long marginalized by colonial models.

Welcome to Fall 2022!

I want to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning HMS faculty.  Most of us will be back on campus this semester, and I know we’re all eager to get to know our students and new colleagues.  This email provides information for both new and returning faculty and staff, but it may be a little long.  It includes sections on communication, meetings, COVID-19 protocols, student support and other useful items.  I am indebted to Emily Beall for doing the heavy lifting to put all this together, and we both want to thank Joshua Tan for helping to fill in many of the gaps about facilities and technical help.

If you need to contact me at any time, email may be the best first step—gmarchet@pratt.edu.  I’m still sharing Emily’s office, so you will be able to find me (and/or Emily) in Dekalb 304.  If you’d like to know more about me, feel free to read this Pratt news item:  https://www.pratt.edu/news/gina-marchetti-named-chair-of-humanities-and-media-studies/

Information and resources to support teaching and learning are below; please read carefully and save this email for easy reference!  (All information will also be on the HMS@Pratt webpage.)

HMS Intranet

We will continue to make use of the HMS Intranet site for faculty/staff announcements and other information.  So, if this email gets too long for you, please go to

https://sites.google.com/pratt.edu/hms/home

This page provides a slew of valuable information (including forms) to support your teaching, research, and service in HMS.  We will update this page regularly (so please let us know if you see any outdated information). 

This page will also be a first stop for HMS faculty news.  If you have a web page or social media account you’d like to share with the department, please let us know.  We can put it on this page for your colleagues’ information.

Pratt Website

The new Pratt website is more of a work in progress than we all would like. Pratt is working to correct errors and improve the site.  When you have time (no immediate hurry in most cases), please review the HMS landing page and information on your profile and your courses.  If you see errors, please send this information to our Assistant to the Chair, Joshua Tan, to keep a running list of these problems. 

HMS Video Introduction for New Students

A short introduction to HMS from the chair (me) can be found under “Talks” on OneKey-- https://talks.pratt.edu/media/t/1_gx5d29ck/269360392

This is designed to let new students know about the department and the role Humanities Core plays in their Pratt education.  Feel free to let your students know about it.  I envision HMS short videos populating this section of “Talks.”  If you are so inclined, feel free to produce short videos, illustrated slideshows, personal introductions, or other materials to add to this list.

Department Meetings

Our first HMS meeting will be on Thursday, October 6, 12:30-1:50pm.  Please let us know if you have any items you would like to see placed on the agenda for this meeting. We plan to keep these regular meetings on Zoom, and we will send the link to you closer to the date.  I plan to meet with coordinators and smaller groups of faculty members after we’ve settled into the semester routine, so please keep that in mind, too.

Return to In-Person Classes!

This semester, nearly all Humanities and Media Studies courses are returning to entirely in-person.  Please plan to hold all of your class meetings in-person; students and faculty need to be masked in the classroom.  Of course, we’ll all need to remain flexible, so if you need to shift an individual class meeting to online because you had a COVID exposure, for example, please do so. 

There will inevitably be issues to work out as we return to in-person teaching for the first time in nearly three years…so please do communicate any safety, facilities, or other issues to the HMS Office, and please also be patient as we work to get things back into ship-shape.

COVID-19 Classroom, Studio, and Field Trip Guidance

Please take some time to review the current Classroom, Studio, and Field Trip Guidance here, on the “Back to Pratt” website:  https://www.pratt.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-guidelines-and-policies/

Note that “students and faculty need to be masked in the classroom unless eating or drinking.”  Masks are available in the HMS Office, Dekalb 321.

Please also continue to read the weekly “Back to Pratt” newsletter for updates.

Student Support

If a student in your class is having a difficult time with their academic work or with their emotional well-being, support is available for your student.  Please use “Starfish” to “raise a flag” – not the best language, perhaps, but what’s important to know is that this will connect them with a person who can provide support.   That might be their advisor, the Learning/Access Center, their HEOP counselor, Counseling, etc. as appropriate.  These “flags” do not go on students’ transcripts. 

In particular, it’s often better to flag when a student has missing or late work sooner rather than later; services such as time management coaching and tutoring are available to all students. 

You can find “Starfish” on your one.Pratt.edu homepage, or at the very bottom of the pratt.edu site.  You can also email starfish@pratt.edu if you prefer.

Students with Accommodations

You may receive a “Disability Certification Letter” from the Learning/Access Center notifying you that a student in your course is eligible for accommodations.  Please read those letters carefully, and work with your student as needed.  Keep in mind that students’ disabilities are private, and so the letters do not disclose those disabilities nor should you ask a student to do so.  If you have questions about accommodations and how to meet them, please contact the student’s L/AC advisor (listed on the letter), phone the L/AC (also listed on the letter), visit the Faculty FAQ page, and/or speak with your program coordinator or the Assistant Chairperson.  In short, if you are working to understand an accommodation and want support, please do ask.

The Center for Teaching and Learning

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides a wide range of resources and events to faculty, including support on using Canvas for your courses.  https://prattctl.com/

Here’s a sampling of fall semester sessions:

Session 1: Overview, Syllabus, and Modules: Aug 25 12:30-1:30pm

Session 2: Discussions and Assignments:  Aug 26, 2:00-3:00 pm.

Session 3 :Gradebook and Attendance: Aug 29, 12:00-1:00 pm.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83818711022?pwd=NXZxcWZQekNyOUl0djBLNThuVW92UT09

Diversity/Equity/Inclusion

Pratt has a strong commitment to DEI, and HMS shares that responsibility.  Visit https://www.pratt.edu/about/diversity-equity-inclusion/ for updates on news and events.  Be certain to tell us about any thoughts you have on inclusive pedagogy and other ways you have of making your courses/research/scholarship inclusive.  I want to share your accomplishments with the rest of the department, so think of the best ways we can accomplish this (e.g., blog posts, workshops, or other means).

Classroom Tech

If you need help with the technology in your classroom while you’re teaching, please call or email the Service Desk:  718.636.3765 / services@pratt.edu

They may be able to help you remotely, or send a technician over.  This Fall, their desk is staffed until 6pm.  If you notice something not working that isn’t urgent, please do email them so they can fix it prior to your next class.

Tents Available for Class Meetings

The tents in the Rose Garden are available for class meetings through November 17th.  If you wish to reserve a tent for a particular class meeting or set of meetings, please email Assistant to the Chair Joshua Tan (jtan@pratt.edu). 

Course Syllabi

Please submit your course syllabi to Joshua Tan (jtan@pratt.edu) by September 12th.  You can find all current syllabus statements, including the Academic Integrity Policy, the Attendance Policy, the Students with Disabilities and Accessibility statement, and the Bias, Discrimination, and Sexual Misconduct statement on the Provost’s Office Course Syllabus Template.

Guests and Special Events

Please keep us posted on any events you’d like us to publicize for you.  These include your own talks, seminars, and public appearances as well as any guest lectures of interest beyond your classroom.  Be certain, too, to let us know about any publications, conference presentations, special honors or awards you would like us to celebrate.

Thanks for your patience reading through this at the start of the semester.  I am looking forward to hearing more about your courses and other activities as the academic year unfolds.

Wishing you the very best,

Gina

HMS Chair