Spring 2026
Time Machines: Clocks in History of Technology and Contemporary Art
Dates: January 29, 2026 - May 21, 2026Day/Time: Thursday 10:10 AM - 1:10 PM EDT
Level: 400-Level
Certificate: Technology and Society*
Instructor: Natalia Fedorova, Smolny Beyond Borders
As time is the only resource we have, the course invites to look at it from historical, philosophical, and artistic perspectives. As first universal machines, clocks served to coordinate states and global systems. We'll explore ancient Chinese, Indian, and Arabic clocks, study famous clockmakers like Jaques Droz, and examine artwork based on time such as Christian Marclay's "The Clock," a 24-hour film of cuts from early 20th century cinema. We'll also create a literary clock together.
Credits: 4 US / 8 ECTS