EXPLORE CRITICAL STUDIES AT PNCA
OUR MA IN CRITICAL STUDIES
THE CRITICAL STUDIES PROGRAM OFFERS AN IMMERSIVE EXPLORATION INTO HOW SCHOLARSHIP CAN CONFRONT AND RESHAPE THE SYSTEMS THAT GOVERN OUR WORLD.
This program not only grounds students in theoretical frameworks but also emphasizes the development of practical skills in research, argumentation, and critical analysis.
With dedicated mentorship, students hone their abilities in critical thinking, research methodologies, and academic writing—skills that are highly valued across various professional fields. The program exposes students to a wide array of critical perspectives and lenses, encouraging them to engage deeply with complex social issues.
Students gain hands-on experience through presenting research, facilitating public dialogues, and collaborating with diverse organizations. Many also take on teaching assistantships, where they assist in undergraduate courses and further their understanding of pedagogical practices.
Engage with pressing topics such as social justice, media literacy, and the impact of emerging technologies, all while contributing to the ongoing discourse on creating a more equitable future.
CRITICAL LENSES
In the Critical Studies program, students adopt an interdisciplinary approach to examining society, history, culture, and the arts, with a strong focus on power structures, ideologies, and social constructs. Students engage deeply with today’s most pressing issues, including those related to race, gender, class, and sexuality.
A few critical lenses we apply to these issues include:
• Feminism
• Queer Theory
• Critical Race Theory
• Post-Colonialism
• Affect Theory
• Disability Studies
• Cultural Studies
• Environmental Criticism
These diverse perspectives equip students with the tools to critically analyze and address the complex challenges of contemporary society.
DUAL DEGREE OPTION
In the dual degree program, students have the opportunity to earn both an MA in Critical Studies and an MFA in either Visual Studies or Print Media within three years. This unique program blends the analytical depth of an MA with the intensive creative practice of an MFA, providing students with a comprehensive perspective on art and culture.
Through this integrated approach, students develop the ability to critically analyze their own work and the work of others, while gaining a profound understanding of the cultural, social, and historical contexts that shape contemporary art. Additionally, the program prepares students to teach at the college level, equipping them with both the scholarly and practical expertise needed to educate and inspire the next generation of artists and thinkers.
CALDERA RESIDENCY
MA THESIS STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A FIVEDAY WRITING RESIDENCY AT THE CALDERA ARTS CENTER IN SISTERS, OREGON, NESTLED WITHIN A SERENE FOREST SETTING.
This retreat offers an immersive experience where students engage in intensive work sessions and build a strong sense of community as they advance their thesis projects. Surrounded by the natural beauty of towering pines and tranquil lakes, students find inspiration and clarity in their writing. Faculty mentors accompany the group, providing personalized guidance and leading thought-provoking discussions that encourage deep critical inquiry. The residency creates a unique opportunity for students to focus solely on their work in a supportive, close-knit environment.
SYMPOSIUM
The annual Symposium is a multi-day event that unites scholars, artists, and community partners, embodying the program’s commitment to exploring how writing and research connect to the broader world. Each year students delve into a theme that examines the impact of creative work on society, engaging in rich conversations, lectures, workshops, and exhibits.
This event is free and open to the public, fostering meaningful connections between PNCA students and the Portland community. By bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives, the symposium reflects the program’s focus on addressing real-world issues through critical inquiry and creative expression.
Past themes have included:
Trans* Geographies (2024)
Art & Social Consciousness (2023)
DIY: Do-It-Yourself/Do-It-Ourselves (2022)
Speculative Futures (2021)
Forms of Care: Building the Worlds We Need (2020)
The symposium serves as a dynamic platform for collaboration and exchange, emphasizing the vital role of art and scholarship in shaping our shared future.
ABOUT THE THESIS
DURING THEIR FINAL YEAR IN THE CRITICAL STUDIES PROGRAM STUDENTS COMPLETE A WRITTEN THESIS.
Under the guidance of a mentor, students develop a topic that relates to their specific area of academic interest. The project can take the form of a paper, research project, or hybrid option. Students can choose the format that best serves their thesis topic and their individual strengths and goals.
Recent Thesis Projects
…If things go South: a Visual Reckoning with White Melancholia and the South
You Gotta Let Your Body Drive You: The Trope of the Good White Girl in the Dance Film Genre
Apostrophic Studies
Reimagining Homeland: Colonial Dynamics in the Struggle Over Artsakh
A Recipe for Craft: A Study in Culinary Traditions
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
EILEEN ISAGON SKYERS
Eileen Isagon Skyers has remained active in the world of art and culture since graduating from the Critical Studies program. She has secured roles producing online exhibitions at non-profit and contemporary arts institutions including David Zwirner, Rhizome, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. She was the cofounder and CCO of the cultural fund Gemma and has exhibited her own work in the US, UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Mexico. Skyers has also given a TED Talk on AI art.
MADELINE LANE-MCKINLEY
Madeline Lane-McKinley is a writer, teacher, and editor. She is the author of Comedy Against Work: Utopian Longing in Dystopian Times (Common Notions, 2022) and Dear Z, (Commune Editions, 2019), as well as the coauthor of Fag/Hag (Rosa Press, 2024). She has a PhD in Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is an editor for Blind Field: A Journal of Cultural Inquiry. Her writing has appeared in publications such as the Los Angeles Review of Books, Boston Review, The New Inquiry, Entropy Magazine, Lux Magazine, Post-45 Contemporaries, and Cultural Politics, and she is a contributor to The Museum of Capitalism.
