Conceptual Elegance over Theatrical (or Digital) Overkill.
Art 245 Digital Media I
Instructor: Peter Whittenberger
Monday 7-9:45pm
Lab and Office: CFA 207 Digital Media Studio
Office Hours: Th 1-3pm
Email: pwhittenberger@peterwhittenberger.com
Class Blog: http://art245spring13.blogspot.com
My Site: peterwhittenberger.com
Prerequisites: At least one art studio course, such as Visual Foundations, Beginning Photography, Drawing, etc. No computer experience required.
Course Objectives: The primary objective of Art 245, Digital Media 1 is to provide an introduction to the critical studies of digital media. Students will learn how to analyze the foundations, cultural forces and context that are synthesized in contemporary media art and technology. This will be accomplished through a balanced investigation of both the history and theory surrounding digital media, while at the same time being involved in the creation of visual art through the conceptual utilization of the computer and related technologies.
This course emphasizes the personal development of critical thinking, artistic and technical skills. You will be challenged with controlled experimentation using a variety of digital processes towards visual art production. The course presents students with opportunities to work with digital imaging, animation, video/sound/time-based media, the internet and social media as creative areas of discourse. This course is the introductory course to the Digital Media program and is a prerequisite for all other course offerings required for the studio major and minor.
Course Philosophy: The Digital Media program exists as part of the larger Art Studio program for the Department of Art – all studio programs currently focus on the development of a contemporary approach to studio art practice and theory. Digital Media emphasizes an artistic, experimental and technical approach to learning to utilize media systems for the creation of art.
The intent is to provide an intensive learning environment that considers the computer as a broadly flexible tool or medium available to the contemporary artist. Specific project assignments will also push you to consider the conceptual use of such tools. This is a thoroughly hands-on course. You will be expected to learn how to use the tools at your disposal – this is not a software-training course. You will learn in this class by doing – students will be given broad introductions to a variety of applications and devices as incorporated into their project assignments. Learning to use these complex graphics programs, online technologies and computer peripherals takes much dedication of time and a flexible attitude towards experiential practice and learning.
Learning to become proficient utilizing new technologies is accomplished through both individual and shared experience. What you derive from this class in terms of technical learning will largely be defined by the amount of time you spend exploring and experimenting and taking advantage of the support resources available to you through the Digital Media Studio, the Dynamic Media Lab (@ One) in the KC and through online tutorials.
Finally, you will be challenged constantly to consider just what you are doing with these new tools - the true challenge of this course is to engage in the creation of critical, challenging, thoughtful, meaningful and conceptually sound creative experiments.
Techniques: You will be introduced to the following basic programs and systems: Adobe Photoshop, Soundtrack, and/or Audacity, Final Cut Pro/iMovie, Website/Blog Development, Flatbed scanners, Digital cameras, Laser printer, Color inkjet printers, small and large format etc., etc., etc.
Course Requirements:
1) Each student will complete a total of 7 regular class projects followed by the creation of a general studio atmosphere for the investigation of individual and/or group projects. ¡All projects will be uploaded and accessible to the instructor and students on individual student blogs that will be created in the first week of the course! Each project posted online will also feature a brief artist statement describing your approach to the specific assignment.
2) Critiques. Selected projects will be discussed and critiqued in open sessions. Talking about your work and others is a crucial aspect of creating art. Learning to articulate verbally and in writing, just what your work is about, is just as important as the actual making of the work. The ideas shared in an open critique will help us all learn from each other and greatly increase our ability to understand our creative practice. Due to the rigorous nature of this course, I do not accept late homework assignments. Please do not ask or fall behind.
3) Readings: Specific Xeroxed articles, tutorials and other online source material will be assigned as needed. For each non-tutorial reading you are required to create two questions for discussion based on that weeks reading. These are to be posted to your blog prior to that day’s reading discussion.
4) Attendance is mandatory at all class sessions. More than two unexcused absences will affect your final grade.
5) Each student will require a minimum 8 gb FLASH DRIVE to transfer their files. Other supplies may be required upon student's discretion, depending on how they decide to pursue various projects. Student’s lab fee of $25 will be allocated to their printing budget. If there are any concerns with this budget, please see the instructor.
6) Grading: Students will be graded according to how well their participation in reading discussions and creative projects reflect an understanding and willingness to engage with the techniques, issues and practices covered in class. Simply having your media projects "work" is average. This is an art course, SO MAKE GREAT ART!!! Students should expect to spend at least six hours a week outside of class on their work. The final grade is broken down as follows:
•40% studio projects - 700 pts (7 projects x 100 pts ea)
•10% Questions for reading discussion on blogs - 175 pts (7 readings x 25 pts ea)
•9% Class participation/critiques, discussions, attendance - 140 pts (14 weeks x 10 pts per week)
•10% Written lecture and exhibition reviews - 180 pts (3 reviews x 60 pts ea)
•14% Final Paper/Presentation - 245 points
•17% Second Life - 300 points
TOTAL POSSIBLE: 1740 POINTS
GRADING RUBRIC:
| 1740-1565=A |
| 1564-1390=B |
| 1389-1215=C |
| 1214-1040=D |
| 1039-0000=F |
7) Each student is REQUIRED to attend three art events that are regularly announced in class. I will provide you with a list of approved lectures/screenings/exhibitions both on campus and off. You are required to write a short, one page critical summary of the event and post it to your blog. One of these events, CADRE at Haldan Art Gallery at Lake Tahoe will be required by all students (excluding any major hardships that will discussed with the instructor). The exhibit is currently open and will be on display till March 22. A designated date in the semester will be planned on a Friday between the two Digital Media courses, afternoon and evening, so we may convoy together to Lake Tahoe if desired! An official art calendar of events should be available by Week 2. All three essays are due on your blog on April 29.
8) Blog Participation: All assignments, large or small, MUST be documented weekly on the class blog! In addition, share links and discuss pertinent issues. Website portfolio: Each student will be creating a website/portfolio blog as an archive of all projects created in this course – this site will serve as the repository for all of your class projects and writing assignments created in this course and any future courses taken through the Digital Media Program.
Our class blog URL is: http://art245spring13.blogspot.com
9) Laboratory Hours and Assistance: In addition to my posted office hours, Dillon McGillivray, Digital Media Staff, will be available 11-4 outside of class time, Mondays-Thursdays to give workshops covering technical knowledge required to complete the individual projects. Benjamin Poynter, the instructor for the other section of Art 245, will hold lab hours on Fridays, 1-4pm. It is highly recommended that you take full advantage of this time! I will also usually arrive to the lab an hour before our class meetings (if the bus isn't being stupid). Please email me if you have any questions or problems and I will respond promptly.
10) Cell phones: Please do NOT use your cell phones for texting or any other purposes during class times - shut them down please!
11) Course communications: I will be using email extensively to communicate important information to the class. I will be using the email that is available to me through the MyNevada system. If you do not know or are not sure which email the University has posted to this system, please check and be sure you have an email that you check regularly so you will receive all class messages!
12) Academic Honesty Policy: I would refer all students to the University of Nevada, Reno, Academic Honesty Policy. This class will adhere strictly to these policies. Anyone caught cheating or plagiarizing either in written or studio assignments will be dealt with accordingly. Academic Standards Policy for Students
Computer Access: Due to the ongoing financial crisis and resulting budget cuts to the University, the Digital Media Studio has in the past year faced a drastic re-organization of our facility. Funding has not been made available to replace our aging, 20-workstation laboratory. As such, we have created a streamlined, smaller laboratory with a limited number of student workstations. In light of this situation and specifically in recognition of the fact that we cannot provide a workstation for each student during scheduled class times, we will be working from a lecture/lab model that requires all student work to be completed outside of our scheduled class period. All student projects are to be completed during available lab hours in the Digital Media Studio, on your own computers or in the Knowledge Center’s Dynamic Media Lab. The media lab of the Knowledge Center’s Dynamic Media Lab as well has capable staff on site to assist students. You will be assigned a digital access code for after-hours access to the Digital Media Studio by the end of the second week of the term.
Computer Log-in: User: Art 245 Password: Art
I will assign door codes for after hours lab access shortly after the second week.
Tentative Schedule (Subject to Change)
1/22 - NO CLASS
1/28 - Class overview, Photoshop Demo, Project #1 Diptych Assignment
2/4 - Diptych Critique, Benjamin Discussion, Project #2 Stop-Motion Animation (Demo and Assignment)
2/11- Animation Critique, Project #3 Audio for Animation and Collaboration, Project NV gallery assignments, Research Project
2/18 - NO CLASS - Continue and Finish Project #3, Hang Project NV exhibition, Reading #2 posted (Bishop)
2/22- Possible Date for South Lake Road Trip
2/25 - Discuss Reading #2, Final Animation Critique and Project NV gallery, Project #4 Video Re-enactments (Demo and assignment), Reading #3 Posted
3/4 - Discuss Reading #3, Studio Time for Project #4
3/11 - Project #4 Critique, Assign Project #5 Crowdsourcing, Reading #4 and #5 posted (Crowdsourcing and Participative Systems)
3/18 - NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK
3/25 - Discuss Reading #4 and #5, Critique Project #5, Project #6 3-D “The Original”, Reading #6 posted (Tactical Media)
4/1 - Project #6 Critique, Project #7 3-D “The Sequel” (Demo and Assignment), Assign Second Life Final Project, Reading #7 Posted (Manovich)
4/8 - Discuss Reading #6, Second Life Tour and Demonstration
4/15 - Group One Presentations, Studio
4/22 - Group Two Presentations, Studio
4/29 - Discuss Reading #7, Check in on Second Life, Art Event Write-Ups Due
5/6 - Project #7 Critique, Discuss Final Meeting, Second Life Studio Time
Final Class Meeting in Second Life - Date and Time TBA
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