Conceptual Elegance over Theatrical (or Digital) Overkill.
Art 245 Digital Media I
Instructor: Peter Whittenberger
M-W | 7-9:15pm
Lab and Office: CFA 207 Digital Media Studio
Office Hours: by appointment
Email: pwhittenberger@peterwhittenberger.com
Class Blog: http://art245sp14.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 Outcomes:
1) Analyze different visual and audio software and their appropriate uses to achieve particular desired effects;
2) Evaluate the use of different techniques as they are used to strengthen and enhance emotional responses and personal creative expression;
3) Strengthen and enhance emotional responses and personal creative expression through maintenance of a personal blog including class discussions, homework assignments, as well as writing done for class work;
4) Evaluate and describe artists' work viewed in museum and/or gallery settings;
5) Examine, analyze, and present research on contemporary digital media practices;
6) Read and discuss texts exploring various aspects of digital media and culture;
7) Evaluate verbally or in written form personal art work and the work of other students in terms of technical and aesthetic success and historical/cultural references.
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, Premiere, After Effects,
blog development, flatbed scanners, digital cameras, etc.
Course Requirements:
1) Each student will complete a total of 7 regular class projects. All projects will be uploaded and accessible to the instructor and students on individual student blogs, which 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. Discuss the hows, whats, and most importantly whys.
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 meetings. More than two unexcused absences will affect your final grade.
By NSHE policy in Title 4 Chapter 20 A, Section 3, paragraph 1, there are no official absences from any university class. It is the personal responsibility of the student to consult with the instructor regarding absence from class. In the event that a student misses a class because of an official university function or event or because of serious personal issues, the Office of the Vice President for Student Services may, at its discretion, send an explanation to affected faculty. The instructor shall make the final determination on whether the missed work can be done at a time other than during the regularly scheduled class period.
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 - 150 pts (6 readings x 25 pts ea)
•9% Class participation/critiques, discussions, attendance - 150 pts (15 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: 1725 POINTS
7) Each student is REQUIRED to attend three art events that are regularly announced in class. I will provide you with a list of department 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. An official art calendar of events should be available by Week 2 in the Art Office. All three essays are due on your blog on 4/30.
Here is a list of lectures you will not want to miss:
http://www.unr.edu/art/events/visiting-artist.html
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://art245sp14.blogspot.com
9) Laboratory Hours and Assistance: In addition to my scheduled lab time, 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. 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. Please email me if you have any questions or problems and I will respond promptly.
This is Dillon --->
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:
Computer Log-in: User: Art 245 Password: art then digital
I will assign door codes for after hours lab access shortly after the second week.
13) Other Important University Policies:
Special Accommodations (ADA) Statement:
Any student with a disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with the Disability Resource Center (Thompson Building Suite 100) as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations.
a) Academic Success Services: Your student fees cover usage of the Math Center (784-4433 or www.unr.edu/mathcenter, Tutoring Center (784-6801 or www.unr.edu/tutoring), and University Writing Center (784-6030 or http://www.unr.edu/writing_center/.)
b) Statement on Audio and Video Recording: “Surreptitious or covert video-taping of class or unauthorized audio recording of class is prohibited by law and by Board of Regents policy. This class may be videotaped or audio recorded only with the written permission of the instructor. In order to accommodate students with disabilities, some students may be given permission to record class lectures and discussions. Therefore, students should understand that their comments during class may be recorded.”
c) Religious Holy Days: It is the policy of NSHE (Title 4 Chapter 20 A, Section 3, paragraph 2) to be sensitive to the religious obligations of its students. Any student missing classes, quizzes, examinations, or any other class or lab work because of observance of religious holy days should, whenever possible, be given an opportunity during that semester to make up the missed work. The make-up will apply to the religious holy day absence only. It shall be the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor in advance in writing, if the student intends to participate in a religious holy day which does not fall on state holidays or periods of class recess. This policy shall not apply in the event that administering the assignment at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship on the instructor or the institution which could not reasonably have been avoided.
Tentative Schedule (Subject to Change)
1/22 - Class overview, Project #1: 1840s GIF Party, Reading #1 Posted
1/27 - Blogs Due, Photoshop Demo, Studio
1/29 - Project #1 Critique, Assign Research Project
2/3 - Discuss Reading #1, Project #2: Triptych, Demo
2/5 - Studio
2/10 - Project #2 Critique, Project #3: Animation, Reading #2 posted
2/12 - Studio
2/17 - President's Day (Campus Closed)
2/19 - Project #3 Critique, Project #4: Audio
2/24 - Discuss Reading #2, Studio
2/26 - Project #4 Critique, Discuss Project NV exhibition
3/3 - Install Project NV Gallery, Reading #3 Posted
3/5 - Project #5: Video Cover, Demo
3/10 - Discuss Reading #3, Video Screenings
3/12 - Studio
3/17 - Spring Break
3/19 - Spring Break
3/24 - Project #6 Interventionist Media, Demo, Studio
3/26 - Project #5 Critique, Reading #4 Posted
3/31 - Group One Presentations
4/2 - Group Two Presentations
4/7 - Discuss Reading #4
4/9 - Project #6 Critique
4/14 - Second Life Tour and Demo, Project #7.1: 3-D (Meat Space), Reading #5 Posted
4/16 - Studio
4/21 - Project #7.1 Critique, Project #7.2: (Digital Space)
4/23 - Discuss Reading #5, Reading #6 Posted, Studio
4/28 - Studio
4/30 - Discuss Reading #6, Studio
5/5 - Project #7.2 Critique, Discuss Final Meeting
Final Class Meeting in Second Life - 5/12 7:30-9:30pm
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