DXARTS 202: FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ART

TTh 10:30-1:20, Mary Gates Hall 058
Instructor - Stephanie Andrews, stephnet@u.washington.edu
Office hours - by appointment, (206) 543-9420
TA - Edward Tang, edtang@u.washington.edu
Office hours - by appointment

SYLLABUS

Please note that this site is a living document and subject to modification as the course progresses.

DESCRIPTION

This foundations level experimental art course introduces students to the principles of digital media creation through a combination of lectures, practical assignments, and studio seminars. Many course resources, homework assignments, and reviews are web-based. Students should have access to a fast, networked computer outside of class to complete their assignments and engage in coursework and discussion.

Digital media art has been practiced and theorized within frameworks of more traditional media, such as television, avant-garde art, and fluxus art. However, the understanding of what is radically new about digital media often eludes such frameworks, because digital media challenges many of the paradigms that these frameworks are built upon. The need for an original framework that emerges from digital media is imperative for a new medium.

This course will focus on core intentional or inherent aspects of technology based art. Some of these aspects are properties unique to digital media such as dynamic data, interactivity, or networking. Other aspects are subjects commonly taken up in the creation of digital art, such as telematic space, the architecture of time, the body and identity, decentralized authorship and hive-mind behavior, or the extended social life of digital art. This class will introduce the core conceptual skills necessary to employ digital media in the generative and investigative context of art making.

This course is broken up into diverse topical segments of approximately one week each. Within each segment the assignments, lectures, presented projects, and readings relate to the topic.

CLASS OVERVIEW AND FORMAT

Through the lecture format portion of the course, students will learn basic digital arts history, theory, and design principles ranging from simple programming to poetics in technology arts. Some lectures may feature guest speakers. Course topics include: Image processing, site specific works, temporal structures, interface design, interaction strategy, production cycles and narrative structures. In lectures and through personal exploration of the art projects listed on the course website, you will view and analyze examples of these integrated principles. Working on home computers and lab computers, students complete principle-driven conceptual assignments in phases. They receive technical assistance, and review these assignments with the instructor during lab hours.

Though software and tools will be provided, it is recommended that students purchase a copy or obtain evaluation copies of basic programs such as Photoshop, iMovie, Processing, Flash MX, etc. or their equivalent which will be used throughout the course.

COURSE GOALS

Creation of principle-driven, experimental art projects based on conceptual assignments.
Understanding of intermediate techniques for digital art production.
Exploration of digital and experimental art works in the context of course topics

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS

Attend lectures, workshops, labs and critiques
Participate in discussions
Complete smaller research and reading assignments, typically involving the creation of experimental digital artworks that follow the concepts, methods or techniques recently discussed in class.
Document and archive all work thoroughly
Taking notes in class is encouraged and will help you remember what you've learned when you are working on your own time.
Please do not read email or surf the web during lectures and discussions - it's distracting to all of us!

REQUIRED READING

Reading assignments will be available as eReserves and references to online resources.

ART ASSIGNMENTS

There will be three digitally based art project assignments, each divided into two phases. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the designated day. Projects will be peer-reviewed by other students and faculty in class. Students are responsible for submitting their work on time. Assignments turned in late will not be accepted

GRADING

Each project assignment will be weighted approximately 25% of the overall grade. Assignments turned in late will not be considered for grading.
Participation, project review, readings and discussion will be weighted approximately 15% of the overall grade.
Combined homework will be weighted at approximately 10%.

EVALUATION

Quality of ideas, execution of those ideas, and ability to articulate your thought processes and strategies.
Willingness to explore, experiment, and take genuine artistic chances in your work.
Amount of time spent and depth of engagement.

Note:

You are encouraged to make your work with the tools you own or have access outside of class, as the lab times on campus alone will probably not be sufficient to complete the assignments and should be used more to get feedback and technical assistance than for routine work.

POLICIES

No smoking in the classroom or building. No eating, or drinking in the lab.
You are responsible for your data! Back it up, store it in multiple locations, burn it to a disk, do whatever you have to do to ensure it's integrity.
If you have a disability that you think may impact your participation in this class, please contact Disabled Student Services. Every effort will be made to accommodate your needs.
The telephones in all DXARTS/CARTAH facilities may not be used for personal calls of any kind. Telephones may be used by students and other unauthorized personnel ONLY for emergencies. Any use of the telephones for any other purpose may result in the loss of access to the facilities.
USE OF ELECTRICITY: Some exercises in this course deal with discussions and concepts that can use electricity or electronics as possible components in there solution. Though some basic background is given in relationship to the safe and effective use of electronics in art, this is not an electrical engineering course and the University and instructor assume no liability in its use by students. This course assumes students involved in the use and fabrication of electrical and electronic components in their work have familiarity or prior knowledge in using electricity. It is assumed students will always use the best judgment possible and will never attempt electrical work that is beyond the scope of their technical expertise or understanding. Students assume all liability in its use, and are entirely responsible and culpable for using electricity safely.