HUM 203: The World in Motion, Animation in Theory and Practice

Final Project: Animation and Paper

Animated portion of final project

Your animation will be turned in to your TAs in your final LAB section! You will also turn in your artist statement at the same time.

Your project should be ready to be displayed on the web with a short introduction showing your name and the title of your piece. Remember to keep backups and copies of your progress to insure against loss of your project. Remeber, you are responsible for your own data. To guide you in completing your animation, here is a list of factors that will be used to evaluate your grade.

Completion of Project

does your project have a clear beginning and ending?
is all the work completed throughout the lengeth of the whole animation? (example: missing scenes)

Effort

you are making steady progress building your animation throughout the last half of class
you are critiquing your work and having others help you evaluate it
making changes and adjustments where needed, iterative development

Exploration/Integration of Themes (philosophical)

your animation directly engages with the readings and discussions in class that are centered around the philosophies and other ideas introduced in class, not just with animation methodology
this should be within the animation itself, and also mentioned in the artist statement for context

Exploration/Integration of Techniques (animation production)

does not mean you should use every technique introduced
use the animation production readings to help guide, inspire, and problem solve

Creativity

interesting, novel, unusual, or innovative approach to the project
can be reflected in idea, technique, realization, etc

Quality

consistency/clarity throughout the piece
both time and frame based visual composition
attention to design, timing, presentation

The written component of the final project

Explaining what you did, why did it, and why others should care is a skill that you will use throughout life. If you wish to pursue a career in the arts or academics, for instance, you will be required to produce a compelling explanation of your work and how it builds on the work of those who have come before you. If you choose a career in business, for instance, you will frequently have to explain why you made the choices you did and how your work will help others. This assignment is designed to help you hone your skills in presenting your work to others. Towards this end, it consists of two components: an artist’s statement and a reflective paper.

The Artist’s Statement:

Your artist’s statement is due when you turn in your animation.
This should be a one to two paragraph explanation that addresses why you created the art work that you created, how you created it (including what materials were used), and why the piece is important. There are many models of this type of writing on the WWW or in museums and galleries. Stephanie Andrew’s descriptions of her work is also a good model of an effective artists statement: http://www.washington.edu/dxarts/profile_home.php?who=andrews

The Reflective Paper:

Your reflective statement is due at the end of the quarter “wrap party” during finals week.
This should be a four to fine page double spaced paper that addresses what you learned while making your animation (pay special attention to the moments when you had to change your original plan!); why others should care about your work (especially how your work fits into the themes of the class); and what you would do differently if you chose to refine the techniques, themes, and creative processes in another related piece. Please include at least four references to the reading materials, two of which are conceptual or historical (readings on the concepts and history of animation or vitality) and two of which are technical (readings on how to achieve specific animated effects).

This component of your final assignment will be evaluated on the clarity of your expression (use the CHID/AES/ Women Studies Writing Center), the depth of engagement with the class themes and materials, and the originality of your observations.