Art 777-Syllabus

Spring 2005

Professor: Jennifer McCoy

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Course Description:

As computers and other electronic tools become available and widespread in artistic practice, it becomes more and more necessary for artists to think critically about technology related issues. This course introduces simple techniques of electronic art-making and then examines the resulting projects through the lens of contemporary critical and cultural theory. Recent digital media and internet projects will also be examined. Readings will include theoretical, literary, philosophical, psychoanalytic, technological, cinematic, and architectural texts. Issues of visual culture including digital studies,mass culture, and representation will be addressed. The course will enable students to understand the origins and nature of current ideological debates about the cultural, social, political and economic significance of the new media technologies and will identify ways of applying these diverse analytical frameworks to practical work.

Course Objectives

to become acquainted with several video, sound, and computer graphics techniques.

to develop an understanding of contemporary work in electronic art.

to create conceptually interesting projects around the issues discussed in class.

to develop methods of analyzing theoretical writing.

to develop ways in which critical theory can inform studio practice.

Software

This course will provide an introduction to several types of software as needed for the completion of course projects. Because the class will not be primarily technology based however, plan to spend time on your own experimenting with what we have available in the lab. Projected software includes: SoundPeak, Adobe Photoshop,Final Cut, and Dreamweaver.

Manuals are available for use in labs only by and large, but can be checked out upon request if multiple copies are in stock. See Tolga Morawski (the lab director) for
to arrange this or to use tutorial files.

Course Requirements

complete all assignments

read assigned selections from handouts

participate in classroom discussion and critiques

attend class regularly

Fees

All courses in the Digital Art Area have a $10.00 lab fee per person/per class. This can be paid in check or cash and must be paid during the first week of class. Checks must be made out to: "Brooklyn Member Organizations". You may drop off the lab fee with the lab director in the office adjacent to the lab.

Attendance Policy

This class will present a lot of material in a short period of time. This material will be complicated, theoretical, and will require engagement with technical issues. Prompt attendance for all class periods is essential. If you miss a class you will not get an A in this course -- period. Class will start on time . If you are late more that 3 times you will not get an A in this course. This course also requires at least 3 hours a week of outside lab time. You should consider this an absolute minimum. These kinds of projects require a lot of time and energy. They will be impossible to complete unless you work consistently throughout the semester.

Materials

Multimedia files are big. You will need at least one Zip cartridge or Blank CDROMS to hold your material. See lab rules for more instructions on saving files.