Introduction to New Media Arts
Days: Fridays
Time: 12:00pm – 02:50pm
Location:
Professor: Robert Spahr
Contact: rspahr@siu.edu
Office:
Office Hours:
T 01:00pm - 04:00pm
W 09:00am - 12:00pm
and by appointment
Course Syllabus Location: http://www.robertspahr.com/inma/
Course Listings:
Introduction to New Media Arts - (3 credits)
Required Text:
Wardrip-Fruin, Noah & Montfort, Nick. The New Media Reader. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press
Casabona, Joe. HTML and CSS, 8th Edition (Visual Quickstart Guide). Peachpit Press
*** All other readings will be distributed in class or available online. ***
Description:
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
— Arthur C. Clarke, Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry Into the Limits of the Possible
This course is an introduction to a wide range of technology and concepts related to web documents, digital images, sound, and video. Students learn basic HTML, CSS, image editing, creating, sampling and editing sound, shooting and editing video in camera, as well as exporting media into optimized formats for the web. This course does not provide comprehensive instruction in all of these media, as much as give the student a chance to explore and discover their interests, while they continue to develop a personal artistic vision. We explore the creative possibilites of artists working in new media, as well as the social and political issues contained in the history of the web and Free & open source software. Students will learn about computing in the arts, as well as theories and trends in new media. Throughout the class students will discuss the required readings, present their work before the class and gain insight from regular critiques.
Objectives:
- Students will develop a deeper understanding of the history, theory, and practice of New Media
- Students will speak and write critically about new media art practices.
- Students will develop new production skills, and apply this knowledge in critiques and in the creation of individual and collaborative studio projects.
Syllabus:
8/29
Introduction, FOSS, HTML & CSS Basics.
PROJECT ONE: HYPERMEDIA COLLAGE
Reading: NMR:
pg 3-11 "Inventing the Medium", pg 13-25 "New Media from Borges to XHTML"
Lecture Notes:
Internet & Basic HTML
Images & CSS Style
Typography, Multimedia, & Images
CSS Advanced layout
Resources:
Free/Open Source Software for New Media Arts
https://neocities.org/
https://robertspahr.neocities.org/
HTML Template #1
Creative Commons
9/5
HTML+CSS and an Image Editor (Photoshop / GIMP)
9/12
Javascript & Open Studio Session
Lecture Notes:
Javascript Examples
Reading: NMR:
pg 83-88 "Happenings", pg 791-797 "The World Wide Web"
9/19
Open Studio.
Reading discussion and a written one page response is due at the beginning of class for "Inventing the Medium", "New Media from Borges to XHTML" "Happenings" & "The World Wide Web"
9/26
Open Studio.
Reading: NMR:
pg 193-209 "Two Selections by Marshall McLuhan", pg 211-226 "Experiments in Art and Technology"
10/3
PROJECT ONE: HYPERMEDIA COLLAGE CRITIQUE
10/10
PROJECT TWO: EXPLORATIONS IN SOUND
Introduction to Audacity.
Reading Discussion of "Two Selections by Marshall McLuhan" & "Experiments in Art and Technology"
Fontana Mix by John Cage realized by Max Neuhaus -
http://www.ubu.com/aspen/aspen5and6/fontana.html
In class listening to John Cage:Prepared Piano, and Steve Riech:Early Work and Drumming
10/17
Open Studio Session.
Reading:
Walter Benjamin: The Work of Art in the Age of Technological Reproduction
10/24
Open Studio Session.
Reading Discussion of "The Work of Art in the Age of Technological Reproduction"
10/31
Open Studio Session.
11/7
Open Studio Session.
Dziga Vertov: Man with the Movie Camera (excerpts)
Reading: NMR:
pg 227-229 "Cybernated Art", pg 463-470 "Will there be condominiums in Data Space?", pg 711-735 "Time Frames", pg 643-647 "The Fantasy Beyond Control"
11/14
PROJECT TWO: EXPLORATIONS IN SOUND CRITIQUE
Reading Discussion of "Cybernated Art", "Will there be condominiums in Data Space?", "Time Frames", "The Fantasy Beyond Control"
11/21
No Class meeting - Thanksgiving Break
11/28
PROJECT THREE: CAMERA OBSCURA AND DIGITAL VIDEO
12/5
PROJECT THREE: CAMERA OBSCURA AND DIGITAL VIDEO CRITIQUE
12/12
FINAL CRITIQUE OF INTEGRATED PROJECT ONE, TWO, AND THREE
PROJECT 1: HYPERMEDIA COLLAGE
Using the name of the street where you grew up as a starting point, create a hypermedia collage expanding and interpreting the meaning, metaphors and thoughts the street name contains. Consider the formal choices of color, image, scale, text and composition when you compose your collage. The site navigation can contribute to, and/or eliminate discovery and mystery, as well as structure the unfolding of a narrative. How are your creating a feeling of wholeness from each discreet part? What visual strategies are you using to create your gestalt? Consider how you will integrate the sound Project #2 and video Project #3 into your site design. This work will be uploaded to the web. (Details to be discussed in class) Include all source materials, notes, sketches and documentation in a folder labeled "Source."
PROJECT 2: EXPLORATIONS IN SOUND
Exploration 1. Sampled Sound
Using the street name from Project #1 as a point of departure, use the program Audacity to create a piece 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length using sampled sound with editing, pasting and multi-tracking. - Mix and export as a .mp3 file format and upload to the web. Include all source materials, notes, sketches and documentation in a folder labeled "Source."
Exploration 2. Sound Machine, Performance and Score
Part A - Sound Machine: Create a sound machine (using our definition of a machine) that creates a variety of sounds. This can be created out of anything. This can be a physical object, or a virtual machine. Write a 1 minute composition for your machine and be prepared to play it for the class. The score for your composition must be written on paper and presented at the time of your performance. The methodology you use should make sense to you and your machines capabilites. You will be graded on the aesthetics of your machine, performance and written score. A photograph of the machine, a one minute recording of your composition and a digital image of your written score should be uploaded to the web. Include all source materials, notes, sketches and documentation in a folder labeled "Source."
Part B - Sound Mix: Using Audacity create a 1 minute piece using the recording of your composition from Part A and combine that with a sound sample from the internet. Continue to mix sounds until the piece contains the metaphors and meanings related to the street name where you grew up. Be sure to use editing, pasting and multi-tracking - Mix and export as a .mp3 file format and upload to the web. Include all source materials, notes, sketches and documentation in a folder labeled "Source."
PROJECT 3: CAMERA OBSCURA AND DIGITAL VIDEO
What is a Camera Obscura? -- Wikipedia: Camera ObscuraStudent groups will build a Camera Obscura.
Camera Obscura: Creating a Camera (PDF)
We will use a cell phone camera to convert the analog image into digital still and moving images. (details will be discussed in class)
Part One: Using vellum as the image screen.
1. Each group member should shoot at least 10 still images and select one to upload to to the web.
2. The group will collaborate and produce a 1 minute moving video edited in camera with no sound and upload to the web.
Part Two: Experiment and use a new material as the image screen.
1. Each group member should shoot at least 10 still images and select one to upload to the web.
2. The group will collaborate and produce a 1 minute moving video edited in camera with no sound and upload to to the web.
Resources:
Premonitions Following an Evil Deed - David Lynch
Lumière and Company - Spike Lee
Lumière and Company - Peter Greenaway
Integrate assigments #2 and #3 into your site design of Project #1. (Details will be discussed in class)
Evaluation:
The work in this course requires motivation, exploration, risk-taking, and most importantly, an openness to new ideas. The grading policy of this class is meant to encourage you to explore new ideas and take chances. Do not think in terms of "What must I do to receive an A grade", but think in terms of what you would like to learn.Attendance: Attendance to all classes is expected. You are allowed up to TWO unexcused absences. Unexcused absence beyond this threshold may result in failing this course. Students are expected to be at all scheduled 'studio days' working on their projects.
Assignments: All assignments and projects are due at the beginning of class. Late projects will not be accepted.
Thought Questions: Should be in PDF format, no longer than one printed page, and emailed to the professor before the beginning of class. At the top of each document place your name, the class name, the date, and the title of the reading.
Required Equipment: Students are required to bring a wifi enabled laptop to class. The laptop should be no older than 5 years, and can run Mac OS, Windows or Linux. All required software is free and open source (FOSS), and will be downloaded and installed in class.
Grading: A 95-100, A- 92-95
Outstanding work.
Solution shows excellent depth of understanding and innovation. The solution has been fully developed in form and concept.
B+ 88-91, B 85-87, B- 82-84
Good work.
Solution exceeds all requirements and shows above average depth of understanding. Demonstrates more than adequate clarity of idea and execution.
C+ 78-81, C 75-77, C- 72-74
Average work.
Problem has been solved adequately, but the solution lacks depth of understanding, development and innovation.
D+ 68-71, D 65-67, D- 62-64
Poor work.
Solution is extremely weak and lacks understanding and innovation. Technical skills are weak.
F 61 or less
Unacceptable work.
Solution to the problem is unresolved and incomplete resulting in a failing grade.
Each Project will be graded on artistic, creative and intellectual merit.
Grades will be based on the following:
- 20% Originality of concept
- 20% Delivery (execution of the concept)
- 20% Documentation / Process
- 20% Craft
- 20% Critique & participation
Your final grade will be determined by the following:
- 25% Participation / Thought Questions
- 25% Project #1
- 25% Project #2
- 25% Project #3
