Integrative Studio 1 - Fall '24

{ synced with New Media Now and Media Arts Practice I }

Professor: Robert Spahr, MFA
Contact: rspahr@siu.edu
Office: Comm 1056B
Office Hours:
W  01:00pm-04:00pm
R  01:00pm-04:00pm
& by appointment

Professor: Leah Sutton, MFA
Contact: leah.sutton@siu.edu
Office: COMM 1112
Office Hours:
M 01:00-03:00pm
T 02:00-04:00pm
W 01:00-03:00pm
& by appointment

Required Text:

* All required readings will be available online. *

Description:

School of Media Arts First-Year Curriculum
Your first year at the School of Media Arts is a time of exploration and discovery as you develop your creative process, critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills. The two semesters of foundation courses immerse you in the making of media arts, as well as media arts history and theory resulting in the development of your critical practice as you learn to better reflect on your studio work. All students in the School of Media Arts follow a first-year curriculum, which provides a rigorous and exciting course of study, exposing you to a range of art, design and media practices which will be the foundational support for your entire education and your creative life after graduation.

Integrative Studio 1
In this course we will explore the process of creativity as we look to dissolve the divide that often separates art from life. We will consider what we make, how we make it, and we will ask why? How do we generate and capture ideas? How can our research become part of this process? Through individual and collaborative group activities you will engage in a series of media projects that ask you to experiment, visualize, question, look, listen, play, fail, iterate, and reflect. This course is linked to other courses in the Foundations Curriculum: Media Arts Practice I and New Media Now. In particular, we've designed Thursdays in CIN 361: New Media Now to resonate directly with Fridays in CIN 341: Integrative Studio I.

Bridging Theory and Practice
CIN 341 Integrative Studio 1 is part of a unique sequence of courses that includes CIN 301 Media Arts Practice I and CIN 361 New Media Now. These three courses bridge theory and practice as students complete projects which connects their studio practice and their scholarly research. Our shared goal is to integrate making, writing, and reflecting essential components of the creative process.

Objectives:

• Develop an awareness of the creative process as it applies to the arts and ife.
• Develop technical skills for creating and analyzing media arts and interactivity through the exploration of individual and collaborative group projects.
• Increase knowledge relevant to integrate making, writing, and reflecting essential components of the creative process.

Syllabus:

# Syllabus is subject to change with notice. #

Aug 19-23 { all together in Northlight Studio, COMM 1251 }
INTRODUCTION WEEK

UNIT 1: DRAWING / COLLAGE / PHOTOMONTAGE

Fri Aug 30
Introductions, Syllabus, and Drawing
Please bring your Foundation Sketchbook to class.

Fri Sep 06
Studio Day: Gestural Mark Making

Fri Sep 13
Studio Day: Observational Drawing

Fri Sep 20
Studio Day: Observational Drawing

Fri Sep 27
CRITIQUE (All Unit 1 Work)

UNIT 2: COUNTER-MAPS AND LANDSCAPES

Fri Oct 04
Studio Day: Collage, Photomontage, and Color

Oct 07-11
PROTO-CINEMA WEEK

Fri Oct 18
FALL BREAK (No Class)

Fri Oct 25
CRITIQUE (All Unit 2 Work)

UNIT 3: TOOL-MAKING and ART-MAKING

Fri Nov 01

Fri Nov 08
Work-in-Progress Critique: Tool-Making/Art-Making Iteration #1

Fri Nov 15
CRITIQUE: Tool-Making/Art-Making Iteration #1

Fri Nov 22
CRITIQUE (All Unit 3 Work)
Tool-Making/Art-Making Iteration #1
Tool-Making/Art-Making Iteration #2

Saturday 11/23 - Sunday 12/01
THANKSGIVING BREAK

Dec 02-06
ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE WEEK

Dec 09-13
FINALS WEEK - We will be meeting as one large group for portfolio presentations for the finals of all three foundations courses.

Supply List (Required)

Supply List (Suggested)

Container for drawing materials (such as a small fishing tackle box)
Drawing board at least 18" x 24"
Large bulldog clips (at least 2) for holding paper to drawing board
India ink
Bamboo ink brush
Masking tape
Pink or gum eraser
Charcoal pencils - 6B, 2B, and HB
Graphite pencils - 6B, 2B, and HB
Hand pencil sharpener or small utility knife (such as an Olfa or X-Acto)

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: You are expected to attend ALL classes. You are allowed up to ONE unexcused absence. Unexcused absence beyond this threshold may result in failing this course. Attendance will be taken at 9:00am sharp and absences will affect your grade. 3 lates = 1 absence.

As a practiced based course, you are required to actively participate in class conversation and critique. Missing class and not participating in class activities will result in a lower grade in the course. In critique, always be respectful when discussing others’ work and practice constructive criticism. Be prepared to explain your reasoning if simply stating "I like it." or "I hate it."

Due to the nature of practiced based courses, the class itself cannot be made up due to absences as it is an experiential course dependent on in-class participation in critiques and completion of exercises/projects. A warning will be given after two consecutive absences and the student is subject to a grade drop after that. You will be marked "late" if you are not in the classroom five minutes after class begins. Leaving during class and/or leaving class early will be considered equivalent to being late.

For absences due to medical issues to be excused, appropriate documentation is necessary. You must also email the professors at leah.sutton@siu.edu and rspahr@siu.edu prior to being absent.

Assignments: All Unit Projects and homework assignments are due at the beginning of class. Late projects will not be accepted.

Critique: Students will work closely with each other to develop their projects. This includes developing your verbal skills, confidence, and insights about receiving and providing criticism. Students will work to express themselves clearly while respectfully discussing their own and others artwork.

Pocket Sketchbook and Foundation Sketchbook Students should also document their creative process and artistic development within the pocket sketchbook and the foundation sketchbook. Think of the sketchbook as a resource to contain your present ideas and hints of future directions to explore. Students will be given weekly homework assignments using the foundation sketchbook.

Grading:

Each Project will be graded on artistic, creative and intellectual merit.

• 30% Originality of concept
• 30% Delivery / Craft / Process
• 20% Critique & participation

Your final grade will be determined by the following:

• 60% Unit Projects and supplemental work
• 30% Participation
• 10% Pocket Sketchbook and Foundation Sketchbook

COVID-19

We will follow the mandated COVID-19 guidelines established by the university. Should the conditions change and we need to work remotely, I will work on transitioning our class to a hybrid online format. Further information on the SIU policy on COVID-19: https://siu.edu/coronavirus/

SIU Syllabus Attachment

SIU Syllabus Attachment - Fall '24 - PDF