ART316 Digital Art & Design III        Interactive Media                                      

Spring 2012

Hartwick College

Department of Art & Art History

 

 

Asst. Professor:              Joseph Von Stengel

Art 316:                              Digital Art and Design III

Day/Time:                           MON/WED 1:50pm-4:55pm

Location:                            Anderson 129

 

Office Hrs:                         M 12:30pm-1:45pm, TU 12:15pm-1:30pm

W 12:30pm-1:45pm, TH 12:15pm-1:30pm

or by appt.

Office:                                 Anderson 130

Email:                                  vonstengelj@hartwick.edu

Phone:                                ext. 4912

                                                            Web:                                   www.hartwickdigital.com

                                                            Blog:                                    art-316.blogspot.com

                                            

 

 

Course Description

Digital Art & Design 3 emphasizes experiential structure design and artistic approaches to interactive media. Students will consider interactive structures as a medium for expression, communication as well as a space for conceptual works and creative inquiry. Interactive works used as a medium for artistic production will be encouraged through projects that stimulate studentsÕ individual interests. Students will investigate the potential for artistic experimentation through the consideration and design of images, sound, animation and digital projection and sensors. This class will culminate with a portfolio worthy-showcase of student works through an allocated online exhibition space on www.hartwickdigital.com. (EL)

 

 

Purpose

The purpose of this course is to create an understanding that our viewers donÕt have to be passive. We can create interact art that invites viewers to become collaborators where the art can only happen with their involvement. We see this through out society in the form of devices like iPhones, media genres like video games and as advertisements in malls. This course is not just about making you proficient with software. While this is inarguably important, our efforts will transcend the tool to reveal the greater meaning of interactive media and its place in todayÕs society. To this ends we will consider the computer just a tool, (one of many) not a means to an end. We will also discuss the issues of working in a discipline tied to technology and the reality of creating in a medium under constant change. We will focus on 'seeing'. We will consider content and context, and of course technique.

 

In Class time: Will involve a combination of application demoÕs and technical instruction, one on one help, lectures on pertinent issues within the medium, work time for projects, and critiques of projects.

 

Outside Class time: in addition to projects, will involve exercises and tutorials, independent research, and some reading and writing.

    

 

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this course, students will:

 

1 – Understand, on a basic level, the issues connected to interacting with an audience.

 

2 – Understand the connection between the structure of an experience and the meaning connected to that structure.

 

3 -  Have the skills and knowledge to create basic level animation as well as demonstrate video & audio editing skills

 

4 – Be able to demonstrate the ability to create basic web sites utilizing Adobe Flash

 

5 – Understand a basic history of interactive art/media

 

 

Outcomes Assessment

 

1 -  Six projects will be assigned during the semester. These projects will be used to assess studentÕs ability and knowledge in each area.

               a. projects are reviewed using the rubric below

 

2 – Projects will conclude with a group critique where students will receive input from both their peers and the professor.

 

3 – Students will complete interactive assignments that will be reviewed and discussed

 

4 - Each student will keep a blog related to research in the area of interactive art/media.

 

 

Supplies

á        4 GB USB flash drive.

á        Digital Camera or iPod / iPhone / cell phone ectÉ.

 

 

Recommended Texts (not required)

* Resources can be found on the class blog: art-316.blogspot.com and online (try a Google search for Photoshop) .

 

 

Fees

               *  Studio Art fee $100 ($25 per credit)

 

 

Attendance

á         Attendance is mandatory .

á         Students can miss class 3 times as an Òexcused absenceÓ. Religious holidays & medical reasons are excused absences. To have an excused absence the student must notify the instructor prior to the missed class. In a medical situation, the student may provide a doctorÕs note after the fact.

á         In the case of unexcused absences, the first one will result in no penalty. Each absence after the first will automatically lower the studentÕs grade one half of a letter grade.

á         Every lateness after the first 2 will result in a loss of ¼ over all letter grade.

 

 

 

Evaluation

10% Participation (in-class and online)

10% Assignments

10% Project 1 Research Blog

10% Project 2 Leave Behinds

10% Project 3 Interactive Tin

10% Project 4 The Power of the Button

20% Project 5 Site Specific Projection

20% Project 6 Reactive Spaces

 

Assignment 1 – Send Me Something

 

 

Grades are determined through the following Rubric: Craftsmanship, Aesthetic, Consideration, Effort & Directions

Craftsmanship - the quality and skill used in the creation and a presentation of your finished projects

Aesthetic - the visual appearance of the content of your finished project. Your images aesthetic quality, composition and the images content.

Consideration - this is the area that looks at the depth of your project. how does what you created function in society, what does it say (or not say)?

Effort - Did you try or not? If this comes easy to you then you really need to work hard to show effort.

Directions - all projects have specific directions on how to name files and when projects are due. following the directions makes it easier for me to work with and review your files. all projects are expected to be complete on the due date.

 

100-92 A = You tried very hard, handed in all the projects and assignments on time and created excellent work.

91-83    B = You tried hard and handed in all the projects and assignments on time and created great work.

82-74    C = You tried, handed in most of the projects & assignments on time and created good work.

73-65    D = You barely tried, handed in most of the projects & assignments and created good work.

64-0       F = You really didnÕt try and didnÕt hand in much work.

 

 

Turning in Projects

1.       Projects are due at the beginning of class, unless otherwise noted, on the scheduled critique day. 

2.       Late projects are due exactly one week from the critique date. Late projects will lose ½ a letter grade. Projects will not be accepted after the late date and will be assessed based on the work turned in for critique.

 

 

Critiques

1.       If you are late or miss a regular critique, the project for that critique will be lowered by one letter grade.

2.      Attendance at the Final critique is mandatory. Missing the final critique will result in an ÒFÓ for the Final Project. NO late Final Projects will be accepted!

 

 

Expectations

á         During class time, students are expected to engage in meaningful classroom participation.

á         Each student is expected to complete all projects, exercises, in-class exercises and required readings.  Details of the various assignments will be discussed in class and on the class Blog.

 

 

Lab Policy

á         No Food and Drink (except designated area). Violation will result in the loss of lab privileges.

á         Students may not install/uninstall software of any type or reconfigure hardware without the permission of the professor.

á         Report computer problems to the lab assistant or professor with detailed information as to which computer and a descriptive explanation of the issue.

á         There will be open lab hours for student use through out the semester

 

 

 

Accommodations

If you are a student with a documented disability who will require academic accommodations in this course, please meet with Jennifer Morgenstein, Coordinator of Disability Services, Yager 504 or call 431-4546 or 431-4435 to make an appointment.

 

 

Instructional Sequence

This class moves through two main aspects of interaction, Physical and Virtual. The beginning of the semester centers around learning different structures of experience and how they are understood by our Òviewer.Ó We will talk about structural experience theory, see examples and participate as well as research the concept of ÒinteractionÓ. Next the class will learn necessary software including Adobe flash, Audacity, iMovie, QuickTime Pro and basic Photoshop. The second half of the semester students use the software and interactivity knowledge to create a series of projects that challenges them to blend the physical and virtual into new types of experiences for their audiances.

 

 

Academic Dishonesty

All work created or written in this class is expected to be your own! If you are unsure about the CollegeÕs policy on Academic Dishonesty please refer to the Schools web site at the following link: http://www.hartwick.edu/x12195.xml