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Modules

The modules will introduce you to creating and making artful multimedia. It’s a hands-on survey course that explores ‘remixing media’ through four related modules. In each of these modules you’ll learn about key concepts in digital media, hear from guest speakers, explore and research artists and artworks, and prepare your creative projects. The final module will be a little different - you’ll work on one project for 3 weeks; putting all of ideas and skills you learn into practice to build one integrated tech-arts installation. You’ll also be supported with a series of labs which will help you build new technical skills.

Organization / Schedule

• Module 1 - Analog Media (Weeks 1-3): We’ll ask ‘what is art’ with a tour of 20th century media. We’ll see how process, technique and context inform art production and how to develop critical responses to artful media.
• Module 2 - Electronic Media (Weeks 4-6): From the canvas to the screen, we’ll examine how internet, online sharing, and ‘remix culture’ have become creative catalysts for artistic production and provocation.
• Module 3 - Tangible Media (Week 7-9): Moving beyond the screen, we’ll look at how digital media can intersect with the physical. We’ll explore tangible media, site-specific interventions and interactive installations.
• Module 4 - Performing Media (Weeks 10-12): Here we’ll investigate how media can help create rich immersive environments to engage audiences, to support performance and choreography as well as arrive at new forms of interactive drama.
• Module 5 - Making Media (Weeks 13-15): In the final module, students will put the concepts introduced throughout this course into practice. They’ll work with instructors and guests to iterate and refine a conceptual design into a fully-fledged media installation.
• Final Showcase: Instead of an exam, students showcase their media installation to invited guests. Final documentation of the work is due before the final examination session.

For a full and detailed schedule see the course schedule and assignment deadlines

Notes:

• Friday, October 21st - No labs - Mid Semester Break
• November 23-25 - No thursday class or labs - Thanksgiving Break
• Final Showcase will be scheduled for the Week of December 12th.

This schedule (and the modules described) may be subject to change at any time.

Format

Each module will follow a similar format. It’s described in the advanced organizer (see image).

Here’s a little more on the format

• We’ll start with a 10-15 minute introduction to each new module (typically after a previous module!). This will give a broad overview of the ideas, concepts and learning objectives.

• Modules will then begin in earnest always on a Thursday class. During this class we’ll look at a series of case studies which will introduce and unpack the kinds of project’s were interested in. You’ll also be asked to ‘show and tell’ your own examples.
  • To prepare for this, you’ll be asked to research artistic works as part of a looking out assignment.
  • You’ll be given a specific research brief/focus that explain the kinds of examples you should try to uncover. You’ll also be given a set of starting points.
  • Through this discussion of works, we’ll learn from each other and identify the questions and concepts that matter to the module.
• Over the weekend, you’ll get hands-on with some of these ideas .
  • You’ll complete one quick ‘warm up’ exercise - a heavily constrained creative project designed to introduce ideas at the start of the module.
  • When it’s completed you’ll get digital feedback on your idea (i.e. we won’t normally review these in person)
  • You maybe asked to give feedback to a small number of projects online (typically 2)

• To deepen our exploration, an invited guest will share a perspective on topics relating the module and a screening will help add further context to the module. Finally, we’ll spend a class reviewing assigned readings and discussing the questions surfaced by the guest, screening and texts.

• The module will close with a creative project.

  • In the 2nd week of the module, you’ll develop a proposal for the project and post this to the IDeATe Gallery
  • You’ll get feedback on this digitally online from instructors, TAs and peers.
  • Over the next week, you’ll refine your concept and integrate feedback.
  • We’ll have a ‘desk crit’ session where you can get 1-on-1 advice on your project and it’s trajectory.
  • You’ll document your completed projects online on the IDeATe Gallery by Monday at 9pm
  • You and your peers will review 2-3 projects and give detailed feedback on the outcome
  • We’ll select a small number of projects for detailed in-class feedback and review them in a Tuesday Crit session.

Deliverables

In each module (unless otherwise noted), you’ll be asked to:

• Complete a looking out assignment and document 1-3 cases/precedents.
• Prepare a ‘warm up’ exercise (normally 2-3 hours work)
• Review assigned readings and write a reading reflection
• Develop an end-of-module creative project
• Participate in digital and in-class critique sessions; for the digital crits you’ll provide written feedback to your peers.

For a detailed description, see the assignments guide.

Labs

On Friday, students will take part in a lab session facilitated by course TA’s and instructors). Labs will provide an opportunity for hands-on skill tutorials, early stage project feedback, and project development. Students can focus on either Sound or Visual Synthesis skills (or if you really want to, you can take both!)

Labs will be run in two time slots with both visual and sound options being offered for both (See below). Lab sessions are scheduled for Friday mornings 09.30-10.20am and 10.30 - 11.20am.

Time	Audio	Visual
Friday, 09.30am-10:20am	Studio A	Digital Fabrication (Basement)
Friday, 10.30am-11:20am	Studio A	Digital Fabrication (Basement)

Before attending the first lab, complete the lab preference sheet posted on Slack.