Course Syllabus

Course Syllabus

EDPX 3320/4320, Interactive Art, Winter Quarter 2014

Shwayder 220, T/R 3:00-5:50PM

Final Exam - Shwayder 220, 3.13.14, 4-5:50pm

Professor: Cory Metcalf

Email: clmetcalf@gmail.com

Office Hours: TBA

Course Overview

This course investigates the role and potential of interactivity in the arts. Course content will include: surveys of historical and contemporary artists; old, new, and bleeding-edge interactive technologies; examinations of “interaction” in the world around us as seeds for advancing the field; and the exploration of both hardware and software based solutions.

As this is primarily a production or make class, students will build off of the critical foundations and create three distinct finished pieces of work. as the with a focus on interfaces, instruments, and installations.

A core concern is grounding interactivity within the context of the work and creating solutions to interactive problems that avoid channel-surfing or dunk-the-clown responses.

Course Objectives

As a make class, the primary course objective is to create and exhibit three major creative works – an interface, an instrument, and an installation.

In addition to the creation and exhibition of the works, you will also:

• gain a historical understanding of interactivity in the arts;
• learn about critical works, practitioners, and technologies, both historical and contemporary;
• have a good idea of the various software and hardware available for interactive art;
• develop basic soldering skills;
• and more!

Materials

The materials required for the course:

• There is no text required for this course. Most of the information that will be referenced will be available on the internet or will be distributed by the professor in PDF format.
• Additional materials are expected to vary greatly from project to project, but all students are required to have at least 4GB of portable storage for the in-class exchange of files. In most cases, students will need additional storage for project media.
• Interactive Art group sketch blog: Each student will be required to make weekly contributions to the class blog. These should include inspirational artists and projects, personal project sketches, progress updates, documentation, and final deliverables.

Course Work

Peer Mentoring Presentations

Several formal presentations will be given throughout the quarter:

• For each segment (interfaces, instruments, installations) students will give a 7-10 minute presentation on artists, works, and technologies that they find inspirational. These should be professional caliber presentations that aim to enrich our collective understanding of the field of interactive art.

Project proposals

Each student will outline three (3) major project proposals and present them for class feedback. Things to consider when creating the proposal:

• Background/Conceptual foundations: What is the work about? Where is this work situated in a conceptual and art/cultural historical context? How does the use of interactivity or integrate into the work?
• Pre-visualization: Sketches, storyboards, ideal venue, etc.

Final Projects

3 major creative works, one interface, one instrument, and one installation.

• Final projects are expected to be technically complete on the date they are due;
• Students will have a chance to incorporate feedback and polish the work for the final exhibition at the end of the quarter.
• In addition to the creative work, each student will write a supporting paper/artist statement for each project that details the critical foundations, conceptual framework, and materials and methods used in the project. Length will vary depending on the project, but should be no less than 1000 words.

Exhibition/Final

A group exhibition will take place at the end of the quarter in Shwayder, with all three major projects from each student. This will be a professional level exhibition and all students will be expected not just to install their own work, but also to work together to create a compelling group show.

Final Paper

(Graduate only)

• Write a 1500 word essay on a single interactive artist or work.

Exercises and Writing Assignments

• Minor assignments will take place on a regular basis and will include both writing and reading components.These are small projects that aim to enrich our understanding of topics covered in class, concepts being investigated by individual students, and to expand our awareness of the applications and current practices relevant to contemporary approaches to making work.

Policies

This class will combine individual work in the lab with individual and group instruction. Students must come to class prepared to work. Showing up without necessary files or equipment is the same as not attending. Although students may also use their home computers to work on projects, this is not a valid reason to not attend. It will be necessary to work outside of class to complete all projects and assignments. A minimum of eight hours per week of work outside of class is suggested to get an average grade of a C. Computer failure, equipment malfunction, and file corruption are not accepted as excuses for late or unfinished work so BACK UP YOUR WORK. You will need to increment your file saves in order to be sure you do not lose weeks worth of work with one save.

The computer labs are used by many students, so the labs are in high demand. Budget time accordingly as "unavailable computer time" will also not be accepted as an excuse.

Participation in all class discussions and critiques as well as constructive use of lab time is considered in the final grade for each project. At any time in the creation process students should be able to produce notes, drawings, charts or other work products, as well as discuss and articulate the nature of

their work to their peers as well as to the instructor.

Attendance is mandatory. Attending class is the responsibility of the student. Lectures and demonstrations may be given or changed without notice and every class will start with professional examples of relevant work so punctuality is essential. An individual who is absent, late or sleeps during class will be responsible for getting the information missed. Students will be allowed two (2) absences without penalty. Any absence in excess of two will result in a 10% grade reduction of the final grade for the course per absence. All absences will be counted. Being late to class 3 times will count as an absence. A student who misses 15 minutes or more of a class (late or leave early without approval) is considered absent. A student who sleeps will be considered absent. Any use of cell phones, social media sites, or other non-class related use of technology not cleared by the instructor will result in the student being considered absent.

A student who will acquire absences due to a University sponsored activity must provide necessary documentation from the appropriate office prior to the absence to make any special arrangements for missed work. For any absence due to religious beliefs, written notification should be provided in the first two weeks of the quarter; the student is responsible for any missed work. Any special medical or personal problems that occur, where absenteeism will exceed the allowed two, will require verification by a physician or emergency medical association (a letter from Student Affairs merely explains an absence, and will not qualify as an excuse). These situations may require course withdrawal or "Incomplete" status on the final grade. Four absences mandate an automatic grade of "F."

Grading

Grades will consist of the following:

• Minor Exercises: 5%

• Peer Mentoring Presentations: 15%

• Project Proposals: 15%
• Final Projects (for grads, also includes final paper): 30%
• Final exhibition: 15%
• Portfolios (artist statements, documentation, media, etc.): 10%
• Participation (in-class discussions, blog contributions, team work for final show): 10%

Projects and assignments will be graded on the following basis, listed in order of importance:

• Development, creativity and originality of concept or problem solution;
• Technical development and demonstration of skills;
• Craftsmanship and presentation of work;
• Participation in classroom discussions and critiques in connection with the work;

For the final exhibition, extra emphasis will be placed on the quality of the presentation of work, on the incorporation of critical feedback into the presented works, and on project documentation.

Your final grade for the course will be calculated according to the following standards:

A = Excellent (100-90%)- work pushes far beyond the project stipulations and shows clear evidence of extreme time, dedication, care and thought about the project as evidenced in effective execution of original/thoughtful ideas.

B = Good (80-89%)- work exceeds the basic criteria, provides creative solutions to the problems and shows technical proficiency. Student has made the project "theirs" in that they do not need to explain project stipulations before showing the work.

C = Average (70-79%)- work fulfills all requirements, does not expand on techniques shown in class, ideas are close derivations of popular culture.

D = Unsatisfactory (60-69%)- work might meet basic criteria but in a careless and/or thoughtless way.

Technical proficiency is rudimentary and no chances were taken.

F = Failure (0-59%)- the work does not meet the basic criteria.

Late projects will be penalized a letter grade for every day they are late. Turning a project in after the beginning of the critique counts as one day late.

Lab Rules

It is your responsibility to adhere to all rules regarding the use of the EDP labs and equipment. You will be given a sheet stating all rules.

Plagiarism

Solutions to assignments you submit will be your own work. A student who is discovered to have plagiarized others' work will immediately receive a grade of F for the course, and a recommendation for disciplinary action will be forwarded to the Dean of Students.

Additional Information

If a student has a documented disability and wishes to have special arrangements made to facilitate a more effective learning environment, I must be notified by the student within the first two weeks of the start of the course. The student must also provide proper documentation stating the condition of the disability. This will remain confidential unless the student chooses otherwise.

Course schedule may be subject to changes.