- - - - - - - DIGITAL MEDIA Fall 2018 Dr. Kimberly Sultze MJD110A Digital Media: Art, Culture & Theory Klein 127 T/TH 10:15 11:50 am, JM288 ksultze@smcvt.edu 654-2257 THE COURSE Digital media have radically changed the ways words, images, and sounds can be manipulated and delivered. In the process, they've altered the ways in which humans communicate, think, create art, express ideas, get information, and conduct relationships. This course takes a two-pronged approach to cultivating students understandings of the current changes in digital media. First, students will be introduced to the critical examination of the digital revolution, including issues connected to creative expression, privacy and surveillance, consumerism, psychological distraction, and device addiction. Second, they will gain experience and skills in the processes and practices involved with digital art and graphic design. They will be introduced to new technologies and engage their imaginations through art projects in digital imaging (Adobe Photoshop), illustration and animation (Adobe Illustrator), and web design (Adobe Muse). REQUIRED TEXTS AND TOOLS Eric Bucy, Ed. Living in the Information Age: A New Media Reader. Second Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2005. Neil Postman. Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. New York: Vintage, 1993. Robin Williams. The Non-Designer s Design Book. Third Edition. Berkeley: Peachpit Press, 2008. M.T. Anderson. Feed. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 2002. Either a flash drive for storage via USB or an external hard drive. Some type of digital camera (smartphone camera is fine). Additional readings as announced.
MULTIMEDIA AND DIGITAL ARTS LABS Most of our work during the semester will take place in the computer lab in JM 288. This room is the MJD Digital Arts Lab. The lab was set up as a place for creating complex digital image and multimedia projects. But, networks, computers, and printers are fairly elaborate machines, which means that there are many ways in which they can break down. Having problems with the network, with a particular computer, with a scanner, or with a printer? It is your responsibility to report that problem immediately. In your email message, phone call, or face-to-face communication, be sure to include a thorough and detailed description of the problem and on which machine you are having it. Problems with computers, the network, or accessories (like scanners) should be reported immediately to User Support, ithelp@smcvt.edu; x2020; St. Ed s 221. Chris Swanson cswanson@smcvt.edu is the person at IT who should be copied on communications about the status of computers in the labs. Problems with printers should be reported immediately to George Goldsworthy, the coordinator of printer support, ggoldsworthy@smcvt.edu, x2727. In this class, we use the Adobe Creative Suite. You can find the Adobe Creative Suite in 4 labs on campus: MJD-Media Lab 1 (JM142), MJD-Media Lab 2 (JM144), The MJD 288 Digital Arts Lab (JM288), The Fishbowl (Durick Library 327). MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH Inside and outside of class, be sure to take steps and engage in practices that cultivate your own mental and physical health and well-being. It s important to develop self-care strategies that work for you. Here are two of my suggestions: At a minimum, try to carve out one hour per day that you spend device-free. That means no screens, and especially no smartphone. Humans are biological creatures, not machines; we aren t suited to spend every waking moment on call, nor are we suited to subject ourselves to continuous 3-8 second swipes of stimulation. Fight the power button turn your device off, or better yet, leave it behind. Engage in some kind of physical exercise at least a few times a week. More is better. Outside is better. Walking counts. Try taking a walk in a natural landscape (without using your smartphone while you re doing it.) Engage the senses in soft fascination. Notice things. Be willing to be awed. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Our classroom should be an inclusive learning environment for all students, and it is important that we work together to create and maintain an inclusive community for all forms of diversity: race, gender, class, culture, nationality, sexual orientation, ability, age, religion, ethnicity, etc. Acts of hate or bigotry will not be tolerated. My intention is to present activities and materials that are respectful of diversity.
REQUIREMENTS Writing Assignments, Digital Art Projects, and Exercises (45%) You will be completing weekly writing assignments, digital art projects, and lab exercises. All of them will require a considerable amount of time spent outside of class in the computer lab. Both in image and in word, your projects and exercises should be meticulously presented. For full credit, they must also be turned in at the beginning of the class period in which they are due. Late assignments and projects will be penalized. There will be a 10% deduction per day that it is late. Also, the last time I will accept late work is two class periods after it was due (so, one week later). After that time, the assignment will go down as a zero. Exams (45%) There will be three exams covering the techniques and concepts discussed in class and the readings. The third exam will be cumulative. Attendance, Promptness, and Participation (10%) It is imperative that you come to class and arrive on time. After two absences, your grade will be lowered. Two cases of lateness equals one absence. Excessive absences will result in a failing grade. If you do miss a class, it is your responsibility to contact classmates to find out what you missed and to get a copy of their notes. This is so you can keep up and do the required work for the next class. Participation refers to: how much you take part in class discussions how you conduct yourself when others are speaking how well prepared you are for class by carefully completing the lab exercises, digital art projects, readings, and reading response questions Humans are biological creatures. Among other things, this means that we need to eat and go to the bathroom. Breakfast is an important meal; please eat it before you come to class. If you want to bring a beverage, that s fine, but keep it on the seminar table and not by the computers. Plan ahead and go to the bathroom before class begins. A Class Notebook or Folder is required for this class Create a folder or notebook for this class in which you keep track of your notes, handouts, projects, readings, and assignments. Take thorough handwritten notes on the readings, demonstrations, discussions, lectures, screenings, and in-class exercises. In each class session, we will be building on what we ve learned and discussed in the previous weeks. When you re working outside of class, there will be many times when you will want or need to reconstruct a sequence
of procedures we performed in class. Relying on your notes is a good way to do this provided you ve taken some. Pen and paper is the best technology for meaningful memory and retention. No-Smartphone, No-Laptop, No-Tablet policy In this class, I want you to Be Present in the Here and Now, engaging with your fellow human classmates face-to-face. Phones, tablets, and laptops should be turned off and put away before class begins. Do not have your phone sitting next to you at the table; instead, put it in your pocket or backpack. If you text during class, it will count as an absence for that class. (See attendance policy above.) The same rule applies for meetings with the professor turn off your smartphone before you come in to meet with me. GRADING A 94-100 A- 90-94 B+ 87-90 B 84-87 B- 80-84 C+ 77-80 C 74-77 C- 70-74 D+ 67-70 D 64-67 F below 64 DATE TOPICS READINGS Aug. 28-30 Introduction and Overview Mediamorphosis & New Media Theory Evaluating the Promises and Perils of digital technologies Combatting HYPE and ENDism with Skepticism New Media Reader, 2-1 Postman, Virtual Students, Digital Classrooms Sept. 4-6 *Sept. 7-9 (Fri, Sat, Sun) DIGITAL IMAGING I Working with Photographs Adobe Photoshop Editing Images, Ethical Concerns South End Art Hop, Burlington (most activities centered around Pine Street) New Media Reader, 1-1 Meyer, Smartphone Reduces Brainpower New Media Reader, 6-4
Sept. 11-13 DIGITAL IMAGING II Photography s new bag of tricks Ritchin, In Our Own Image New Media Reader, 12-3/4 Sept. 18-20 DIGITAL IMAGING III From Tool-Using to Technocracy Investigating the Internet The Web as a Medium of Communication, Connection, and Confusion Technopoly, Intro, Ch 1-3 Sept. 25-27 From Technocracy to Technopoly Technopoly, Ch. 4-5 Technopoly, Ch. 6-11 Oct. 2-4 Exam #1 In the Land of Advertising McCloud, Understanding Comics Oct. 9-11 DIGITAL DESIGN I: Principles of 2D Design Illustration and Typography Adobe Illustrator Williams, Ch. 1-7 Williams, Ch. 8-11 Oct. 16-18 T, Oct 16 Mid-semester Break, No Class DIGITAL DESIGN II: Layout & Color Communicating with Images Abstract and Realistic Feed New Media Reader, 4-1/4 Oct. 23-25 DIGITAL DESIGN III: Basic Animation Feed Oct. 30-Nov. 1 *Nov 2, Friday Using Focus and Proximity in Design Telluride Mountain Film Festival World Tour, UVM Davis Center (buy tickets in advance) Roszak, The Cult of Information Christensen, Nuclear Roulette
Nov. 6-8 The Computer as a Technology of Control From Judgment to Calculation Exam #2 New Media Reader, 7-2/3, 8-4 Nov. 13-15 WEB DESIGN I Designing Online vs. Designing In Print Adobe Muse New Media Reader, 8-1,5-2 Nov. 20-22 WEB DESIGN II Information Architectures Site Design and Navigation Th, Nov. 22 -- Thanksgiving Break, No Class Freeman, Your Brain on Email Nov. 27-29 Storytelling on the Web Freeman, Tyranny of Email Dec. 4-6 WEB DESIGN III Interactivity and Multitasking New Media Reader, 6-1/2 Final Exam TBA