Prerequisites: None. Credits: 4
Time: Wednesday, 8:20 a.m. - 12noon
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to creative practices within digital technologies specifically focused on Internet based fine art projects. A broad survey of digital arts is examined in tandem with an overview of software including BBEdit, Photoshop and others. Students apply knowledge and skills to web-based creative projects throughout the term. There are lectures, reading assignments, studio projects and critiques during the course designed to aid the student in developing visual literacy and critical thinking skills in relation to the digital arts.
Requirements:
Active student participation throughout all aspects of this course will make your experience much more meaningful and is necessary for the successful completion of the assigned work. There are reading/research assignments, weekly discussions, student presentations, critiques and the production of work during this course. Students are expected to be present for all class meetings. Please email me if you must miss a class. Chronic lateness and/or more than 2 absences will seriously jeopardize your standing in this course.
Students will be evaluated based on the following: Participation/attitude, creative/conceptual work, technical dexterity and progress over the term.
Midterm Project:
The first portion of the term will be focused on learning the skills necessary to build a personal website for you to house your ongoing creative work etc. We will look at principles of web design, information architecture, image optimization and best practice strategies.
Final Project:
Building on class readings and skills acquired students create a web-based artistic project of their own design. The instructor must approve projects and all work is to be located on individual websites. Please note that the final is to be an artistic project -- designing your friends website etc. will not be acceptable. (Final can be created in HTML, Flash, or a combination of both.)
>> Late work is not accepted!<<Research/websites:
All students are expected to contribute in class on a regular basis. Each student is also expected to create and maintain a personal website for this class. All research, documentation, and creative work should be posted on your site for peer review and comments. Individual websites should be updated regularly and include all of your work for this course. In-class presentation materials should be located on your website.
Student Presentations:
Each student will be assigned an artist or collective to make a brief (10-15 minute) presentation on. Presentation materials -- text, image, links etc. -- are to take the form of a web page.
Subscribe to the Rhizome Net Art News List.
Office hours/help:
I am available for technical help or to discuss individual projects via office hours and email. If you would like to schedule a time to meet with me, please check my calendar (link above) and email me an appropriate time that works with both our schedules. Please do not leave voice mail! I am also readily available via email and will regularly respond within a few hours.
Preston Noon is the Digital Arts Technician and has regular help hours each week. For more information, please visit the POD website.
Recommended books:
HTML and XHTML Pocket Reference, by Jennifer Niederst Robbins, O'Reilly, 2006.CSS Pocket Reference: Visual Presentation for the Web, by Eric Meyer, O'Reilly Press, 2007.
CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions, by Andy Budd, Friends of Ed, 2006.
Photoshop CS4 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide, by Elaine Weinmann, Peter Lourekas
Macromedia Flash CS4: The Missing Manual, by Chris Grover, O'Reilly Press.
This schedule is a guide and will change over the course of the term, check back often.
Session 1: February 24
Introduction to the course. What is digital art?Intro to HTML and BBEdit.
Session 2: March 3
Bennington server space/accounts. FTP. XHTML and CSS.Read:
Handout: Rachel Greene, Web Work, A History of Internet Art, Art Forumhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-infrastructure.htm/printable
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-server.htm/printable
Due:
Create biographical text-based web page inspired by Heath Bunting's _readme.html.HTML Dog HTML beginner tutorial (use BBEdit).
Session 3: March 10
Photoshop, layout, site architecture.Read:
From Internet Art, "Preface, The Internet's History and Pre-History" and "The Art-Historical Context for Internet Art." page 7-30.Due:
Write one-page html document in response to the Internet Art reading using BBedit and an external style sheet. Be sure to include links and experiment with font, color etc.HTML Dog CSS beginner tutorial (use BBEdit).
Session 4: March 17
Review work to date. CSS Layout. Image optimization with Photoshop.Work on layout proposal.
(Don't forget about resource links regarding color, type, layout etc. here.)
Read:
Chapter 7, Page Design from Web Style Guide.Student presentations:
Alex Kahler: Olia LialinaRye Skelten: Steve Lambert
Due:
HTML Dog HTML intermediate tutorial (use BBEdit). (Skip javascript)+
HTML Dog CSS intermediate tutorial (use BBEdit).
+
Re-create the one page response from last week using elements discussed in this weeks tutorials (div and span selectors etc.) Do not use javascript.
Session 5: March 24
Scanning. Work on layout proposal. Individual meetings with Robert.Read:
Chapter 4, Interface Design from Web Style Guide.Handout: Pages 1- 25, Setting the Foundations from CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions
Due:
Site map/outline for student pages. Photoshop layout (design) of home page and digital arts page (minimum).Session 6: March 31
Work on sites in class.Student presentations:
Deidrea Hamid: Heath BuntingErica Frohnhoefer: Brooke Singer
Read:
Two column layout.Due:
Present revised site map/outline and design to the class for input. Assets for site should be ready (photographs, writing etc.)Session 7: April 7
Review work to date -- work on midterms.Student presentation:
Jillian Japka: Natalie BookchinJulianne Lee: Alexei Shulgin
Max Nanis: Mark Napier
Due:
Personal sites should be near completion.April 14: LONG WEEKEND | NO CLASS
Session 8: April 21
Midterm critiqueIntroduction of Flash
Due:
Student sites are to be complete, on student server (your website) and working.April 28: Plan Day
All students are encouraged to use this time to work in the POD (unless you have a plan meeting). Preston will be on hand to offer assistance and Robert will be present between plan meetings.Session 9: May 5
Review animations.Student presentation:
TBA: Young-Hae Chang Heavy IndustriesMolly Hulnick: Josh On
Due:
- First draft of ideas for final project. You should have a page on your website that contains a paragraph description of your idea along with sketches/images and a site outline/map. Individual discussions with Robert.- Short animation in flash.
Session 10: May 12
More Flash.Student presentation:
Theodore Gifford: Michael MandibergRainer Hunter: Minerva Cuevas
Due:
- Presentation of ideas for final project to the class. Description of the project along with sketches, site map etc. should be located on your website.Read:
From Flash CS4, The Missing Manual "Getting Around Flash" page 17-39.Session 11: May 19
Flash sound, ActionScript. Work on finals.Student presentation:
Marni Vincent: Jonathan HarrisTBA: Natalie Jeremijenko
Read:
Handout from Flash CS4, The Missing ManualSession 12: May 26
Flash Video. Work on finals.Review work to date. Work on finals.
Read:
Handouts from Flash CS4, The Missing ManualSession 13: June 2
Final projects discussion and critique.Last class. Final projects due. (All work from the term must be complete and located on student web pages by the start of class.)