Course Overview

This course is an introduction to the techniques, practice, and theory of computer-based and internet-based art-making. In order to equip students to create computer-based art, this course will include technical instruction, reading and discussion of theory and criticism related to digital art, and art production. Instruction, discussion, and production will focus on internet art as well as digital audio and video.

Software training is not the purpose of this course, though we will use and discuss various software tools. This is a studio art course in which the art produced exists as pixels and digital data rather than as paint or sculptural materials. Assignments and instruction reflect that this is a studio art course, not a web design course. This class will not address making personal web pages, electronic portfolios, or commercial web sites. Students who want these things from a course should look elsewhere

There will be four graded projects, all of which will be art created for the web. Additionally, students will be evaluated based on class attendance and participation as well as their completion of other assignments.

Texts

Students are required to purchase HTML, XHTML, and CSS, Sixth Edition (Visual Quickstart Guide) by Elizabeth Castro and Internet Art (World of Art) by Rachel Greene. There are many good resources, both web pages and books, available about (X)HTML, CSS, Internet Art, audio, and video. Students are encouraged to find and use appropriate resources beyond the required texts that are applicable to their interests and work.

Materials and Facilities

Part of most class periods will be spent working on assignments in class. Students are expected to bring all necessary materials to every class, including digital copies of current assignments. Failure to bring materials needed to work on assignments in class will be recorded as a partial absence in the student's attendance record [see attendance and grading policies below]

Necessary materials include the following:
- USB or firewire portable hard drive and/or recordable CDs. [Student work should not be stored on lab computers]
- Notebook and pen/pencil.
- Headphones (during units that deal with video and audio)

Students taking courses in the Art+Design Resource Labs are assessed a $75 facility access fee. This fee supports acquisition and maintenance of computers, peripheral equipment, and software, and helps provide technical support.

Students are expected to abide by Art+Design Computing Facility Policies.
Download a PDF of the policies here.
A list of available equipment and software is here.
Lab locations and hours can be seen here.

Grading Criteria

Regular attendance and class participation are crucial parts of your grade. If you need to miss a class, notify me 24 hours in advance with a valid reason and your absence will be excused up to two absences. You have one free unexcused absence. After that, an absence will result in a deduction of one full letter grade.
Class participation is essential to earning a good grade. Participation credit is earned by regularly and actively participating in class discussions.
Writing assignments are graded on a credit/no-credit basis and will also be a deciding factor in final grades.

Assignments are not graded on a relative scale [i.e., there is not necessarily a bell curve in grade distribution]. Student work is evaluated according to the following scale:

A outstanding; thoughtful and intelligent ideas presented in a clear and engaging manner; both concept and execution illustrate critical thinking and engagement with course material.

B good; the ideas are interesting and successfully presented; shows potential, but is not particularly distinguished or is not thoroughly developed.

C achieves minimum requirements of the assignment, but not particularly clear, strong, or ambitious.

D poor; does not satisfy the minimum requirements of the assignment; generally unsatisfactory in terms of quality and clarity.

F you probably didn't submit a finished assignment.

Your final grade will be determined roughly as follows:

100pts project 1
100pts project 2
100pts project 3
200pts final project
100pts weekly writings (Site of the Week and responses to readings)
100pts class participation (Technical exercises, participation in discussion and critiques)

Workload: I suggest you plan to spend five to six hours a week doing course work outside of class time.

Be aware of the University's policies on Academic Integrity and Nondiscrimination as they apply to this class.