Thursday, September 1, 2016

Nam June Paik, TV Buddha, 1974
Instructor: Professor Joseph DeLappe
T/Th 4:00-5:15pm in CFA 207
Office: CFA 158
Office Hours: T/Th 11:00am to 12:30pm
Email: delappe@unr.edu

346 New Media Art in Context 
Survey of the history and contemporary practice of new media art, including emphasis on individual artists and their work. Prerequisite: At least one 200 level Studio or Art History course.

Course Goals and Objectives:
The goals for this course are to provide a comprehensive survey of contemporary and historical theory and practice relevant to emerging new media arts practice.  Students will take part in a participatory exploration and broad examination of the implications and effects of new technologies on visual arts activities, including a broad focus on media theory/practice.

There are two primary objectives for this course. The first is to prepare our Digital Media majors and minors to address their studio art practice from a historically and theoretically informed position. One cannot create art in a vacuum. The second objective is to expose our students to the diversity of professional visual arts practice and ideas represented under the broad rubric of “new media” art.  The intent is to inspire our students towards the creative utilization and understanding of the context for the new tools available to visual artists in the digital age.  Presenting a cohesive survey of new and historical developments in the field will be invaluable towards preparing our students to effectively address their own new media arts practice.

To accomplish this students will be engaged in a deep level of research towards discovering and sharing with their fellow students information regarding artists, movements and trends both historical and contemporary as related to new media arts practices.

Course Content:
In this course we will explore the many varied possibilities, practices and ideas engaged thru new media based practices. These may include but not be limited to: digital imaging, interactive art, robotics, digital fabrication, animation, game art/art games, augmented reality, art/science collaborations, digital activism/art, open sourcery, virtual reality, internet art, etc…

Course Structure:
This is a creative course seeking to explore the many varied possibilities of new media based practices. We will do so in an experimental fashion that reflects the artistic practices and ideas that we are investigating. Each week will be divided in two parts. Tuesday’s class will involve discussing course readings, presentations by the Professor of relevant artworks, artists and themes related to the expansive field of new media based practices. Thursday’s classes will be entirely devoted to ongoing student presentations of their individual and group research focused primary upon new media based artists. The class is designed to encourage full-participation in all aspects of research, presentation and discussion of new media based practices.

Student Learning Outcomes:
•Upon successful completion of the course, will be able to demonstrate advanced competencies in the critical knowledge and analysis of the context and history of new media media based creative practices.

•Students will be able to articulate the timeline in the history of New Media Art.

•Students will be able to identify experimental artists and practitioners in the field of New Media Art.

•Students will be able to deconstruct and analyze patterns and style in the history and contexts of New Media Art.

•Students will be able to articulate the evolution of the development of New Media based art forms and its relationship to larger social and political contexts.

•Students will demonstrate a proficiency in discussion, presentation, analysis and writing about New Media based art while engaging in intermediate best practices for basic website/blog development.

Assignments and Grading Criteria:
The assignments for this course will involve specific reading assignments, from required texts, xeroxed articles and online sources. Readings and research will be tailored to the subject matter of material to be covered in the course. Specific writing assignments will be tailored towards the weekly student presentations (these will be presented to the class and featured individually on student blogs).  Students will also be required to write two critical reviews of new media art:  one of these will be from the direct experience of new media art in a local or regional exhibition (Sheppard Fine Arts Gallery, Nevada Museum of Art, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, etc.); the second review is to be of a specific art video or online art project.

-Every aspect of this course will involve a careful series of activities requiring reading, open dialogue, participation, careful observation and research into the history and context of contemporary and historical science fiction films.

-Attendance and participation is mandatory in order to successfully complete this course.  More than two absences will affect your final grade (each absence after the first two will lower your grade by one grade). 

-Students will be assessed as to how well they participate in the class and by the successful completion of writing assignments and individual and group presentations.

- Required Outside Lectures: Each student is required to attend two approved lectures and two outside exhibition/performance/film-screening, these are regularly announced in class. I will provide you with a list of approved events both on campus and off. You are required to write a one page critical summary of each event and two questions to ask the speaker (extra credit will be given to those who actually ask their question at the event!).

Required Texts:

I will provide you with specific Xeroxed articles for discussion. Students will be as well actively involved in suggesting and selecting readings for the course.

Grading Rubric
•60% Student and Group Research Presentiations - 600 pts 
•20% Participation in readings and group discussions/attendance. -    200 pts (15 weeks x 10 pts per week+ 50pts engagement)
•20% Written lecture and exhibition reviews. -  200 pts (4 reviews x 25 pts ea)

Total points: 1000
A = 1000-900
B = 899-800
C = 799-700
D = 699-600
F = 599-000

The “+” and “-“ system will be used for grading.  http://www.unr.edu/provost/curriculum-central/curricula-forms-and-guidelines/syllabus-guidelines/nshe-grading-policy

Policy on Attendance

Absences
There are no official absences from any university class. It is the personal responsibility of the student to consult with the professor regarding absence from class. In the event that a student misses a class because of an official university function or event or because of serious personal considerations, the Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Life Services may, at its discretion, send an explanation to the instructor involved or to the faculty in general. The instructor shall make the final determination on whether the missed work can be done at a time other than during the regularly scheduled class period.
Religious Holy Days:  It is the policy of NSHE to be sensitive to the religious obligations of its students. Any student missing classes, quizzes, examinations or any other class or lab work because of observance of religious holy days will, whenever possible, be given an opportunity during that semester to make up the missed work. The make-up work will apply to the religious holy day absence only. It shall be the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor in advance in writing, if the student intends to participate in a religious holy day which does not fall on state holidays or periods of class recess. This policy shall not apply in the event that administering the assignment at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship on the instructor or the institution which could not reasonably have been avoided.

Policy on Academic Dishonesty:
"Cheating, plagiarism or otherwise obtaining grades under false pretenses" constitute academic dishonesty according to the code of this university. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and penalties can include cancelling a student's enrollment without a grade, giving an F for the course or for the assignment.
For more details, see the University General Catalog.

Policy on Disability:
If you have a disability and will be requiring assistance, please contact me or the Disability Resource Center (Thompson Building Suite 100) as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations.

Academic Success Services: 
Your student fees cover usage of the Math Center (784-4433 or www.unr.edu/mathcenter/), Tutoring Center (784-6801 or www.unr.edu/tutoring/), and University Writing Center (784-6030 or http://www.unr.edu/writing_center/. These centers support your classroom learning; it is your responsibility to take advantage of their services. Keep in mind that seeking help outside of class is the sign of a responsible and successful student.

Statement on Audio and Video Recording:
“Surreptitious or covert video-taping of class or unauthorized audio recording of class is prohibited by law and by Board of Regents policy. This class may be videotaped or audio recorded only with the written permission of the instructor. In order to accommodate students with disabilities, some students may be given permission to record class lectures and discussions. Therefore, students should understand that their comments during class may be recorded.”



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