Introduction to Digital Media
RTF 319
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-2pm
Labs Tuesday or Thursday 5:30-7:30pm
CMB Studio 4B and other locations
Fall, 2005
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Instructor:
Samantha Krukowski
The Doc Motel, UA9, 2.112K / 471.4222
Office hours: by appointment
samantha@rasa.net
http://www.rasa.net
TAs:
Shara Lange
shara@mail.utexas.edu
Iskra Valtcheva
iskrichka@gmail.com
••Contents subject to change ••
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Things to buy | get
Basic supplies
Tools for making lines (be inventive)
Good drawing paper (should have some tooth)
Cheap drawing paper (various options)
Black construction paper
Glossy magazines
Collage materials (collect your own, starting now)
Scissors
Ph Neutral Glue
Unlined black sketchbook (take it with you everywhere)
Storage devices
Storage media (may include Mini-DV tapes, CD-RWs, DVDs)
Helpful but not required: External firewire HD
Webspace account
Go here:
http://www.utexas.edu/its/webspace/
If you have these, or access to these, great!
We have limited access to equipment from Equipment Checkout
Digital and/or film camera
Video camera (mini-DV or something that converts easily to mini-DV)
Places to buy such stuff: Jerry’s Artarama, The University Co-op (both locations), Asel Art, Miller Blueprint, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s. There are many online resources (use them and save money), and better art supply stores in Houston than in Austin.
Things to know
You should be self-motivated to succeed in this course. Work is cumulative. If you are not used to producing work on a regular basis, this course may be more difficult for you.
The course has a listserv:319@lists.cc.utexas.edu. Your e-mail address will be added to the listserv after the first week of class. Use this listserv to communicate with us, your fellow students, ask technical questions, contribute ideas, share resources. In addition, you are encouraged to go to the Convergent Media web site and subscribe to the Converge listserv (http://www.cm.aces.utexas.edu/faculty/skrukowski/courses/resources/converge.html). This listserv includes many people who are involved with experimental media work; it is an additional resource for you during and after the duration of this course.
Questions you have and develop may be resolved by practice or by other types of inquiry--theoretical, philosophical, scientific, poetic, etc. There should be times during the semester that you get stuck. You should develop the tools to unstick yourself. If you don’t know what to make, go look at what other people have made. If you don’t know what to say, go read something or watch something or listen to someone interesting. If you are still stuck, in all probability you are not making enough stuff to get yourself moving toward a question you can answer through practice or thought. A motto for the course: Make, make, make. If you show up for help, you will be asked what you are making and for evidence of your efforts and research in the direction of your inquiries.
Your unlined black sketchbook should be your best friend. Carry it with you everywhere and use it to write and think; dream and play; sketch and draw; collect, insert and paste; sculpt and decorate. Do not use this book as a personal diary; it should be a record of your involvement with the course and the projects you make throughout the semester. Get in the habit of using this book during reviews and class conversations. It is important to record what you learn during conversations about your work and that of your classmates. Important portions of your black book should show up on your final website at the end of the semester.
Your technical ability will increase in proportion to your effort. Hack and be resourceful. There are many, many online tutorials and resources for various programs. Lab facilities are limited which necessitates cooperative scheduling. You may need to use resources in several locations, and finding the right equipment at the right time will probably require initiative on your part.
Equipment
There is some (unfortunately limited) equipment available to you for this class. You may take it out once you have filled out the necessary paperwork and paid a nominal fee. The equipment reserved for us is as follows:
(6) Canon Opturas
One small video tripod per camera (shared with other classes)
Any available microphone EXCEPT ADR mics and Grad mics (shared with other classes)
Any available teenie weenie kit (shared with other classes)
Any available mic cable (shared with other classes)
Readings
This is a production course, and its emphasis is on making rather than reading. We will ask you to read a few handouts during the semester that will help you in your work; we will expect you to be able to refer to them with ease (see Course Calendar.)
There is a small reserve list for this course at the Fine Arts Library. It includes books on Digital Art and Design. Make good use of it, and of the web, to increase your knowledge of your subject. Remember that there are resources in libraries that are not on the web, and vice versa. To see the reserve list for this course online, go to: http://reserves.lib.utexas.edu/courseindex.asp or to my website: http://www.cm.aces.utexas.edu/faculty/skrukowski/professorial/curentcourses.html and click on “reserve list” for Intermedia.
Grading
Projects 80%
Participation 20%
A high grade will be assigned to those students who work hard, participate extensively and continuously, demonstrate a clear understanding of what we are up to, and produce work that shows evolution in terms of sensibility, process, craft, scope and final composition / work. A failing grade will be assigned to any student who does not complete all of the projects or who misses more than four class sessions. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class; if you are more than ten minutes late you will be marked absent—no exceptions.
Documentation and presentation are both large parts of your participation in the course—invest in them.
As in any creative class, grading criteria are necessarily subjective. You may not agree with our personal evaluation, but decisions are final and no post-grading negotiation will be permitted. I discourage incompletes.
Projects
You will complete nine projects during the course of the semester. These projects are due almost weekly. Learn to develop ideas and questions for these projects in your black book before you make and complete them—doing so will help you explore the possibilities for each project before committing to a particular solution.
Your final course project will be to create a website that documents all of your work from the semester, including the portions of your black book that are most relevant to each project.
You will be asked often to discuss ideas and the progress of your work with the class and /or visitors. Be prepared for these discussions, and participate in them fully.
Note that a field trip to Houston is scheduled for Saturday, October 22. Please reserve this day on your calendar and make arrangements to get to Houston on your own.
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University Speak
Regarding Scholastic Dishonesty: The University defines academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to avoid participating honestly in the learning process. Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not limited to, providing false or misleading information to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, or other assignment, and submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the instructor. By accepting this syllabus, you have agreed to these guidelines and must adhere to them. Scholastic dishonesty damages both the student's learning experience and readiness for the future demands of a work-career. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. For more information on scholastic dishonesty, please visit the Student Judicial services Web site at http://www.utexas.edu/depts/dos/sjs/.
About services for students with disabilities: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.
About the Undergraduate Writing Center: The Undergraduate Writing Center, located in the FAC 211, phone 471-6222, offers individualized assistance to students who want to improve their writing skills. There is no charge, and students may come in on a drop-in or appointment basis.