Introduction to Digital Media
Class Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2 – 3:30pm
Labs Tuesday 5 – 7pm or Thursday 7 – 9 pm
CMB Studio 4B and other locations
Fall, 2006
Instructor: Samantha Krukowski
The Doc Motel, UA9, 2.112K (behind the student services building) / 471.4222
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 2:30-4:30pm
samantha@rasa.net
http://www.rasa.net
TA: Ajae Clearway
aclearway@austin.rr.com
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••Contents subject to change ••
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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: 319fall06@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, contribute ideas, share resources, ask technical questions.
You need to make stuff in order to get good at making stuff. Creative work can be scary, so don’t be surprised if you get nervous or worried or stuck at some point or other during the semester. 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 else. If you are still stuck, in all probability you are not making enough stuff to get yourself moving. 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.
Buy an unlined black sketchbook and make it your best friend. Ideas have a funny way of disappearing if you don’t keep track of them. Carry your sketchbook 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.
Your technical ability will increase in proportion to your effort. 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.
Things to buy | get
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.
Basic supplies:
Tools for making lines (be inventive)
1 pad 14” x 17 “ good drawing paper
1 pad 19” x 24” smooth 100 lb. Bristol Board
At least 20 sheets of black construction paper
At least 3 fat, glossy magazines (find some that you are not very familiar with)
2D collage materials (collect your own, starting now—fabrics, textures, patterns, etc.)
Black pens of various widths
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)
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 listed online and can be reserved by students here:
http://mrm.communication.utexas.edu/mrm6/default.aspx?db=mrm&mylocation=Default-Start
Hints from the equipment manager:
• Make sure you have an appointment time. Call first to get appointment times for checkout and checkin.
• To make a reservation you must use a PC and Internet Explorer 5.5 or greater (not Firefox or Safari)
Readings
This is a production course, and its emphasis is on making rather than reading. We will ask you to read a handout or two during the semester that will help you in your work (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 the teaching section of my website: http://www.rasa.net
Projects
You will complete nine projects during the course of the semester. These projects are due almost weekly. Use your sketchbook to think through these projects before you make and complete them—doing so will help you explore the possibilities for each project before committing to a particular solution.
• Note that a field trip to Houston is scheduled for Saturday, October 21. Please reserve this day on your calendar and make arrangements to get to Houston on your own.
Grading
Projects and participation 100%
A high grade will be assigned to those students who work hard, participate in class discussions, and who make things that show evolution in terms of sensibility, process, craft and scope. Note: a failing grade will be assigned to any student who does not complete all of the projects or who misses more than four class and/or lab sessions. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class and lab; if you are more than ten minutes late you will be marked absent—no exceptions.
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.
Other Important Details
Pay close attention to the Course Calendar and the list of Projects…both are very detailed and will help you stay organized. There should be no reason you should ever come to class unprepared as each class day has a topic and a list of things to bring or prepare where necessary.
Many of your projects will require that you print parts of them. Do not wait until the day a project is due to print your work. Printing is part of the creative process—sometimes it works the way you want it to, sometimes it doesn’t. Do some research to decide where you will be printing your work over the course of the semester. Quality and price should both play a role. There are many different types of paper and printers and printing processes—take this into account when you produce your work. Inkjet prints on standard paper are discouraged. Also, for each project, decide with purpose what size your printed images will be, and in what way you will treat the edge / border. Do not allow the printer to make decisions for you—make sure your work looks exactly the way you want it to.
On project due dates you are required to turn in a CD-ROM with all parts of your project represented. When you make analog work, this means you will have to photograph it after you make it so that you can include it on the CD. Turn in the CD in a CD cover labeled with the following: Your name, Project #, Project name, Course number and semester, Lab section. CDs should look professional—labels and inserts are more than welcome. CDs without a cover and without the listed information will not be accepted and your work will be marked late. These CDs will not be returned to you, so make sure to back up your work.
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.