This article asks: "While being shown footage recently of a live audio-visual performance of mine – an abstract visualization of a piece of electro-acoustic music – a colleague asked me the fateful question, ‘Yes, but what is it about?’ He was asking, essentially, ‘What does it mean that these images and sounds are occurring before me, what is the status of this audio-visual material, and what kind of spectator am I, how can I read this, how can I make sense of this?’"

TUE/THR 13:40pm - 16:30pm [syllabus]
Week 1
8/29 (TUE)
C
  • Intro to Class [Notes]
  • Martha Rosler, Bruce Nauman
L
S
  • How to fix the broken cut and paste feature in Premier timeline [video]
8/31 (THR)
C
  • Discuss reading [slides]
  • Assign Project 1 & Technical Exercise 1
  • Review of Premier from last class (keyboard shortcuts, multiple sequences, exporting)
  • Lec2: Video Standards and Cameras [Notes][Cameras Available (need to use Reed account to access)]
  • Paul demo: Lighting and Tools for shooting video
  • Make Appointment for Individual help on camera and lighting equipment setup with Paul as necessary
L
  • Split into a group (of 2 - 4 and if there are tech saavy classmates follow their lead), get a camera and check the settings/format. Make sure it is not 4K.
  • Go through the motion of shooting a simple footage, connecting the camera to the computer, and uploading the video file onto the computer
R
  • Read by class:
    • "Video Art" by London: Intro
  • Webscreening (1): Watch the following by class -- I do not expect you to watch the full length. Content warning - some video may be uncomfortable. If you have specific triggers let the instructor know

S
Week 2
9/5 (TUE)
C
  • Film Theory [Notes]
  • Assign Technical Exercise 2
L
R
D
Technical Exercise 1 (try to finish by end of class)
Part 1:
1. Submit any one source footage directly from the camera with filename with your name with video format information (eg. LASTNAME.1080p.???)
2. Submit an edited H.264 compressed mp4 video file exported from Premier using your own footage with some kind of simple edit (or effect) with filename with your name with video format information (eg. LASTNAME.1080p.H264.mp4)

Part 2:
1. Using the two files given to you (DoorShut2.mov, DoorShutWide.mov]) create three edits where the transition occurs before, on, and after the action.

The purpose of this exercise is purely technical. It is for me to check that you all have the right settings/configuration/file format.

Submit the mp4 files [here].
A
  • Start shooting for Technical Exercise 2 and Project 1
9/7 (THR)
C
R
L
A
  • Work on Technical Exercise 2 and Project 1
Week 3
9/12 (TUE)
C
R
  • Read for this class:
    • "Video Art" by London: Ch2 Early Practitioners
    • Optional (if you are interested in theory/art history): Video: Aesthetics of Narcissism by Rosalind Krauss [PDF]
9/14 (THR)
C
  • Watch video: Edit two ways. Things that did not happen.
  • If we have time Max MSP
D
Technical Exercise 2: Simple event created through an edit, two ways (due before class starts). - Submit two videos, each approx. 1 min long which uses editing to depict a simple event that did not happen, that cannot have happened, that modifies/compresses space and time via editing. For example, transporting space/time through editing (opening a door to one room and ending up in a very different space. In reality the rooms are not connected). Or throwing a ball and the ball landing in an unexpected place/way, a car accident/murder scene (think the famous shower scene from Psycho), conversation between people who can not possibly be in the same room... or as mundane as drinking coffee, reading book, finish reading (1 hour later) but with editing, compressed into 1 mins.

The two videos should be of the same event with different editing style. At least one video must use invisible continuity editing with no music where we can easily believe that the event has happend.

The editing style of the second video is open-ended, perhaps could be more experimental using montage.


You may work with classmates to shoot and share source footage if you wish but please edit independently. It need not be interesting. It is a exercise in shooting, editing, and making decisions.
FYI some examples from last year [here]
Submit [here]
Week 4
9/19 (TUE)
C
R
  • Read for this class:
    • "Video Art" by London: Ch5 Narrativity
L
  • Intro Max/MSP/Jitter from Cycling 74
    • Help -> Reference -> Max -> Tutorials -> Hello
    • Help -> Reference -> Max -> Tutorials -> Bang!
    • Help -> Reference -> Max -> Tutorials -> Numbers and Lists
    • Help -> Reference -> Max -> Tutorials -> Metro and Toggle
  • Lab:

    0. Read the above tutorials - I suggest you access the tutorials from within Max by going to Help -> Refernce and clicking on the "Home" icon on the top left.

    1. make a patch that prints "Hello world" every second.

    You will use toggle, metro, message, and a print object. Create those objects. Connect the message object with the word "Hello world" and the print object so that when you click the message object, you see the message "Hello World" on the console.
    Then, follow the following instructions/hints.
    • The toggle switch will turn on and off the metro object.
    • The metro object will generate a bang every 1 sec (1000 ms).
    • The message box contains the message "Hello world". (Do not name the print object Hello World)
    • The print object receives the message from the "message box"

    2. modify the patch so that you can control the rate in which the metro object generates a bang using a number box. To achieve this, create a number box and connect the outlet of the number box to the right inlet of the metro object. (Make sure you understand the difference between the left inlet and the right inlet).

    3 modify the patch and use a "counter" object so that it prints out the value of the counter together with the message "Hello World". 
    "Hello world 1", "Hello world 2", "Hello world 3", ... etc.
    First, change the text inside the message box so it says "Hello World $1". If you don't know what a counter object is, create the counter object, right click and open the help file. Do not name the print object "Hello World". Instead make sure the message box has the message "Hello World $1". (hint: "my dog has $1 fleas" or pack object)

    Optional 4. Create a separate patch so that it prints "Hello World" and "Good night" in alternate order with equal spacing in time (eg. every 1 sec)? (hint: use gswitch)

    5. Submit patch before end of next class [here]
A
  • Work on Project 1
S
9/21 (THR)
C
  • Ask Max MSP questions if you have any
  • Studio work time otherwise. Work on Project 1
Week 5
9/26 (TUE)
C
  • Critique #1 (single channel work)
D
Project 1: Single Channel Work

Recall all the experiments artists conducted using video and the works we've seen and read about. Create a single channel video (single screen video to be projected during critique in the DML).

For example, initiate an activity/event/performance to be video-taped and create a video like Martha Rosler. Or use the (human) body as the central instrument in the video like Bruce Nauman, perhaps (but not necessary) in response to the early video art works shown in class. (Give yourself a task. A task that you may or may not be able to complete. Document the effort. Start with an idea. Keep an open mind).
Or as another example, a diaristic video like George Kucher's Weather Diary. Alternatively, a video that is visually and aesthetically compelling using effects like Pipilotti Rist's work.

So you have many different ways of approaching a sigle channel video work. Your video can be long but I ask that you submit an excerpt less than 5 min. Please submit your video to the class folder with your first and last name [here]
9/28 (THR)
C
  • Critique #1 (single channel work)
Week 6
10/3 (TUE)
C
L
  • L5: Premier: Split screen (Multi-video, video within a video) [Notes]
  • Assign Technical Exercise 3 (split screen continuity edit)
  • PR: Premier -> AE: AfterEffects
  • Overview of AE (Keyframe in Aftereffects if we have time?) [Notes] [demo files]
    • Using layering and keyframing, make an animation in AE
R
  • Read for this class:
    • "Video Art" by London: - Ch4 Video Takes Center Stage
    • Optional reading (for in-depth critical discourse)
      • Maeve Connolly, "Multi-screen Projections and Museum Spaces" from "The Place of Artists' Cinema: Space, Site and Screen" p61 -107 [PDF]
      • Daniel Birnbaum, "Time Difference,” from "Chronology" p57-70 [PDF]
A
  • Work on Technical Exercise 3
  • Work on Project 2
10/5 (THR)
C
L
  • L6: After Effects: Masking, Green Screen {Masks, Layers, Keyframing} [Notes] [demo videos]
  • AfterEffects Visual Effects (VFX) analysis "How do you do that?" [video, content warning -- blood/reference to suicide]
Optional Extra Credit Technical Exercise: VFX/Animation in After Effects (if we have any, we can watch 11/2).
  • Create a video, one second or longer (mp4 file) by layering multiple sources (video or images) together and by using masks
  • You can use various forms of masks (Greenscreen, rotoscoping...etc) in After Effects to create a short VFX video
  • Warning: this will take an enourmous amount of time. Do not attempt if you do not have the time
R
Week 7
10/10 (TUE)
C
L
  • Max Msp 2
R
  • Read for this class:
    • "Video Art" by London: - Ch8 Media Art, Globalism, and Identity Politics
10/12 (THR)
C
  • Technical exercise due: watch video from split screen exercise
  • Max MSP 3? >
D
Technical Exercise 3. Create a video of an event (walking, talking, opening door ...etc) using split-screen (multiple videos simultaneously) due before class.
  • Create at least one video of an event (eg. an event you created for Technical Exercise 2 or project)
    • using split-screen (where there are multiple windows in a single video)
    • that has the same spirit as invisible continuity editing (it's not meant to be jarring)
    • max length 1 min
  • You can reuse source footage from past exercises/projects but you probably will have to shoot new footage
  • The idea is to find a new editing method/vocabulary using multiple screeens

    Submit [here] [past student work]
10/15-23 FALL BREAK
Week 8
10/24 (TUE)
C
  • Max Msp part 2
L
Keyboard shortcuts I find useful for Max:
n - new object 
m - messages
c - for comment
t - for toogle box
b - for button
Cmd-e  toggle between lock/unlock
Lab Exercise:
- Complete the following Assignment2 . (Cut and paste into your patcher window). Last problem is optional. It is HARD. Submit your patch here by next class
R
  • Please take a look at the tutorials from Intro to Max/MSP by this class
    • Help -> Reference -> Max -> Tutorials -> Message Ordering
    • Help -> Reference -> Max -> Tutorials -> Simple Math
    • Help -> Reference -> Max -> Tutorials -> Numerical User Interfaces
    • Help -> Reference -> Max -> Tutorials -> Keyboard and Mouse Input
    • Conditionals.maxpat (Cut and paste into your patcher window).

      * A note on the Max Tutorials: the Max tutorials after this goes over drawing and video. Drawing uses the object "lcd" which is deprecated and you should use the jitter objects jit.mgraphics and jit.pwindow instead. We'll also use jitter objects for dealing with video.

10/26 (THR)
C
  • Studio work time
Week 9
10/31 (TUE)
C
  • Critique #2 (New Video for Art) [Group A]
D
Project 2: New Video for Art due before class: [submit here]
- This project asks you to explore possibilities of video in an art setting/audience (gallery or museum space with viewers entering the space at random times) with the readings in mind.
- It's open-ended. With that said, multiple simultaneous projection is ideal as a project but we don't have the resources (space/projectors) to make that happen to all. So my suggestion is to go half-way by using split-screen or many videos within video
- For the purpose of the critique, while the video can be long, we will only have time to look at approximately 5 mins of the work. Thus please make a 5 min excerpt of your work.
- Unless otherwise arranged, the work will be projected on the DML projector.
11/2 (THR)
C
  • Critique #2 (New Video for Art) [Group B]
  • If there are VFX works using AfterEffects, lets watch them too!
Week 10
11/7 (TUE)
C
L
  • Max MSP: Jitter 1. [Patches used in Class: Vocoder, Sound related, Jitter basics]
    • Jitter Tutorial (Help -> Reference -> "Home" -> Jitter -> Tutorials)
    • What is a Matrix
    • Jitter - Attributes
    • Jitter Tutorial 1 - Playing a Quick Time Movie
    • Jitter Tutorial 4 - Controlling Movie Playback
    • Jitter Tutorial 7 - Image Level Adjustment
Create a video player with keyboard shortcuts 'p' for play. 's' for stop, 'f' to toggle fullscreen. Submit [here])
R
  • Read for this class:
    • "Video Art" by London: Ch1 Defining a Medium
    • "Video Art" by London: Ch3 Multimedia Video, Performance, and Music
11/9 (THR)
C
  • Max MSP: Jitter 2 [Patches from class, jit.grab, attributes, sound frequency...]
    • Jitter Tutorial (Help -> Reference -> "Home" -> Jitter -> Tutorials)
    • What is a Matrix
    • Jitter - Attributes
    • Jitter Tutorial 1 - Playing a Quick Time Movie
    • Jitter Tutorial 4 - Controlling Movie Playback
    • Jitter Tutorial 7 - Image Level Adjustment
L
1) To the video player from last lab, add sliders to control brightness and contrast -- hint: jit.brcosa (in Tutorial 7)
2) Read and study Jitter Tutorial 4 - Controlling Movie Playback

Submit [here] by beginning of next class
R
  • Read for this class:
    • "Video Art" by London: Ch6 The Rise of Installation
    • "Video Art" by London: Ch7 Media Art Diversifies
    Optional:
    • Grayson Cooke, "Start Making Sense: Live Audio-visual Media Performance" International Journal of Performance Arts and Digital Media, Vol. 6, No. 2 (2010), p193-207 [PDF]
S
  • 360 VR Video of Teiji Furuhashi's "Lovers"
  • Max for the Visual Arts is highly recommended. (Should be installed on the lab machines Max: Extras -> MFVA_help. If not, install through the package manager. Max: File -> Show Package Manager)
  • Extras -> cv.jit-Object guide
  • Max Cookbook by Christopher Dobrian has great examples
  • Amazing Max Stuff youtube video channel
Week 11
11/14 (TUE)
C
L
Studying/commenting code:
From [sample patches for today] download 03_05_scissors_glue.maxpat
Answer Q1 - Q9 (write your answer into the comment section) and send the patch to instructor by beginning of next class.
11/16 (THR)
C
Week 12
11/21 (TUE)
C
  • More Jitter [patches here], [map of sensing techniques and actions covered in class]
  • Interface Technical exercise (Due by Thanksgiving)
D
Technical Exercise 4 Interface for a movie file using Max due. Submit [here]

"Recall the argument that the interface defines the media". Create an interface for a movie video player/processing patch with Max MSP with the following features

  1. Keyboard shortcut. 'p' for play. 's' for stop, 'f' to toggle fullscreen.
  2. Sliders to control brightness and contrast -- hint: jit.brocosa (in Tutorial 7)
  3. A button to jump to a specific point (for example, frame 0 which is easy, or if you want a challenge, jump to end)
  4. Add at least one additional feature
    For example:
    - slider to scrub through frames (hint: message "frame $1" to jit.movie)
    - buttons to add effects to video. (See effects such as Zoom or Relief )
    - mix videos interactively
    - rotate and scale video (see jitter tutorial 15 image rotation)
  5. Clean it up using presentation mode
11/23 - 26 THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week 13
11/28 (TUE)
C
R
  • Read for this class:
    • "Video Art" by London: Ch9 Facing the Future
S
11/30 (THR)
C
  • Studio work time
Week 14
12/5 (TUE)
C
  • Studio work time

CRITIQUE DURING FINALS WEEK -- NOTE DIFFERENT SCHEDULE!

12/12 (TUE) 1-4pm
D
  • Final Critique during finals week (12/11 - 12/14) [Submit work here]


    Final Project: Interactive or Live (real-time or you can document live performance) work using Max/MSP

    Decide whether you are a user or a coder. As a user, use and modify the sample patches and think of ways to modify/use them in an artistic context, think of ways to deploy it to make it meaningful/artful. As coder/programmer, create new tools that allow for experimentation.

    Some ideas:

    • Think of ways you can make the art work acknowledge something external to it (eg. use of live video, network, or input from user).
    • Think of a new artistic interface to video (or something else like sound)
    • Think of ways to incorporate live/real-time video (or data) into the work
    • Think of an interactive interface specific to a movie file
      • a video player that stops when you face the screen and plays when you look
      • a video player that you can control with your body movement
      • a video player that plays a clip so that it takes 24 hours to view like "24 Hour Psycho",
      • or a player that adds info-graphics (eg. Amazon viewer adds actor information),
      • or a player that shows other clips next to it to make a commentary, or one that is aware of the content -
      • or a player that refuses to play a certain area of the video or a phrase in the video regardless of how you play (rewind, sped up, ...etc)

    • If it requires a certian setting and performance, you can show the documentation of the performance. (eg. using the vocoder patch in a performance outside)

    • The emphasis could be on the video you shoot too! What kind of video would work well with the max patch that controls video via volume?


    FYI [map] of sensing techniques and actions covered in class
12/13 (WED) 1-4pm
D
  • Final Critique during finals week.




C Class............plans for class..subject to change
L Lab............darkroom/lab session
A Assignments......what you should be doing outside of class among other things.
R Readings.........finish reading by.
D Due.............yes, due date.
S Supplementary.....further reading/references/artists discussed in class