The course will examine and experiment with various forms of old and analog media combined with new and speculative twenty-first-century media technology to see if they can be productively remade and integrated into contemporary art practices. Our goal is to defamiliarize technologies related to optical media by finding alternative uses, or by revisiting a time when they had not separated themselves into distinct and different discourses (such as photography) looking at historical devices, methods, and tools that shared common aspirations and limitations. Technical, aesthetic, and conceptual possibilities are explored through studio workshops, projects, readings, presentations, and critiques. Students must be highly self-motivated. The courses is designed to give you starting points but does not prescribe end points. This course requires an inquisitive mind as our main mode of learning is through experiments.

There are two goals. The first goal is for us to explore various media for the sake of exploring. There will be several workshops. Based on the workshops and readings, you will be asked to share with the class your discoveries through studio work and research. You will be evaluated on your discoveries, participation, and contribution. The final presentation of your work will be evaluated based on artistic merit and/or depth of inquiry.

After completing this class students will learn to experiment with different media technologies as part of one's studio practice and learn to look at them creatively and critically through readings and experimentation. Students will learn to explore through experimentation and gain insights into how media technologies work and discover artistic possibilities. Students will learn how to analyze and evaluate works by viewing artworks and through readings and critiques.

Everything counts. Come to class. Participate. Work in class. Work out of class. Read. Be responsible. Hand in assignments on time.... Make work. Make work for your self (not for your instructor). Explore. Think. Thoughtful work is good. Craft is important.

If you miss a class, you are responsible for catching up by asking your classmates. If you miss a class when readings are discussed, you are responsible for sharing your thoughts to the class via e-mail. If you miss 4 classes without excuse, expect your grades to be lowered by 1 letter grade. If you miss 6 classes or more without excuse, you will not pass the class.

Experiments, presentations, and hand-ins are evaluated based on your effort, quality, and timeliness of the work in this order. They will contribute towards 2/3 of your grade with attendance and participation contributing for the remainder.

This class is not designed as a how-to class. I'll touch on some such as Photoshop because this is going to be useful in many of the experiments. Paul and I are happy to go over other tools that we have at our disposal but you'll have to take the initiative to ask or learn to learn on your own. I expect you do your best with what you are most comfortable with and resources available to you.

You may checkout equipment during class time, or during the digital media lab hours (from Digital Media Assistant -- Paul McAllister).

Week 1
Mon - Thu 10 am - noon, 12:30 - 5 pm
Fri 10 am - 2 pm

Week 2+
Mon - Fri 9 am - noon, 12:30 - 5 pm

Submit digital files to be printed at least 24 hours before during DML business hours [here][instructions/information]. For academic printing only (please be reasonable).