Syllabus

ARTM 2105 – 001
DIGITAL MEDIA
Fall 2009, MW 11:00-1:50, Macy 106B
Professor Heather D. Freeman
Office Hours: Rowe 253 TTh 11:30-12:30
Telephone: 704-687-0184 • hdfreema@uncc.edu
www.EpicAnt.com
www.PersonalDemons.org


COURSE CONTENT
Electronic Media will serve as a comprehensive introduction to computer-aided art making, including digital collage, audio, and animation. This course will acquaint students with the hardware and software used in artistic creation and several methods for digital output. It will also provide a basic vocabulary for discussing electronic media and its role within the visual arts. The prerequisite courses are ARTB 1201 and 1203. These courses must be completed with a grade of C or better before taking ARTM 2105 - Electronic Media.


COURSE OBJECTIVES
The digital realm is an ever proliferating and seemingly borderless territory within the arts. Students will contribute to the broad range of digital art by producing their own works of digitally originated art and by critically evaluating the artists/movements within this field. Students will:
• learn how to use the computer as a tool for visual thinking and communication and to explore possibilities of using the computer for artistic expressions.
• understand several software relevant to digital art including, but not limited to, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign.
• create inventive and original 2-D animation and sound works.
• critically analyze artworks in and out of class production that (re) define and/or (de) construct the concept of digital art.
• efficiently and creatively produce and print digital images founded upon issues raised in class.
• acquire the vocabulary and perspective to critique and examine the relationship between “new” and “traditional” media.


COURSE FORMAT
In- and out-of-class assignments, in-class demonstrations and quizzes will be employed to familiarize students with the software and hardware. Following this, specific projects will be assigned which require the application of this software for creative output. Quizzes will assess students’ acquisition of this information. This is a three-credit studio course that meets six hours per week. You must be prepared at the beginning of each class for work under my supervision. You must also dedicate a significant number of hours outside of class time each week to properly acquire the material and complete project assignments.


CRITIQUES
Critiques, when we meet to look at finished work, are especially important classes. On the day of critique, students are expected to be ready at the start of class to show their work. Students are expected to share their ideas, observations and beliefs in critique and will be graded in part on their participation. Missed critiques will drop the project by a letter grade. A missing project will warrant an automatic failure on that project; it is always better to show something incomplete than nothing at all.


EVALUATION
Your over-all grade will be determined by the four projects, in- and out-of-class exercises, homework, and quizzes less missed classes. Projects will be graded on:
• Originality of content and concept
• Execution (clarity of your concept’s delivery)
• Technical presentation
• Overall presentation and craftsmanship
• Effort and Experimentation
All work in this class must be original. Violation of this is considered plagiarism and the university code of student academic integrity will be enforced (please visit http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-105.html for the entire code). Students have the responsibility to be familiar with and observe the requirements of The UNCC Code of Student Academic Integrity. This code forbids cheating, fabrication or falsification of information, multiple submission of academic or artistic work, abuse of facilities and equipment, and complicity in academic dishonesty. The normal penalty is zero credit on the work involving dishonesty and further substantial reduction of the course grade. There will be no appropriation of images or sounds in this course.


GRADE BREAKDOWN
Project 1: 25%
Project 2: 25%
Project 3: 10%
Project 4: 25%
Homeworks and Quizzes: 15%
less missed/late classes


GRADE SCALE
A 100-90%
B 89-80%
C 79-70%
D 69-60%
F 59-0%
*There will no extensions on projects, no extra credit works, and no resubmissions.

INCOMPLETES
Incompletes are given for documented medical problems and serious situations. If for some reason you find that you cannot complete the requirements of the course, your best option is to withdraw.


SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Students with disabilities requiring accommodation in this course should contact Disability Services in Fretwell 230 and bring appropriate documentation to the instructor.


ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance will be taken promptly at 11:00. If you come to class late, please let me know so that I know you attended. You are allowed a total of three absences. For any class you are absent, you will receive a grade of zero for any in-class-assignments, quizzes, homework or projects for that day. Each additional absence after the three will result in a letter grade reduction of your final grade. Two lates equals an absence. Leaving early twice equals an absence. It is your responsibility to keep track of your own attendance. For example, if you are earning a B, but missed three classes and were late twice, that would drop the final grade to a C. This is non-negotiable and there is no extra-credit in this course. Class experience is an important part of the learning process. The course work is demanding and it builds upon every class. I expect you to come to class and to work to the best of your ability with a positive attitude.


REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS
• Lynda.com texts. $38.00 for the semester. Go to http://www.lynda.com/edu-media/studentlogin.asp and enter your email address and the class code 08142009C9788.
• You will need to follow this blog (http://artm2105002fall09.blogspot.com/). This may require you to create either a blogger, yahoo, google or other account.
• USB Flash Drive, 128 MB capacity of greater (an iPod or other portable hard drive compatible with Mac OSX is also fine).
• Headphones (when working with sound and for listening to Lynda.com videos). Walkman-style headphones are fine.
• Sharpie Permanent Marker (for labeling CDs).
• Sketchbook, no larger than 7” x 10” (you should carry this with you everywhere you go and keep track of your ideas!)


SUGGESTED MATERIALS
• Digital Camera


LAB MATERIALS CHARGE
There is a $25 lab fee for this class. This covers consumables like CD-ROMS and helps offset the costs of printing. This should be paid during the first week of classes.


BACKING UP AND SAVING
Be sure to always back up your files to a USB Flash Drive, a Fire wire Drive, or a CD-ROM or DVD. If you plan on using a USB drive on a PC, make sure the drive is Mac formatted. Never rely on school computers as your primary backup. Always keep backups on USB drives and CD-ROM. Never work directly off a USB drive. Always copy the data to the workspace first and work from that copy. Then, save the revised version back onto the USB drive or burn another CD. If you lose or mutilate your data, you will have to make up the work. In addition, and I cannot stress this enough, ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR WORK, EVERY DAY. There is nothing quite so frustrating as spending hours on a project, finding out your file is corrupt, and it cannot be opened. Especially when this happens five minutes before the critique. ALWAYS BACK UP. If you lose your work, you are responsible and will not be given any grace period for re-doing your work. AGAIN, ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR WORK, EVERY DAY. DO NOT RELY ON THE COMPUTERS IN THE LAB FOR BACKUP.


KEEPING A SKETCHBOOK
• Some homework assignments will be recorded in your sketchbook.
• Take it with you everywhere; make it your best friend and confidant.
• If you have a spare moment, 30 seconds, noodle in it.
• Bring it with you to every class.
• Sketch out multiple solutions to visual problems before you start the actual project!
• Write in it, draw in it, and collect photos and clippings in it, whatever you can cram in there.


BLOG
We will use this blog as a discussion board and to post works in progress for feedback. Please be sure to check this group often for updates and information.


CONCERNS AND COMMUNICATIONS
If you have any concerns about the class, how you are doing, how I am teaching it, any personal conflicts that are making your life difficult in relation to this course, or if you’d just like to talk about art, feel free to e-mail me, utilize my office hours or to schedule another time to meet! If you’re shy about any given matter, you can always leave me a note in my mailbox in the Art Department main office. I am really excited to work with you all and look forward to a fun, challenging and rock ‘n’ roll semester!