Visual Arts Department | UCSD | Spring 2005
ICAM 40 / VIS 40: Introduction to Computing in the Arts

The syllabus for this class is online at www.manovich.net
As the class progresses, the outline for each lecture will be added to the class web site.

instructor: Dr. Lev Manovich
office: Visual Arts Facility (VAF) 553
office hours: Wednesday 12:00-13:00pm or by appointment
email: manovich@ucsd.edu

TAs:
Katherine Sweetman
Eduardo Novas
T.A.'s office hours and email addresses will be announced in sections.


lectures time: Tuesday | 6:30p - 8:20pm
lectures location: CENTR 212


Labs: AP&M B349 computer lab
The labs are conducted by TAs.

Lab access:
Each registered student will also be given access to the lab for the duration of the quarter, controlled by a personal Key Code. Each student registered for the class will also receive a student computer account. The account information and the Key Code will be supplied by your TAs in section meetings.

Discussion sections: MANDE 103
Discussion sections are conducted by TAs.

Required texts - available at UCSD bookstore
Christiane Paul. Digital Art. (Paperback).
Publisher: Thames & Hudson; (2003; reprinted 2005)
ISBN: 0500203679

The readings from the book will be supplemented by texts available online.

Class Description:

The course consists from three parts: lectures, lab sessions, and discussion sessions.

The lectures will cover the practical use of computers by visual artists and designers, the theoretical concepts which underlie the use of computers in visual arts and the trends in digital culture. In addition to visual arts, we will also look at how computers used in cinema, architecture and design.
We will view examples of how artists and designers are using computers to create interactive multimedia works, "software art," motion graphics, special effects, interactive installations, information visualizations, network projects new forms in architecture and design, and other still to be defined forms of art. We will discuss the key theoretical concepts which underlie the use of computers in visual arts and design such as human-computer interface. Finally, we will also explore some of the key new intellectual and cultural concepts or "themes" introduced by computers such as interactivity, artificial intelligence, artificial life, databases, and network. The larger part of the lectures will be devoted to watching and discussing particular projects presented via web sites, DVDs, video tapes, Web sites, and other visual material. The required readings will provide background contextual information and also introduce students to the additional areas of digital art not covered directly in lectures.

The goal of the lab sessions is to give the students basic practical experience is making art projects using computers the way this is understood in the digital art program in Visual Art Department at UCSD - see ICAM and "what is ICAM" web page for an explanation of our approach.
The sessions also introduce students to the basic structure of studio classes in digital art: presentation and discussion of the projects, discussion of the work in progress with the TA, and a group critique where each student shows the completed project before the whole group and receives the feedback.

The discussion sessions are devoted to the discussion of the material presented in lectures and readings. (Therefore the topic of each discussion meeting is the same as the lecture topic earlier this same week.) The discussion sessions may also include screenings and discussions of the additional digital art projects in addition to the ones presented in lectures, or the projects discussed in the readings. Students may be also asked to write short responses to lectures and readings in preparation for discussions.

requirements:

1.Consistent class attendance. Class attendance will be taken every class. You are allowed to miss one lecture, one lab meeting, and one discussion meeting without an excuse. Missing any additional classes without proper excuse (doctor's notice) will lower your final grade half a letter grade for each class missed. Chronic lateness counts as absence. Forgetting to sign the attendance sheet or leaving early counts as absence.

2. Reading the assigned material before each lecture. If any additional online resources are assigned for the lecture, you should consult them before the lecture.

3. Since midterm and final will include questions based on the material of ALL class lecturers, it is imperative that you take notes at every lecture. You can record lectures in any way you desire (audio, video, stills).

4. In-class midterm - open book. The midterm combines multiple choice questions, a set of questions which can be answered in one sentence, and two short essays (2 pages each). The questions cover both the lecture materials and assigned readings.
See the exam from the previous time I taught this class for the examples of questions (linked to this syllabus.)

5. In-class final - open book. The final is not qualitative, i.e. it is based on the material covered after the midterm. Final has the same structure as the midterm.

6. Labs: completion of the assigned projects on time.

7. Discussion sessions: active participation in the discussions. If TA assigns additional resources for you to consult before discussion meetings and/or short writing assignments, you are responsible for carrying out these assignments on time.

grading:
1. Practical projects and lab participation: 50%
2. In class midterm: 25%
3. In class final: 25%

Please note that since this is an art class, the grading of the practical projects is different than in science classes. The projects will be graded on the basis of original ideas, artistic form and technical skills. The students are expected to complete each project on time. If any projects is not delivered on time, the final class grade will be lowered half a letter grade.