VIS145A | ICAM102 Digital Media I

Winter 1999, Visual Arts Department UCSD

Lecture: 12:20-2:10pm p.m. VIS228

Labs: Tu 3:55-5:45pm / W 12:20-2:10pm in VIS228

Instructor: Dr. Lev Manovich
email: manovich@ucsd.edu
Office hours: Monday 3-4p.m.

TA: Mark Duggett

Recommended Textbooks:
1. J. Roberts. Director 6 Demystified. Addison-Wesley, 1988. (Ordered at the UCSD Bookstore)
2. Bordwell, David and Thompson, Kristin. Film Art: an Introduction. 5th edition. The McGraw-Hill, 1997.
3. McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics. HarperPerennial, 1993.

Supplies: 100 MG ZIP Disk(s) (available at UCSD bookstore)

Prerequisites:
VIS40/ICAM40: Introduction to Computing in the Arts.
VIS140 / ICAM102: Digital Imaging: Image and Interactivity.
VIS70: The Structure of Art.
Working knowledge of SGI, PC, MAC computers.
Working knowledge of Photoshop.

Class description: The class aims to give the students necessary conceptual background and practical skills in working with interactive computer multimedia. Primary software used in the class is Macromedia Director and Adobe Photoshop.

Programming languages used are Lingo and HML.

Course structure: The class consists from lectures and lab sessions.

Lectures are devoted to presentation of conceptual material, screening and discussions of recent works in new media (CD-ROMs, Web sites, digital films, computer games) and works in other media (film, animation, painting).
We will discuss general principles of organisation of time-based works drawn from animation, cinema and comics and compositional principles drawn from fine arts. We will look at how these principles can be applied to digital media.
We will also explore key conceptual issues in creating computer multimedia such as: intergrating different media elements (graphics, photographs, animation, video, sound, text) within a single work; interface design; control of narative via programming; narrative vs. database structures.

Labs are devoted to practical and technical demonstrations, and critiques of students' works.

Students work on their projects outside of class time; they are expected to devote significant amount of time weekly to the class.

VIS228 Lab access: Each student registered for the class will receive a UNIX computer account on sva-serv1 server. Each registered student will also be given 24 hour access to the lab for the duration of the quarter, controlled by a personal Key Code. The doors at the rear of the VIS228 lab are alarmed and trigger sensors, they are for use only in the case of emergency.

Class requirements:
1. Mastering technical, practical and conceptual principles covered in class.
2. Active participation in class discussions and critiques.
3. Completion of three creative projects on time.
4. Additional homework: readings, studying assingned Web sites.

Attendance: Attendance will be taken every class. During the quarter, you are allowed to miss no more than one class without a proper excuse. Each additional absence will lower your final grade half a letter grade. Chronic lateness counts as absence.

Grading Projects: 3 separate projects are required. The completed projects will be discussed during in-class critiques. No projects will be accepted after the deadline. The projects will be graded on the basis of original ideas, artistic form and technical skills.

Grading Breakdown:
First creative project: 25%
Second creative project -- stage 1: 25%
Second creative Project -- stage 2: 25%
Class participation: 25%

NOTE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS:
Alternative arrangement for class work are possible, but they need to be approved by the instructor.