Syllabus

Course Description:
3 Credit hour studio course focused on the creation, manipulation and animation of digital imagery including the integration of multiple elements, such as video and audio, into artistic projects. Students will gain a working knowledge of the techniques and context of time-based computer imaging within a studio art practice. Through readings, lectures, demonstrations, discussions, critiques, writing and artmaking we will explore contemporary, experimental uses of digital media. While this is a studio course in which we will learn software and techniques, the main focus will be on the content of the digital art works created in class and your development as an artist. Prerequisites: Art 2500, plus one more course above the 2500 level that is focused in creating digital art, such as Art 2601, 3101 or 5501. Repeatable twice.

Course Meeting Time and Location:
Offered every semester. To find out the upcoming schedule of this course, go to the university class search tool  and type ART 4101 in the box.

Instructors: Amy Youngs, Associate Professor of Art
Email: youngs.6@osu.edu – best way to contact me
Mailbox:Art Department 258 Hopkins Hall
Office location: Hopkins Hall, room 154. Appointments by email youngs.6@osu.edu

Course Objectives:

  • To create original art using digital imaging and sequencing tools.
  • To achieve a level of comfort with the tools and techniques needed to create and manipulate media elements into moving image artworks
  • To experiment with methods of combining digital media elements such as still images, audio and video footage into meaningful moving image artworks
  • Demonstrated ability to participate in critiques and discussions regarding moving image artwork
  • To professionally finish and submit a moving image artwork into the Art & Technology juried exhibition.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Students creatively communicate ideas through the moving art image form.
  • Students demonstrate an understanding of tools and techniques used to create moving image art.
  • Students display ability to synthesize multiple media elements into a time-based form.
  • Students gain ability to articulate digital art concepts during discussions and critiques.

Course Content and Procedures:
Through artmaking, readings, lectures, demonstrations, discussions, critiques and writing students will explore contemporary, experimental uses of digital media. Class time consists of hands-on demonstrations in software and techniques, balanced with screenings of artist examples and discussions. Students will spend some time in class discussing and developing their creative projects, but will be expected to produce most of their assigned art projects outside of class.

Requirements and Evaluation:
Four completed art projects with accompanying written statements, participation in the end of the quarter Art and Technology exhibition and regular attendance and participation in class activities and discussions.

Grading:
10 % – Project 1Phosphene: drawing the moving image from observation and animating it in After Effects. 
15 % – Project 2 – Remix: making a movie via montage, layering, recycling, erasing, transitions and effects. 
20 % – Project 3 – Re-Animated Animal: represent the world of a specimen at the Museum of Biological Diversity.
25 % – Final project – a complete moving image work exhibited in the Art and Tech show
15 – Written artist statements and research/response papers
15 % – Active participation in class activities and discussions, as well as general class citizenship.

To receive an average letter grade of “C” in this course you must maintain regular attendance, complete all major assignments and participate in class discussions and critiques. An average student can expect to work an average of 6 hours per week on class work outside of class time. An “A” in this course will require that you far exceed the minimum expectations for both quality and concept. Your work should show a highly developed understanding of the concepts and techniques of moving image art, as well as an innovative incorporation of this medium into your own developed aesthetic. Your contribution to class discussions, group work and class critiques is vital for an “A”.

Attendance:
Timely and regular attendance is an expectation of all courses in the Department of Art. We understand that each student may on occasion need to be away from class due to illness or other important matters. The following policy recognizes these life issues but at the same time establishes a set of professional boundaries that need to be adhered to. Attendance Policy: Absences are not excused. Attendance is mandatory in all scheduled classes and labs as all absences in a studio environment impede student progress. Upon a third absence, a student will incur a penalty of six points deducted from the final grade (B would become C+). A fourth absence will incur a twelve point reduction from the final grade (B would become C-) a fifth absence incurs an eighteen point reduction (B becomes D). A student who is absent a sixth time will be required to withdraw from the course if this absence occurs during the withdrawal period of the semester. If this absence occurs after the withdrawal period, the student will receive a failing (E) grade in the course.

Critiques:
Class critiques are very important and will be held at the beginning of class on the due date of each project. If your assignment is not complete for the critique your grade on that assignment will be lowered by one full letter for each class day it is late. You are required to attend critiques even if your work is not complete. Critiques are not for my benefit; instead, they are the best method to learn about artmaking – from a diversity of fellow artmakers.

Labs and Hours:
You may use the Art Department computer labs to pursue your work outside of class. You will get card swipe access to the outside doors of Hopkins Hall and Hopkins Annex doors for 24 hour use. You will lose access to the lab if you fail to follow the rules to keep the lab safe – never prop open any door and never let anyone else in. Students who should have access will not knock, they will use their own card BuckID card swipe to enter.

Reading and Writing:
There will be required readings related to digital art and ideas that we will be discussing in class. There will also be short writing assignments on relevant artists or events and written artist statements for each art assignment.

Related tech book, if you learn best by reading while doing: Adobe After Effects CC Classroom in a Book – A digital copy is freely available to you through the OSU library’s subscription to Safari Tech Books. Try this link: http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/book/illustration-and-graphics/9780134306834 and sign in with your OSU password. If that does not work, try this: go to the OSU library website and search “Safari Tech Books”. Then search for Adobe After Effects CC Classroom in a Book.

Supplies and materials:
Notebook with tear-out pages as a critique journal – we will use these during critiques to write about student’s work and tear the page out to give to them. You will also want to take notes for yourself in this class. You can use this notebook, or a separate one.
Digital Storage –
You will need a USB flash drive or portable external hard drive to store image files and easily transport them to different computers. Get one that will store at least 32 Gigs, but get a larger capacity drive (250 gigs or more) if you plan to archive all of your work in this class on this one device. You will be required to follow good digital practices by backing up your important work in more than one place. Hard-drive crashes and file glitches do happen – and they are not excuses for late projects.
Cloud Storage – If you do not already have a cloud storage space set up, this is a requirement of the class. Regular email (and the CARMEN system) cannot handle large file sizes (videos), so digital artists need to use cloud storage to share files. As student at OSU, you also have access to free cloud storage space in “BuckeyeBox”. Go to https://box.osu.edu/ and sign-in using your regular OSU username password. 
Final project output –
Depending on how you decide to create and display your final moving image artwork, you will need to plan accordingly with supply purchases, (ie. If your artwork is an installation, you may have costs associated with that). If you will be submitting a moving image artwork to the exhibition, you will be required to upload it to Vimeo for jurying. If you do not already have a www.vimeo.com account set up, do it now, this is a requirement of the class.

Be prepared to engage unsettling imagery, and copyright
Any an art class may involve looking at imagery that can disturb, unsettle, or offend. The contemporary art world trades in such imagery, and navigating this world means being prepared to engage with it. However, one must also look critically at it. That is your role as a viewer. As a creator, I hope that you consider the ethical implications of re-presentation of potentially shocking imagery. Likewise, please consider the ethics of copyright and ownership. Violating copyright law is not allowed. However, we will learn to use copyrighted imagery legally following the “Fair Use” principle. This class will follow the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use in the Visual Arts, as described by the College Art Association.

Student advocacy and student counseling

If you find you have overwhelming difficulty during the semester, know that people are here to help you.

  • Student Advocacy (1120 Lincoln Tower, ph. 614-292-1111, online: http://advocacy.osu.edu/) can help you navigate the university bureaucracy, especially in cases of personal crisis.
  • Student Counseling (1640 Neil Avenue, ph. 614-292-5766, online: http://www.ccs.ohio-state.edu/) can help you with your mental health, from stress to anxiety.

Academic misconduct
It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term “academic misconduct” includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed; illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with examinations. In the Art Department this includes reusing old assignments from other classes. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the committee (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional information, see the Code of Student Conduct http://studentlife.osu.edu/csc/

Disability policy:
Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for Disability Services will be appropriately accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The Office for Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue; telephone 614-292-3307, TDD 614-292-0901; http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/

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