Basic Digital Arts - DMS 121
Department of Media Study, SUNY at Buffalo
SUMMER 2007
Class: MTWR 11:00 - 1:00
Instructor: Al Larsen
Office Hour: Tuesdays 1:00 - 2:00 (CFA 244 &/or CFA 271)
alarsen * at * buffalo * dot * edu

Syllabus

Course Description
This course will present fundamental concepts and methods that underlie the use of computers in generating and processing digital works and examine them in the context of contemporary artistic practice. The impact of computers, both present and potential, on the more traditional arts will be discussed. Through the use of imaging, audio and presentation software, students will explore the various ways in which computers deal with images, sound and structures, adapting these methods to produce work of their own. Work by contemporary artists working in digital media will be shown and discussed on a regular basis. The class size is strictly limited.

Tools and Topics
This is a class about making stuff and working creatively, so you will execute several projects and exercises over the term. We will be looking at, and listening to, each other’s work in class. We will spend time in class considering art created in a variety of media (digital and non-digital). We will also look at underlying ideas of digital art and what it means to work digitally. This will mean readings and class discussions. You must come to each and every class of the term, prepared to discuss, listen, learn and experiment. Tentatively, these are the software tools we will use: for imaging we will work with Adobe Photoshop; for audio we will work with Audacity; for motion graphics we will work with Flash. There will most likely also be a short introduction to computer programming concepts and the use of scripting.

Course Website
http://www.propertyistheft.com/courses/digital_arts/

Readings
When a reading is assigned it will most likely be discussed in the next class session. There will not be a huge amount of reading in this class. But what there is, you must read and be prepared to discuss. This may mean reading an article several times, taking notes and/or developing questions or comments ahead of time.

Readings will be relevant to different approaches to creative work, issues specific to digital media, and/or technical reading relevant to learning the tools. Readings will either be in the form of a packet to be purchased or as photocopies delivered in class, or as links/downloads. There may be readings assigned via the library online reservation system.

Required Materials
Removable USB drive ("jump drive" or "thumb drive") - this will probably be supplied for you by the department.

You will need to back up your work frequently. It is your responsibility to keep your work safe and accessible (for turning in or sharing during class). You must have a consistent method to do this which is why I recommend a removable USB drive.

You may also wish to lay in a supply of CDs or CD-RWs (and cases). Do not depend solely on your removeable drive as they can fail, be lost or stolen.

Class assignments will generally be turned in via the UBLearns website. In some cases you may also need to turn in assignmnets on disk.

You will need a pair of decent headphones for use during the audio segment of the course as well as during parts of the motion graphics segment of the course. A certain number of headphones are available for check-out from the equipment room.

Readings will be in the form of photocopies delivered in class, or as links/downloads. There may be readings assigned via the library online reservation system. You may need to print a few articles from the internet.

Recommended Materials
Photoshop CS2 (Visual Quickstart Guide) – Elaine Weinmann & Peter Lourekas

Attendance
Being present each day is extremely important! We will be covering a lot of ground in this class and being here (physically and mentally) is your first step toward success. Attendance is mandatory. You are expected to be here each day, on time and ready to go. You are expected to have completed any assigned readings and to participate in discussions, critiques and the work at hand. Participation in class accounts for part of the course grade.

Be here. Do not use class time to check your email or use the internet recreationally. Arriving more than a few minutes late to class or cutting out early may count as an absence or partial absence. Habitual tardiness is not acceptable and your grade may be penalized if late appearances are excessive.

You may miss class a total of three times for any reason (weather, illness, alarm clock malfunction, etc) after that your final grade will be automatically reduced by 4% for each absence.

If you are having difficulties with attendance due to medical issues or personal emergencies please bring it to my attention.

Lab Fee
This course carries a $100 lab fee which will appear on your bill.

Disclaimer
This syllabus is subject to change and revision by the instructor.

Course Work
Assignments and projects must be handed in at the beginning of class the day they are due. On days that projects are due you must be in class that day and ready to present your work to the class. Class assignments will generally be turned in via the UBLearns website. Late work may be docked points and may not be accepted unless you have a reasonable excuse and make arrangements in advance. If you are having trouble turning in work due to circumstances beyond your control let me know.

Class work (your project!) will be presented and discussed in class. You must be prepared to show your work and to particpate in critique and discussion of the work turned in by other class members.

Grading Scheme
Major Projects: 45% (3 projects @ 15% each)
Smaller assignments (may include mini-assignments/quizzes/oral presentations/etc.): 35% (5 @ 7% each)
Attendance, participation: 20%

These are the minimum scores required for passing grades:
93 = A
90 = A-
87 = B+
83 = B
80 = B-
77 = C+
73 = C
70 = C-
67 = D+
63 = D
60 = D-
(scores of less than 60 translate to F)

Office Hours
Come visit me during office hours - Tuesdays, 1:00 - 2:00 - to introduce yourself, discuss your work or get extra help. I will either be in CFA 271 or our classroom, CFA 244. If my regular office hours will not fit your schedule (for instance if you have a class or work obligation during that time) talk to me or e-mail me and we will work out an alternate time.

E-Mail
Be sure to check your UB email account regularly. When sending me email please always include the following at the beginning of the subject line: DMS-121.

Disabilities
If you have a disability (physical, learning or psychological) which may make it difficult for you to carry out the course work as outlined, and/or requires accommodations such as recruiting note takers, readers, or extended time on exams and assignments, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 25 Capen Hall, 645-2608, and also your instructor during the first two weeks of class. ODS will provide you with information and will review appropriate arrangements for reasonable accommodations.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is literary theft and a betrayal of trust. The term is derived from the Latin word for kidnapper and refers to the act of signing one’s own name to words, phrases, or ideas which are the literary property of another. Plagiarism comes in many forms, all to be avoided: outright copying, or paraphrase, or a mosaic or disguised use of words or phrases from an unacknowledged source. To avoid plagiarism, make it your habit to put quotation marks around words or phrases, or to isolate and indent longer passages, that you are using from someone else’s writing. And be sure to cite the source, in a footnote or endnote, or within parentheses in the text. The penalties for plagiarism can be severe: from an F for the particular assignment, to an F for the course, to referral of the case to the Dean of Undergraduate Education for administrative judgement. If you are unsure about how to use and document sources, please consult your instructor.

Academic Integrity
In general, you may not turn in work for this course which you will also use for credit in another course. If you have a question about this policy, discuss it with me.

Weapons as Props
If you are planning a student production which involves using any prop which could be interpreted to be a weapon [toy gun, BB gun, knife, etc.] and you are planning to shoot on the UB campus or any other public space, you must obtain written permission from Campus Security or the equivalent authority before you shoot. If you do not you will face serious problems including possible expulsion from the university.

My own note on plagiarism and "quoting"
Digital tools favor the use of pre-existing material as sources for new work. We will discuss “cut-and-paste” culture, selecting as a creative act, collage and montage and also touch briefly on some issues surrounding copyright and ideas of “fair use.” We will discuss and explore these issues within the course and attempt to differentiate between such practices and plagiarism.

For the course it is important to me that if you are quoting or appropriating material (audio, visual or textual) in a project that you keep track and document your sources and that you are explicit about what pre-existing source materials you used and how.

Offensive Content
In class we will examine a broad range of creative work. There may be selections which some students will find offensive in content or tone. In such cases, students are permitted to leave the room without penalty, at their own discretion.