| IDC Lab: Media
Integrated Design Curriculum
Parsons The New School for Design
instructor: Cynthia Lawson (LawsonC@newschool.edu)
Office Hours - By appointment
Visit course
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DATE |
CYNTHIA'S SECTION
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EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES |
WEEK 1
09/03
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Introduction to Course - What is Media?
Warm-up Project: A Personal Techno Map 
Assignments: Keep track of your daily interactions with media, analyze them + read Not So Fast
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WEEK 2
09/10
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Class Discussion: Reading
Student Presentations: Weeklong media interactions
Resources: Map your Moves data visualization challenge
Assignments: Finish Project 1 and write a brief one-paragraph statement on your concept and list two examples that inspired you
Weekly Blogger: Ryan
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WEEK 3
09/17
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Critique: Project 1: A Personal Techno Map
Assignments:
- Read Never Just Pictures, The F Word, watch Gender and Sexuality in the Media, read/listedn to Gay and Gamer and come to class prepared with at least three project ideas inspired by the four sources, and to present for discussion.
- Bring one image to class for an in-class workshop. The image can be appropriated or created by you and should be at least 1024x768pixels in size at a 72 dpi resolution.
Weekly Blogger: Belinda
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09/21, 6-7:30pm: Art & Science Transdisciplinary Lectures Nina Katchadourian, Artist. Event details here |
WEEK 4
09/24
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Introduction to Project 2: Sexuality and Gender
Workshop: Image-making and taking
Assignments:
- Finish the warm-up project (under one minute) & bring to class to present, as an exported Quicktime file. (It doesn't necessarily need to connect with sexuality & gender.)
- Prepare a one-paragraph concept statement for Project 2. You must take a position on sexuality, gender, and the media, and describe your vision for how it will be translated into a slideshow.
- Come to class prepared with images to start your project
Weekly Blogger: Jessica
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Film: Catfish |
WEEK 5
10/01
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In-class screening: Chris Marker's La Jetée, Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players' Mountain Trip to Japan, Young Hae Chang Heavy Industries' Artist's Statement No. 45,730,944: The Perfect Artistic Web Site, Takeuchi Tijin's Stop Motion with Wolf and Pig, Blu's Big Bang Big Boom, Oren Lavie's Her Morning Elegance (and Kindle's ad rip-off), Heavy Ammunition's Promo Video
Workshop: Images in Final Cut Pro
Assignments: Finish all images necessary for your project and come to class prepared to finish it.
Weekly Blogger: Hannah
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Film: The Social Network
Film: Catfish |
WEEK 6
10/08
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Studio work
Assignments: Finish Project 2 and be prepared to screen a Quicktime file of your work and to read your one-paragraph project statement.
Weekly Blogger: Bonnie
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Film: The Social Network
Film: Catfish |
WEEK 7
10/15
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Critique Project 2: Sexuality & Gender
Assignments: Assignments: Look through UBU Web and NPR. Choose one work (example: sound work, interview, or podcast) and listen up. In two to three paragraphs describe why you chose a certain piece, what it is, and your response to it. Next class we will have a show & tell - at which point you need to show the example you chose and read your statement on why you chose it.
Weekly Blogger: Caitlin W. |
Ines Rae on "Some Will Pay (For What Others Will Pay To Avoid): Vernacular Typography And The Irreverence Of Popular Culture" on 10/21 at 6pm
Artist talk by Cynthia Lawson at Giacobetti Paul Gallery, Sat. 10/16, 4pm
Film: The Social Network
Film: Catfish |
WEEK
8
10/22
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Introduction
to Project 3: Signal/Noise
Student presentations of sound inspirations
Examples:
Workshop on sourcing sound and Audio Hijack
Assignments: Read Michel Chion's "The Three Listening Modes", the Sounds Amazing website, and Audio in the 21st Century. Write up three possible concepts in the form of a project statement for each, as well as how you are defining "media", "signal," and "noise." The statement should include conceptual & sonic content, and must include at least one reference to the Chion reading and one reference to either of the other two sources.
Weekly Blogger: Caitlin |
Film: The Social Network
Film: Catfish |
WEEK 9
10/29
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Final Cut Pro sound workshop
Studio work
Assignments: Finalize your concept statement and bring ALL of your sounds to class ready to import into Final Cut Pro.
Weekly Blogger: George
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NY Soundscape Installations @ White Box
Janet Cardiff's The Forty-Part Motet
Film: The Social Network
Film: Catfish |
WEEK 10
11/05
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Studio work
Workshop: Final Cut Pro audio filters
Assignments: Finish Project 3: Signal/Noise. Rewrite your concept statement to have references to readings as well as other sound work, and bring a ready-to-play file to class either in quicktime (if it has visuals) format or as a .aiff (sound file.)
Weekly Blogger: Miki |
Janet Cardiff's The Forty-Part Motet
Film: The Social Network
Film: Catfish |
WEEK 11
11/12
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Critique Project 3: Signal/Noise
Assignments: Read Exposed, Risk Reduction Strategies on Facebook, Always Social: Social Media Art Parts One, Two, Three; http://www.youshouldhaveseenthis.com/, and watch Flash Mob Gone Wrong. Come to class prepared to discuss the readings (each of you will be called on.) Also, create a self-portrait of your identity online and bring it printed ready to present in class.
Weekly Blogger: Hugh |
Exhibition: #thesocialgraph
Janet Cardiff's The Forty-Part Motet
Film: The Social Network
Film: Catfish |
WEEK 12
11/19
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Introduction to Project 4: yournamehere.com
Discussion: Readings and self-portraits.
Workshop:
- Hand-coding a basic HTML page and how that fits into the larger picture of Web 2.0.
- Uploading to a server. Instructions are found at my.newschool.edu, under the Student Tab, heading "webspace"
Assignments: Read 20 Things I Learned About the Internet, watch The Machine is Us/ing Us and create a basic web page proposing how you plan to transform your online identity. What is it now, and what do you want it to be? What tools and concepts are you exploring for the remainder of the semester?
Weekly Blogger: Melanie |
Exhibition: #thesocialgraph
Film: The Social Network
Film: Catfish |
WEEK 13
12/03
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Student presentations: Project proposals
Workshop: When to use what
Resources: Web Design Trends 2010
Weekly Blogger: Emma
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Film: The Social Network
Film: Catfish |
WEEK 14
12/10
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Workshop:
Homework:
- Finish online identity project and make sure to include, in a statement, how your identity has changed (not just your new web presence.)
- Prepare a DVD to hand in with each of your projects and statements. Make sure your files are appropriately named and that all files are standalone versions (pdf, .mov, .aiff, .html) If you did not create an HTML-based project as your final piece, then please include a link to your web presence. If you have updated any of the work please add updated to your filename.
- Last week to catch up with the blog and extracurricular activities!
Studio work
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Film: The Social Network
Film: Catfish |
WEEK 15
12/17
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Final critique:Project 4: Online ID
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Course Description
Students work with various digital applications
(including, but not limited to digital imaging, presentation, video and
audio tools and internet) as platforms to investigate the concepts and
processes of making, creating, imaging and representing the media in
society today. The course is both a hands-on introduction
to various software applications as well as an exercise in bridging
theory and practice. A special emphasis will be placed on digital
media for purposes of representation, dissemination and critique.
The objective of this course
is for you:
- To use reading, writing, and digital media as a
means to better understand the relationship between theory and practice
and its importance to your development as an artist or designer.
- To develop a personal conceptual process and to
bring your process into play with others through group discussion and
peer reviews.
- To increase your ability to observe and identify,
describe and analyze ideas and aspects of your work in order to deepen
and expand the possibilities of exploration and experimentation.
- To understand the different processes and meaning of
invention through the experience of reading, reflection, and working
with digital media.
- To develop technical skills in imaging,
presentation, and video, and understand the rela-tionship of technique
to concept.
Course Deliverables
Students’ learning will be assessed through one warm-up assignment and three projects. Students are also required to participate (via writing during one week and via reading and commenting the other weeks) on the course blog, which will serve as the repository for critical insight and reflection on the themes in the course, the projects produced, and the readings assigned. Lastly, students are required to attend at least two of the extracurricular events suggested by their faculty throughout the semester and submit a written critique (not a summary, but an insightful and short reflection on the event) after each.
Working with
Technology
All students are expected to
- Keep copies of every
version of every
file
- Hand in a CD or DVD
with the final versions
of both the project and artist statement the day of final critique.
- Use hardware and
software in The New
School computer labs - for schedules and more information see http://www.newschool.edu/at
- Know
the policies on file deletion from Works in Progress and Drop Box.
Students are encouraged to purchase an external hard drive to
backup their work.
- Whatever
can go wrong will go wrong. Please keep this in mind when
planning your week (ie. do not leave your homework for Sunday nights!
Department and Class
Policies
Student Responsibilities
• Treat class time as an opportunity.
• Arrive to class on time, with all materials, ready
to work steadily throughout the ses-sion. Be prepared with all your
required materials for every class. Complete all as-signments on time.
• Participate in all class discussions and critiques.
Confront difficulties in your work in the spirit of learning, creative
exploration and personal growth. Ask for help from your instructors
when needed.
• Respect your fellow students at all times.
Disruptive behavior is not tolerated. You are responsible for cleaning
up after yourself at the end of each class.
• No radios, players, walkmans, beepers or cellular
phones are allowed in class.
• NO SMOKING ANYWHERE IN THE BUILDING
The New School Statement
on Academic Integrity and Honesty
Academic honesty is the duty of every member of an academic community
to claim authorship of his or her own work, and only for that work, and
to recognize the contributions of others accurately and
completely. Academic honesty is fundamental to the
integrity of intellectual debate and creative and academic
pursuits. All members of the University community are
expected to conduct themselves in accord with the standards of academic
honesty. Students are responsible for knowing and making
use of proper procedures for writing papers, present-ing and performing
their work, taking examinations, and doing research.
Plagiarism and cheating of any kind in the course of academic work will
not be tolerated. Academic honesty includes accurate use of
quotations, as well as appropriate and explicit cita-tion of sources in
instances of paraphrasing and describing ideas, or reporting on
research findings or any aspect of the work of others (including that
of instructors and other students). These standards of
academic honesty and citation of sources apply to all forms of academic
work (examinations, essays, theses, computer work, art and design work,
oral presentations, and other projects).
It is the responsibility of students to learn the procedures specific
to their discipline for correctly and appropriately differentiating
their own work from that of others. Compromising your
academic integrity may lead to serious consequences, including (but not
limited to) one or more of the following: failure of the assignment,
failure of the course, academic warning, disciplinary probation,
suspension from the university, or dismissal from the university.
Every student at Parsons signs an Academic Integrity Statement as a
part of the registration process. Thus, you are held
responsible for being familiar with, understanding, adhering to and
upholding the spirit and standards of academic integrity as set forth
by the Parsons The New School for Design Student Handbook .
Attendance Policy
Class attendance is mandatory. There is no substitute for working and
participating in class. The attendance policy applies to everyone.
There are no exceptions. Students must return to class promptly after
breaks. Undo tardiness following a given break will result in an
absence. Leaving the class before it is over will be considered an
absence.
Absences
For classes meeting one time per week for 15 weeks, 3 absences
constitute grounds for failure.
Tardiness
Two (2) tardies will be counted as one absence.
Class begins on the hour sharp. The door to the classroom will be
closed at that time. Anyone walking in after the door has closed (class
has started) will be marked late. 5 minutes is con-sidered tardy, and
over 20 minutes is considered an absence.
The following may be counted as tardy:
• Coming to class without the required materials
• Sleeping in class
• Being asked to leave class because of disruptive
behavior.
• Doing other course work in class.
Academic Warning
Students who do not complete and submit assignments on time and to a
satisfactory standard will fail this class. It is a student's
responsibility to obtain missed assignment sheets from other classmates
and make-up the work in time for the next class.
Evaluation and Grading
Course Expectations
In order to receive a grade for this course, students must complete all
presentations, and ac-tively participate in classroom discussions and
critiques. Any student that does not present work during any of the
formal presentations will automatically fail. Expectations for the
pres-entation are clearly defined. The presentation will be evaluated
on the following basis:
• if the project fulfills the requirements and
objectives of the assignment
• if the student demonstrates initiative and
inventiveness in the exploration
• if the student has improved
• if the project is carefully considered and
consistently iterated and developed
Assignments and work in progress must be completed on time and included
in class discussion & critique. Late assignments will be penalized.
Consideration will be given to how much a stu-dent's work has developed
and how well that development demonstrates an understanding of the
concepts of the course in conjunction with the arguments present within
your project. Students will also have an opportunity to re-do the
major projects before the end of the se-mester for extra credit.
Your grade is determined by your performance in following:
Blogging & Weekly Progress: 20%
Extracurricular: 5%
Project 1: 15%
Project 2: 20%
Project 3: 20%
Project 4: 20%
Grade Descriptions: (from
Parsons Student Handbook & Core Studies Faculty Handbook)
A
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4.0 |
Work of
exceptional quality.These are
projects that go above and beyond the expectations and requirements
described in the assignment. They d substantial effort and
achievement in the areas of critical thinking, technique and
presentation.
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95-100% |
A-
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3.7
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Work
of high quality. |
90-94%
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B+
|
3.3
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Work
of high quality, higher than average abilities
|
86-89%
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B
|
3.0
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Very
good work that satisfies goals of
course.
The "B/B+"
student offers a clear and convincing structure to a visual endeavor
that is more complex and unique than a project at the average level.
The creator's point of view and point of the project are merged
successfully and organized fairly consistently throughout the project.
Although minor structural problems may be present in the assignment,
they do not hinder the overall outcome. |
83-85%
|
B-
|
2.7
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Good
work. |
80-82%
|
C+
|
2.3
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Average
work, Average understanding of course material. |
76-79%
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C
|
2.0
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Adequate
work; passable.
The student
demonstrates some success in engaging with the assignment. The project
will show that the creator can identify and work with key ideas and
examples found in reference material. Typical of a "C" project is that
the original problem or assignment once approached, does not move
forward. Projects may also have organizational, technical weaknesses. |
73-75%
|
C-
|
1.7
|
Passing
work but below good academic standing. |
70-72%
|
D
|
1.0
|
Below
average work; does not fully
understand the assignments.
Although this is
passable work, the project only answers the minimum requirements of the
assignment. The projects shows very little effort, is incomplete, late
or incorrect in its approach. The outcome shows a lack of understanding
and commitment on the part of the creator. |
60-69%
|
F
|
0
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Failure,
no credit. |
0-59%
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