Instructor: Russet Lederman
E-mail: russet@russetLederman.com

Course Description:

This class will introduce students to possibilities for making artworks that utilize computer networks and other forms of interactive web, multimedia and telecommunications technologies. The primary emphasis will be on the Internet, particularly on the World Wide Web. Through a series of screen based art projects, readings, discussions, and presentations, class members will learn to work with these technologies, and to articulate their interests and concerns as artists working with them. The class will also explore forms and concepts of interactivity.

Students will be required to complete the following assignments in this course:
**Link to Schedule of Presentations**

2 screen based art projects (min of 3-5 screens each)
1 written paper (2-4 pages) to be presented in class (15-20 minutes)
1 resource presentation in class (15 - 20 minutes)
weekly readings and discussions

Explanation of creative online projects:
Midterm screen based art project:
Topic: Changing Notion of the Art Object
Due Dates:schematic of proposed project presented in class 4
Completed project due in class 8
Final screen based art project:
Topic: Games and Virtual Worlds
Due Dates: Schematic of proposed project presented in class 10
Completed project due in class 14/15.

Explanation of written paper:
Students will select a topic from the syllabus and must write a 2-4 page paper to be posted on their SVA web space  Presentations will be due at the beginning of the class with the corresponding topic. For example, if a student's chosen topic is Hypertext, their presentation will be due the day that the class syllabus indicates Hypertext. Visual and net based illustrations of comments and questions are required for student presentations. All written papers are due by class 12 -- some presentations will occur after papers have been handed in.  Research for the written papers must incorporate required readings for the selected topic, plus 3 additional sources. A bibliography, footnotes and 2-3 links to artwork examplifying the selected topic are required within the paper. (Do not use instructor's links.) Late papers will result in a lowered grade for the assignment.

Explanation of resource links:
Students are required to select a resource subject chosen from the class syllabus to be presented in class. For example if a student's selected topic is "css", then he/she will research 3-5 links about css. The links are to be emailed to russet prior to class. They will then be added to the class website.

Explanation of class readings and discussions:
Each class will focus on a different issue concerning telecom based art.
As outlined above, each week a different class member will present an overview of his/her analysis of the day's topic. Another student will present a web tech demo/presentation. Every week, each class member must prepare reactions to the proposed issue and reading assignment that will be used in a class discussion. Students are required to write down specific ideas and quotes which they will use in the class discussion. 

The following questions are suggestions of preparing reactions
* How does this reading connect with what we've already read/discussed in class?
* What do you agree with in the reading? What do you disagree with?
* What provokes a response/reaction, either good or bad?
* What differences do you see in your own beliefs and the beliefs informing the researcher's work?
* Is there anything that you don't understand?
* How can you relate this to your own work?
* What new insights did you gain?

Grades will be accessed based on class participation in discussions, attendance, the 2 screen based art projects, written paper, topic presentation.

Attendance will be recorded for each class.

The following syllabus is subject to change. Field trips and guest speakers may be added.


Suggested New Media Books:
Noah Wardrip-Fruin and Nick Montfort (Eds.), The New Media Reader, MIT Press, 2003
Lev Manovich, The Language of New Media, MIT Press, 2001
Christiane Paul, Digital Art, Thames & Hudson, UK, 2003
R. Packer and K. Jordan (Eds.), Multimedia: From Wagner to Virtual Reality, W.W. Norton & Co., 2001.
Stephen Wilson, Information Arts, MIT Press, 2002.

Tech Resource Books:
Visual Quickstart Guides by Peachpit Press (HTML, Photoshop, Flash, Javascript, Dreamweaver)
Master Visually Guides by Wiley Publishing (Web, Photoshop)
Bible Series by IDG Books (Flash, Dreamweaver, Director, Photoshop)