ANIMATION AND INTERACTIVITY
2007
(ART 3613C,, ART 4614C)
FAH 279
MONDAY/WEDNESDAY 1PM-3:50PM
PHONE: 813/ 974-9307
APOLLACK@ARTS.USF.EDU
OFFICE: FAH 253
AFTERNOON BY APPOINTMENT
SPRING
EMAIL:
OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY, 12-1,
AND
TUESDAY
ANIMATION AND INTERACTIVITY
STATEMENT OF STUDENT OUTCOMES
I teach my students the same principles that I apply to my own art practice.
successful completion of this course, the students will have:
• Been exposed to the breadth of contemporary art practice.
Upon
• Have increased their understanding of how to think critically about themselves and
their community, and to see themselves as a contributing member of society
• To have a better sense of what they want to say, how to say it, and to gain an
increased understanding of why they express themselves using the modes that they do.
• Learned to communicate their ideas more intuitively and intelligently, verbally,
through their writing, and ultimately through their work.
• Learned to value critical thought: in looking beyond the surface for answers
• Learned technical skills necessary to implement their artistic/creative ideas into
works of art
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course develops interactive-media authoring skills using Macromedia Flash. Using
this technology, you will learn to create self-running animations, movies and
interactive, hypertextual projects that integrate image, sound, and text. Animation
and Interactivity is designed to introduce students to the rapidly expanding
potential of the computer as a tool for communication and of artistic practice. The
course will seek to provide students with an aesthetic, technical and theoretical
introduction to the challenges and possibilities which the computer brings to the
realm of visual culture.
Through a series of workshops, projects, discussions and critiques, students will be
exposed to a range of Apple Macintosh based tools and working methods. Although
students can expect to gain a measure of “hands on” familiarity with a number of key
software packages, this is essentially not a technical class. This is a studio class
in which the computer will be used as a tool for making innovative and challenging
art. It is also a class within which the discussion and critique of that art will be
informed by broader debates around contemporary creative practice.
HOW
TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS COURSE
Your success is dependent on your own efforts
Be disciplined
Be self-motivated
Be on time
Ask question
Do the projects
Present proposals
Be involved in the discussion and critique
Take risks- stretch yourself, push your ideas, do not settle on the safe or easy
solution
ATTENDANCE:
It is critical that students arrive to class prepared and on time. If you are
absent, it is your responsibility to find out from a classmate what you have missed
and if the schedule or assignments have changed. For each absence after your 3rd,
you will lose one letter grade off of your final grade. 3 Tardies are equivalent to
one absence. Attendance and presentation of projects at Critiques are mandatory.
If you intend to miss class due to religious observance, you should inform Prof.
Pollack by the second class meeting of the term.
REQUIRED TEXT(S):
Green, Rachel; Internet Art, , Thames & Hudson, World of Art
Musciano, Chuck, and Bill Kennedy;
HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide, Fifth Edition
Selected handouts on techniques and electronic media theory.
Regarding the reading and handouts: Throughout the semester, I will give
handouts/readings relevant to what we are working on. Read them and come
prepared to discuss them in class.
SUGGESTED TEXT(S):
Reinhardt & Dowd Flash 8 Bible, Wiley Publishing
Kerman, Phillip; Teach Yourself Macromedia Flash 8 in 24 Hours; SAMS 2006
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Firewire External Hard Drive, at least 50 GB, Mac formatted. (if you need help with
this, ask Anat) CD’s and DVD’s
CRITIQUES:
Critiques are fundamental to the artistic and learning processes. Critical thought is a
means of evaluating the effectiveness of the devices of communication employed, a forum
for discussion and opinion, and a place to discuss formal technical and design
considerations. During critiques, we will follow the “safe place model” which assumes
that we are all here together to help each other learn and grow as artists- this
includes being constructive and not cruel, to be articulate in why something is or is
not working for you and to participate in the dialogue. Assignments are due at the
beginning of class on due dates.
Treat critique like an exam. All Critiques are mandatory; missing a critique will result
in your project grade be lowered by two letters. If you do not have your project ready
as specified for critique but are in class, you have one week to turn it in with one
letter grade deduction. After one week, you will fail the project. If you have already
earned a failing grade on an assignment due to your tardiness in turning it in, you will
still be required to submit that completed assignment in order to pass the course. If
you are not present at the ‘final critique’ during exam week, you will fail this course.
ASSIGNMENTS:
You will be expected to be self-motivated, that you take the initiative, utilize
problem solving skills, and that you apply critical thinking and discussion to the
topics and content of this course.
Out-of-class work is expected: a minimum of 6 hours per week.
There will be 4 major projects over the semester and several smaller assignments. I
will hand out assignment sheets for each one of the major projects with guidelines
and deadlines for you to follow. Throughout each assignment, I will expect you
present your ideas of your work during class. Be prepared, and don’t procrastinate.
Your midterms and final “exams” are critiques. Treat them as exams- arrive on time,
come prepared, and do not miss them.
For Electronic Media projects, make sure to back up your work frequently and in
different formats (Art Server, CD, backup harddrives or USB devices.) You will
invariably lose, corrupt, or overwork a piece. Make sure to keep old and current
copies of your files. Your projects are due on-time, regardless of technical
problems.
*All projects must be documented and submitted on CD-ROM/DVD at the end of the
semester for your final grade. These projects should be functioning and in their
final form. It is expected that all projects are of professional quality in
technique and content, suitable for a job interview or gallery exhibition. Videos
should be at least 640x480 DV-NTSC, images should be at least 1200x1600 at 360 DPI.
You should keep a sketch book / notebook for your ideas and your notes.
**Note: All work must be original work completed this semester for this class. There
can be no appropriated imagery, sounds, video, html, web, or flash files. Any
appropriated imagery will be considered plagiarism, and will be treated as such.
Assignments are due at and by the beginning of class on days of critique. (if class
begins at 9am, the work must be completed by 9am). If it is late, your grade will be
considered late, thus losing one letter grade on the project.
Make sure to back up your work frequently and in different formats (CD, backup
harddrives or USB devices.)
You do not have permission to sell class notes or tapes of class lectures for this course.
GRADING POLICY:
Quality of work: idea and execution
Class participation: Class Discussions and Critiques
Attendance, Effort, Homework
20%
Project Breakdown:
Flash Animation
Interactive Project
Linking Project HTML
Self Directed Project
60%
20%
15%
15%
15%
15%
GRADING:
A 90-100 = Artwork that is portfolio or gallery ready. This work is strong in
content and idea, exhibits technical fluency and mastery, and went above and beyond
the expectations for the project. Exceptional! Good problem solving and risk
taking.
B 80-89 = This work has satisfied all of the required expectations, has developed
good creative content and exhibits technical proficiency.
C 70-79 = This work is average. You have completed the criteria necessary for the
project. Lacks creativity or content, did not explore or experiment technical skills
beyond basic demonstrations.
D 60-69 = Well below average. Project does not meet project criteria or is poorly
executed. Lacks creativity or content, failure to grasp technical skills demonstrated
in class..
F = Incomplete projects, and /or fails to meet requirements of project.
**Regarding the Final CD- This CD orr DVD should include all of your projects from the
semester including your .fla files, .and swf files, I don’t need photoshop or other source
files. The files must be functioning, with proper linking.
I am recording final grades
based on this CD. If it is not in functioning order, you will get an incomplete for the
class.
NOTE: The schedule may change in response to class progress and needs. It is your
responsibility to update your schedules as it is modified over the semester.
Schedule
(Subject to Change)
Visiting Artist and Lecture Series Attendance Required
January
8
Discuss Project #1: Animation
• Read: As We May Think- Vannevar Bush
10
Discuss Bush
Flash Overview: Interface; Drawing; Animation Basics
Animation Project #1: Begin Sketching parts and how they may correspond to the whole
• Read: The Library of Babel
http://www.tcnj.edu/~miranda/classes/web/reading/netart1.html
•
•
•
•
•
Media: The Way Things Go
Rube Goldberg machines:
www.rube-goldberg.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD8P4fE8Yn0
http://www.rubemachine.com/
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*
15
Martin Luther King Day, No School
17
Discuss Borges; Flash: Symbols
Bring all drawings to class of your ideas of different parts.
or drawn on the computer.
This can be hand-drawn
Complete objects by 1/24; This includes the objects and all of their embedded
animations
• Read: A Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, Walter Benjamin,
http://bid.berkeley.edu/bidclass/readings/benjamin.html
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*
22
Flash: Masking, Paths; Sound in Flash- Audacity to edit, importing
24
Discuss Benjamin
Have your objects completed to work with in Flash- be ready to review/discuss with
group
Animate the parts together- Critique on 31 Jan.
• Read Greene: Intro pgs 8-31
25
7pm, Visiting Artist Lecture: DJ Spooky/Paul Miller
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*
29
Discuss Greene and DJ Spooky; Studio Day
31
Critique Project #1
•Read: Greene: Chapter 1 Early Internet Art: Participation in Public Spaces, Russian
Internet Art Scene, New Vocabularies pgs 31-45
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*****
February
5
Discuss Greene
Project #2 Interactive Narrative- this can be a solo project, or you can team up with
others to develop something further.
• Idea development, begin sketching, researching
7
Interactivity: Buttons, Loading external .swf files, movie clips
• Discuss ideas, decide on idea.
• Begin collecting and creating content
(February continued)
• Read:
•Greene: Chapter 1 Travel and Documentary Modes, Net.art, Cyberfeminism,
Corporate Aesthetics, Telepresence; pgs 45-73
• Guillermo Gomez Pena, Virtual Barrio from Reading Digital Culture, edited by
David Trend (Handout)
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*****
12
Discuss Greene; Interactivity: Properties
• Come prepared with flowchart, research, map of site
• Further develop content: layout, color palette, buttons, sound/audio, video,
images. All studio must be original.
14
More on Properties, Video in Flash; Final Cut, Importing,
• Read: Greene: Chapter 2 Isolating the Elements: Email-based Communities; Exhibition
Formats and Collective Projects; Browsers, ASCII, Automation and Error, Parody;
Appropriation and Remixing pgs 73-92
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*****
19
Discuss Greene; Video in Flash, Components
21
Components
• Read: Greene: Chapter 2 Mapping Authorship; Hypertext and Textual Aesthetics,
Remodeling Bodies; New Forms of Distribution; Sexual Personae. pgs 92-119
7pm Dave Hickey Lecture
22
9am Dave Hickey Workshop
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*****
26
Discuss Greene and Hickey; Studio Day
28
Studio Day
• Read: Greene: Chapter 3 pgs 119-144 Themes in Internet Art: Infowar and Tactical
Media in Practice; Turn of the Millenium, War and the Dotcom Crash; Datavisualization
and Databases
March
1
7pm Miwon Kwon Lecture
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*****
5
Discuss Greene; Studio Day
7
Critique Project #3
Taste of the Arts- Class will begin at 2pm today
• Read: Greene: Chapter 3 pgs 144-168 Games; Generative and Software Art; Open Works;
The Crash of 2000; Chapter 4 pgs 173-191 Voyeurism, Surveillance and Borders;
Wireless; E-commerce; Forms of Sharing; Video and Filmic Discourses
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12
14
Spring Break
Spring Break
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*****
(March cont’d)
19
Discuss Greene; HTML: Tags, Type;
Theme/Word- Project #4
7pm Zoe Beloff Lecture
• Read:
• Greene: Chapter 4 pgs 191-214 Low-fi Aesthetics; ‘Art for Networks’
• from HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide:
1 HTML, XHTML, and the World Wide Web
2 Quick Start
21
Discuss Beloff Lecture; HTML: tags, headings, type, hyperlinks
(March Cont’d)
• Read:
559-600 from Information Arts- Stephen Wilson
From HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide 3 Anatomy of an HTML Document
4 Text Basics
23
Arthouse, 31st Annual Juried Art Show
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*****
26
Discuss Wilson;
HTML Audio, video, cascading style sheets, images, color in html
• Read From HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide:
5 Rules, Images and Multimedia
6 Links and Webs
7 Formatted Lists
28 HTML
• Read by next week from HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide: 8 Cascading Style Sheets
9 Forms
10 Tables
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*****
April
2
Studio Day
4
Critique HTML: Linking Page; Discuss Final (Self-Directed) Project #5
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9
Action Scripting
11
Action Scripting
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*****
16
Action Scripting
18
Action Scripting
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23
Final Critique
25
Final Critique, Last Day of School Assignment #4 Due- Critique: Final Project + CD
Due
Man with a Movie Camera
La Jetee
Art 21
Video – bill viola
Chris Burden
5 Obstructions
Martha Rosler: Semiotic Kitchen