Art 390 New Media and Animation III
Syllabus Spring 2016
3 credits

Course number: ART 390
Mon - Wed 11:00 - 1:45 PM
John Valentino, Professor
Office 549-5377
Rm. East Stadium Rm 131

Office Hours
Tuesday: 2:00 - 4:00pm
Wednesday: 2:00 - 4:00pm
Thursday: 10:00 - 11:00AM
Additional office hours available by appointment
E-mail: jvalentino@selu.edu
http://www.Johnvalentino.com

Catalogue description:
Credit 3 hours. Prerequisites: Art 290 and 299 or permission of Department Head. An exploration of interactive media for the creation and distribution of artistic content. Course work will concentrate on the development of applications and game production for desktop and mobile devices. There will be a focus on both asset creation and scripting for these types of applications. Readings and discussions will focus on technical, aesthetic, and theoretical issues relating to this evolving art medium. Six hours of studio a week. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours. A Laboratory fee is required for this course. (As Needed)

Synopsis:
Advanced Digital Art is a continuation and elaboration on the theory and methods of New Media building on the knowledge and skill you learned in Art 290 and Art 190, you will be introduced to Interactive media and app design that includes images, text. sound, and video on the Macintosh environment.
Every effort will be made to make assignments relative to the current situations facing us as artists. We will be listening to clips from NPR radio programs as well as looking at television, film and music to inform our work. We will be reading and discussing writings of Michael Rush, Dave Hickey and Margot Lovejoy as well as looking at a variety of artists who use digital technology and the web as a means for facilitating their work. We will be reading essays that will form the theoretical framework for assignments. A reading response posted on the class web site (http://www.johnvalentino.com) is required for each reading. We will be using all of the readings in creating and critiquing images during this class.

Prerequisite: Art 290 and Art 299

Art 390 Course Goals and Objectives:
• To teach interactive media as art forms.
• To introduce critical theory as it relates to digital imagery.
• Students will continue to refine their skills in using computer software to create art works.
• Students will develop craftsmanship skills appropriate to an advanced level of study.
• Students will learn the history of the digital art media as it relates to app design, video, 3D modeling and interactive artworks
• Students will learn to critically analyze computer-generated artworks.
• Students will learn to critically analyze computer-generated artworks and to critique both verbally and in a written form, their art and the art of others.

Note: If you are a qualified student with a disability seeking accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to self-identify with the Office of Disability Services, Student Union, Room 1304. No accommodations will be granted without documentation from the Office of Disability Services.

Note: The last day to resign from the University or withdraw from classes, without a grade penalty, is March 24, 2016.

Note: “Free discussion, inquiry, and expression is encouraged in this class. Classroom behavior that interferes with either (a) the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or (b) the ability of students to benefit from the instruction is not acceptable. Examples may include routinely entering class late or departing early; use of communication devices, or other electronic devices; repeatedly talking in class without being recognized; talking while others are speaking; or arguing in a way that is perceived as “crossing the civility line.” In the event of a situation where a student legitimately needs to carry a communication device to class, prior notice and approval of the instructor is required.” Classroom behavior which is deemed inappropriate and cannot be resolved by the student and the faculty member may be referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs for administrative or disciplinary review as per the Code of Student Conduct which may be found at http://www.selu.edu/admin/stu_affairs/handbook/.

Internet use During Instruction Time:
Internet access is provided to each computer in the New Media Lab. Students are encouraged to use the internet and world wide web as a resource, research tool and window into contemporary culture. However, students are not to spend time on personal Facebook or other social media sites, shop or otherwise surf the web during instructional time when it does not directly pertain to a New Media project. Students will not, under any circumstances, use the computers or internet connection to play games during instructional time. If you are observed partaking in these activities during instructional or independent work time you will receive a 50% reduction in grade for the current assignment.


No cell phones during class - check your messages during breaks.

Academic Integrity
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Behavior that
violates these standards is not acceptable. Examples are the use of unauthorized material,
communication with fellow students during an examination, attempting to benefit from the work of another student and similar behavior that defeats the intent of an examination or other class work. Cheating on examinations, plagiarism, improper acknowledgment of sources in essays and the use of a single essay or paper in more than one course without permission are considered very serious offenses and shall be grounds for disciplinary action as outlined in the current General Catalogue.

Facility Use Policy:
With this newly equipped facility, the Digital Arts Center is a state-of-the-Art complex. Students who enter and study within this environment are expected to treat its many electronic facets with complete respect. There will be no storage of projects on the hard drives of work stations. You will be instructed on the policies with regard to the proper storage procedures within each class. Each work station has been set-up for the needs of students within this center and there will be no altering of hard drives, systems, changes in font listings or software programs. If changes within these configurations are found, increased security will be implemented.

Lab, Lecture, Exams, Absences:
Regular and punctual class attendance is typically associated with higher course grades, and students are encouraged to attend all classes. Important information will be given during each lecture so be prepared to take notes both in lecture and during the lecture period in lab. There will be time during class for you to work on assignments. These sessions are not "free periods" but are a chance for you to work on a one on one basis with the instructor and an opportunity for you to learn from your fellow students. You may not work at home during this time. Bacuse course grades are based partly on activities and assignments that require the students’ presence in classmore than 4 unexcused absences and you will be asked to withdraw from the class. If you miss class, it is up to you to get notes and/or handouts, and you are responsible for all assigned work regardless of attendance in class.


Texts:
The recommended text book that will be read in this class.
iPhone and iPad Apps for Absolute Beginners, Rory Lewis, Laurence Moroney. Apress; 4 edition. October 23, 2013

Supplies:

Assignments:
In addition to the reading assignments you will have four iPad design assignments. Most of the assignments will require that you make images and provide text. Previous work can only be used with my approval. All assignments must be submitted digitally. You are required to keep backup copies of all of your files which means you will need an external drive.

Evaluation (testing and grading):

• Students are evaluated regularly in one-on-one and groups through critiques and are evaluated on their ability to participate in the critiques.
• Students will address content, problem solving, craftsmanship, and creativity, during critiques.
• Students are given a written evaluation of each assignment. The evaluation assesses the following items: Concept, technique, problem solving, and challenging personal limits.
• Students are also evaluated at the end of each semester in a final group of a digital portfolio of their artworks.

Grading Weights
Assignments - 60%
Work in progress Critiques/Participation in Critiques - 30%
Exams/Reading responses - 10%

Assignment grades will be based on the following criteria:

  • Concept
  • Technique
  • Problem Solving
  • Challenging Personal Limits
Final Exam: Monday, Dec 12, 10:15 a.m. — 12:15 p.m.
Project Requirements

Specific project requirements will be outlined as each project is assigned, however some guidelines will remain constant for all projects:

Critiques:
For every scheduled group critique students must present to the class their solution to the visual problem presented in class in a state of completion suitable for discussion. Work presented at critiques, and the students effective visual and oral presentation will be assigned a grade. Final submissions are then due on the server the Friday after critique by 4:00pm (or by a time specified by the instructor).

Submissions:
Student work must be submitted in digital file and analog format (unless otherwise specified by instructor) to the appropriate section within Classwork/ART390 folder on the Digital Arts – Server. Students MUST make prior arrangements with instructor for submissions if they will be absent when a project is due and are responsible for arranging a critique and submission of work with the instructor.

Course Notes:
CourseNotes and other resource materials for this course can be found on the Coursework server in the DAC and on-line at <http://www.johnvalentino.com/Art390/390Notes.htm>. Please download a copy of the notes from the web site, and keep them on your External USB Drive disk for future reference.

Software:
The software tools we will be exploring will include:

XCode:


Adobe PhotoShop One of the most popular and important graphics programs. It is used by professionals in nearly every field from publishing, design and photography to 3D modeling and animation. PhotoShop is the standard for pixel based artwork.

Projects and Exercises
  • Project 1: iPhone Portfolio
  • Project 2: iPadStory
  • Project 3: SpriteKit Game

Class Schedule:

Week 1 Jan. 13 Class Introduction, Computer Lab Orientation
Week 2  Jan. 20 Project 1 Introduced: iPhone Portfolio
Exercise 1: Single View Application
Week 3 Jan. 25

Exercise 2: Graphics Prep, Single view App.Constraints
Exercise 3:Tab Bar View Controller
Exercise 4:Navigation Bar Buttons

  Jan. 27 Project 1: Proposal Consultation
Exercise 5: Web Navigation
  Feb. 1 Exercise 3: C+
Week 4  Feb. 3 Project 1 Critique
   

Mardi Gras

Week 5  Feb. 15

Project 2: iPod Story
Exercise 5: MapView

  Feb. 17

Exercise 6: Embedding Video

  Feb. 22

Exercise 7: Scrolling Views

Week 6 Feb. 24 Reading Due Digital Currents
  Feb. 29

UIPickerView Multi

Week 7 Mar. 2 In class work session
  Mar. 7 In class work session Exercise 8: Audio/Video
Week 8 Mar. 9 Project 2 Critique
Reading Due Digital Currents
  Mar. 14 Project 3 Introduced:
Week 9 Mar. 16 Exercise 9: Code Snippets
  Mar. 21 Exercise 9: Conditions
Week 10 Mar. 23 In class work session
    Spring Break Mar 25- Apr 1
Week 11 Apr. 4 Work in Progress critique
  Apr. 6 Project 3Critique 
Week 12 Apr. 11 Project 4 Introduced: Sprite Kit Game
  Apr. 13 Exercise 10: Popovers
Week 13 Apr. 18 In class work session
  Apr. 20 Exercise 11: Saving Data
Week 14 Apr. 25 In class work session
  Apr. 27 Exercise 12: Recording Sound
Week 15 May. 2 In class work session
  May. 4 Critique of Work in Progress
     
Finals Dec 11 Final Exam: Wednesday, May 11, 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.