AD 406 Homework

HOMEWORK AND ASSIGNMENTS

Blog

Due Every Wednesday: (at the start of class) A new submission to the class blog. Your review entries must be thoughtful and though provoking, written in your own words (not paraphrased or copied from the originating site), and concise. Contextualize the project or infomation you find. Why is it relavent today? Why should people care? Each entry should be at least 5 sentences in length + include a picture or video illustration. Please also add comments to other's entries and enter into dialogues with each other.

Creative Switch I

Ingenious and / or Sculptural Switch I:

Create 2 switch circuits with the basic LED circuit we built in class. You may need to add extra wire to your circuits so as to make them work in your design.

The emphasis here is on creating small sculptures or design objects, which incorporate an original or unique switch method that you design.
I ask for only 2 switches because I expect you to spend a good amount of time on brain storming and on construction. The components of the circuit will be relatively simple for you you all - it's the mechanics of the switch (how it opens and closes that will be your "ingenious" solution. (you are welcome to create more than 2 switches.)
You may collaborate with another student in the class on the 2 switches - but I will expect the work to be 1.5 times as complex as a project by one student working alone.
oh yeah, and the switch should be functional.

Organize for the Final Project

1. Self-organize into a limited number of groups for final project collaboration. To do so, start by emailing each other with suggestions of how the final project ideas (which you previously emailed to the group) can be bridged. Please aim for no more than 5 groups all together. We would prefer it if there were at most 3 or 4, because in that case we will be able to give you better guidance/ assistance.

This self organization process needs to be complete by next Monday (March 3). This process should not be taken lightly - good collaborations can take a lot of work to go well. It's easier to begin this dialog via email so that each of you can voice your thoughts and feedback to each other with clarity. Caveat: If we don't see enough people invested in this process of talking about each others ideas and synthesizing them, then we will return to the idea of presentations and final papers for the final. So, this email dialog is really a test run to see if the enthusiasm for group projects will translate into team work. Another option is that some students do group projects and others do papers....

2. Be sure that you are talking about realistic ideas. The ideas should be realistic in 2 ways: one, you should be able to technically pull them off; and two, they need to be in budget. In order for this first element to work, we ask you to find diy documents in make magazine or some of the diy links off of the class resource site which give instructions on how to accomplish the technical aspects of the projects. Sites with basic stamp code are also ok. Sites which merely show pictures of something like you might want to do are great, but not enough. (We do offer several classes in the EV area of art and design which address how to build more technically complex installations and interactive works - so if this an area of interest for you, there will be advanced learning + project opportunities later on.) Even the circuits you have been shown - imagine substituting a small LED with an array of brighter lights or maybe some motors or sound.... The tech/ circuits need not be terribly complex to be very compelling in the right context.

Homework

Ingenious and / or Sculptural Switch II:

Create useable/ creative switch circuit with the 741 opamp / photoresistor circuit we built in class.

Again, the emphasis is on creating small sculptures or design objects, which incorporate an original or unique switch method that you design.
You may collaborate with another student in the class - but I will expect the work to be 1.5 times as complex as a project by one student working alone.

Presentation & Paper OR* Final Collaborative Project: Installation

Professional Presentation & Paper - Students opting for the presentation and paper will be required to give a 20 - 25 min presentation of a new media artist, designer, or specific genre or trend within one of these fields. You will need to gather at least 14 images (of decent resolution) which can be viewed on screen during your presentation. You may use Quicktime or Powerpoint if you know these programs in order to present the images. Otherwise, they can be in a folder on the desktop. (Don't rely on navigating to various websites during your talk - unless there is a good reason.) Presentation topics must be cleared with the instructor(s) in advance and ones not already covered in class by the instructor(s) - no last minute changes!

Research paper and final multimedia lecture presentation - You will also write a 5-7 page paper (typed, double-spaced) that summarizes your argument or premise made in the oral presentation.

Papers must include at least five bibliographic references.
Students must discuss the subject of the paper with the instructor and obtain approval before starting to work on the paper. Don't change your topic once approval has been made.
Presentations must include at least 14 images or text and image illustrations.
The aim of the written portion of this assignment is to produce a well composed essay on a focused subject - on an artist or designer (or collaborative group), group of works, problem or theme within its immediate historical and/or art historical context. Students should make an effort to balance specific information, formal analysis, and broader intellectual/cultural ideas (ie, don't just be descriptive - I want to hear your voice). Define the topic of choice clearly.