This combined studio and seminar forum supports Digital + Media graduate students as they research and develop the theoretical, social, material, technical, and contextual aspects of their emergent arts practices.
Students are encouraged to break comfort zones and practice through experimentation. Students pursue and refine individual interests, as well as collaborative projects within the department. Students conceptualize and discuss their work and their ongoing practice. Readings in critical cultural theory, media art theory, philosophy, semiotics and other areas further support the contextualization and grounding of the innovative practical and conceptual approaches of students.
Each student is responsible for selecting readings and references for individual research, as well as co-leading a discussion on a set of self-defined readings and artists’ works during the semester.
The courses are a mix of group discussions, group critiques, and individual meetings. Guest lecturers and visiting critics may also become involved with this class in terms of critical/research aspects. Each student will practice articulating their art process and work towards their thesis, and will contribute to the dialogue concerning the research and work of their classmates.
First years are required to attend minimum of 6 workshops as part of their first semester studio/seminar course. The workshops give an introduction into various techniques, tools, materials, and methodologies that could be used to support a studio practice. Classes will teach foundational skills and students will gain a practical understanding of the various technologies and how they might be used within the context of research and studio practice. The course will be primarily technical, but will also encourage hands-on experimentation, and continued discussions about the impacts and activation of working with new technologies — ie. scanning & photogrammetry, UAV, RPAS, underwater ROV as a platform for capture, digital fabrication, CNC and CAM, interactive display, physical computing, virtual & augmented reality, mold making, programming and machine learning. The technical workshops are opportunities for students to experiment and test out aspects of their research in order to develop a sound practice.