Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will be expected to develop the following technical and conceptual skills as the course progresses:

  • Creatively communicate ideas through digital artmaking.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of tools and techniques used to create digital art.
  • Display ability to create visually and conceptually compelling imagery.
  • Actively engage with major issues and questions related to identity, power, inequality, representation, and ideology throughout global digital visual cultures.
  • Gain ability to articulate digital art concepts in relation to larger issues related to global digital visual cultures.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 02.03.2021 - 01.06.2021

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Tim Smith

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Tim Smith

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Participants will explore contemporary and experimental uses of digital visual media through artmaking, social media sharing, readings, lectures, demonstrations, discussions, critiques and writing. Much of this discussion, reflection, and experimentation will particularly focus on issues and questions of inequality, identity, power, representation, inequality, and ideology throughout global digital visual cultures. Class time consists of hands-on demonstrations in software and techniques balanced with presentations and discussions of artist examples and digital cultures. Participants will spend time in class discussing and developing their creative projects as they relate to the themes of the course, but it is also expected for students to work on assigned projects outside of class.

    Activities will include creating social media accounts specifically for this course, which will allow us to interact with one another in various ways, as well as connect with extended communities beyond the classroom through our work. This allows for all participants to bring personal interests into the overall discourse of the course, and reciprocally, it allows us to circulate our work and ideas into the social media environments beyond the class.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    30% – Three assigned digital art projects. (10 points possible on each of the 3 projects)
    25% – Five Mini-Assignments throughout the semester, including discussion of assignments during class
    15% – Final project
    15% – Maintaining course Instagram accounts
    15% – Active participation in class activities and discussions

Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    In-class instruction and mentored in-class work on assignments: 52 h
    Independent/group work hours on readings, writing and assignments: 60 h
    Reflection: 23 h

    80% attendance required

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Reading materials, social media platforms/feeds, images and videos, PowerPoint presentations related to the artistic, cultural, political questions around art and technology as well as visual and image culture. Particular attention will be directed toward connections between visual culture from the perspectives of the schools of Aalto (BIZ, SCI, ENG, ELEC, CHEM, and of course ART)

    Select readings include (PDFs from select excerpts of these books will be provided):
    “Memes in Digital Culture” by Limor Shifman
    “Mass Effect: Art and the Internet in the Twenty-First Century” by Lauren Cornell and Ed Halter (Eds.)
    “You Are Here: Art After the Internet” by Omar Kholeif (Ed.)
    “Digital Art (Third Edition)” by Christiane Paul

Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    No prerequisites

SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    10 Reduced Inequality

    17 Partnerships for the Goals