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MMAS 330
Internet-Based Art & Design

Instructor: Curt Cloninger / curt at lab404 dot com / Zeiss 211

Course Site: http://www.lab404.com/373/

MMAS 330 explores the history, theory, and practice of internet art -- defined as "art meant to be experienced online." We will examine and produce works in the genres of network conceptualism, hypermedia comics, non-linear narrative, and generative software. Readings, research, and artmaking projects will address issues of identity, location, collaboration, hacktivism, immersion, storytelling, insider/outsider art, minimalism, design aesthetics, media synthesis, and game design.

Students will couple web development skills with other media production experience to create art for and residing on the internet. The emphasis will be on making interesting, relevant, and engrossing artwork given the constraints and strengths of the online medium. Technical software skills will be addressed as they relate to this creative process.

The projects and assignments required in this class are time-intensive and require an average of 9 hours per week on the computer, either in a campus lab or on your own computer that contains the software used in the class. The pre-requisite for this class is MMAS 222.

In this course you will:
  • Understand the inherent strengths and weaknesses of the web as a communications medium
  • Develop artistic methods that take creative advantage of the internet's peculiarities
  • Understand internet art in the context of 20th/21st century art and "new media" art
  • Produce original artworks in a variety of conceptual genres
  • Identify methods for establishing sustained narration using minimalistic multimedia elements
  • Create "unfinished environments" that invite user exploration and participation
  • Identify ways in which online art can contribute to positive social change
  • Synthesize a wide range of media production skills in the service of artmaking
  • Layout and design images and text for the screen
  • Develop a non-linear narrative methodology

Assignments will explore the following subjects:
  • Network-based Conceptualism
  • "Open" and "Closed" Interactivity
  • Linear and Non-linear Narrative
  • Hypermedia Narrative
  • Generative Software

Note: The total passing score on assignments does not guarantee a passing grade for the course. Your evaluation in the area of professionalism on the student evaluation form, and your adherence to the attendance policy, along with your participation in class critiques, presentations, and in-class exercises, significantly impact your final grade. Grades can be dropped if assignments are late. Missing more than 3 classes in the semester will result in lowering your final grade. Please read both the attendance and grading policies carefully.

Required Materials:
Bulldog email account -- check regularly
Student web hosting space (for posting work)
flash drive, notebook or sketchbook, graph paper, pencils, and pens


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