Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2022 - IAT 222 D100

Interactive Arts (3)

Class Number: 2269

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Surrey

  • Prerequisites:

    Completion of 21 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces key concepts within contemporary digital art practices. Issues surrounding digital art will be explored through readings, the study of artworks, and the creation of their own artistic projects. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course guides students to reflect upon issues relating to interactivity in the context of contemporary media art. Students will develop skills to recognize and create meaningful interventions applied to interactive art. The course highlights examples of contemporary art from a wide variety of media to expose students to the wide range of techniques, issues, and approaches evident in interactive art. Issues surrounding interactive digital art are explored through: 1) readings, 2) the study of artworks in a historical context and 3) in creating an original interactive artwork. Students learn to negotiate ongoing debates and artistic frameworks while developing their own approach to interactive art practice. This includes our relationship to contemporary experience including COVID, therefore we will be purposefully incorporating 'our life situations into how the course is delivered, designed and experienced by the student,.
 
Students will explore their own creativity within an artistic context by creating an interactive artwork. Students will learn various approaches that take context into consideration in order to generate and refinine relevant, innovative concepts to guide them through the creation of an original interactive art work. These creative techniques can easily be applied to other forms of creative endeavor and will help students refine their expressive potential regardless of their field.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • identify and explain key works of interactive art
  • evaluate and analyze interactive art within its artistic, cultural and technological contexts
  • plan and implement rich and meaningful works of interactive art using a variety of different creative strategies
  • create compelling descriptions of their artistic vision and the technological requirements of their own works of art

Grading

  • Assignment #1 - Research Report (Individual) 10%
  • Assignment #2 - Research Report Response and Interaction Diagram (Individual) 15%
  • Assignment #3 - Reading Summaries + Discussion (Individual) 20%
  • Assignment #4 - Interactive Project (Team) 40%
  • Assignment #5 - Analysis on Interactive Project (Individual) 5%
  • Lecture and Lab Participation (Individual) 10%

NOTES:

* This is a draft of assignment and grade distribution; final assignments, grade distribution and due dates will be confirmed during the first week of class.

Delivery Method - Lecture and Lab Workshops

In the lecture, students will be introduced to different approaches to interactivity in contemporary art. Students will be expected to participate in lecture activities that may include small group discussions, presentations and/or sketching. The completion of in-lecture activities will count as part of your in-lecture participation marks.

Labs are organized as workshops. Each week students will engage in an exercise that is relevant to the weekly theme through different activities that may include small group discussions, presentations, interviews, performances, and individual sketches. Students may be required to bring different materials to the lab.

Students are required to read the weekly readings before the lecture.

Students are required to source materials externally and independently for the construction of the Final Interactive Art Projects.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Required Materials:

  • weekly reading materials available through CANVAS
  • computer or smartphone for in-Lecture and in-Lab participation
  • sketchbook for in-Lab activities
  • externally sourced materials for the Final project Interactive Art Project

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022

Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place.  Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.