Spring 2024 - CA 356 D100

Environments II (3)

Class Number: 7409

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 8 – Apr 12, 2024: Mon, Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    GOLDCORP

  • Prerequisites:

    CA 256.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The second of two courses focused on the experiential production of space, Environments II introduces students to contemporary practices, concepts and methods specific to creating site specific and responsive performance.

COURSE DETAILS:

Gaming the City will consider how we follow and bend the rules to play the city we live in. The course will begin with a study of how the city already serves as an arena of rule enforcement and rule breaking; expand into game imagining and devising as led by visiting artist Germaine Koh; and culminate in the creation and hosting of a one-day iteration of Germaine Koh’s n Games*. The course will intrigue students with interests in the city as a living, breathing complicated beast and making up and playing of games.

* The n Games is an innovative tournament for teams from different backgrounds, playing invented sports they do not know. The games range from vigorous to cerebral, straightforward to strategic, and will ultimately test the players’ ability to creatively solve different types of physical and mental challenges.

Prerequisite: CA 256 or prior approval. Please contact james_long@sfu.ca for any questions, or if you do not have the prerequisites and are interested in taking the class.  

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • To reframe the city as a place of collective creation. 
  • To explore game, both in creation and execution, as performance.
  • To work collectively in producing an event.
  • To meet the student in articulating and achieving their objectives as students and performance practitioners.

Grading

  • Short report on a performance studies scholar. Using the below site as a start point, students will be asked to develop a 5-7 minute presentation that answers the question -- What is performance studies? https://scalar.usc.edu/nehvectors/wips/interviews-eng. 10%
  • Group presentation and exercise derived from a reading as chosen by the students. 20%
  • A draft, redraft and documentation of a brand new game to be played by class. 20%
  • n-Games. The collective production and execution of the n Games. A portion of the mark will be individual and the rest group. 30%
  • Participation 20%

NOTES:

We all enter this space as collaborators. Each individual is responsible for the production and maintenance of its trajectory. This requires full attendance and participation in scheduled classes and presentations.  

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Students arrive on time for scheduled classes and any group work outside of class. Absences or lateness will adversely affect the final grade. 5 mins of lateness equals 1 full absence. We will always start on the agreed upon time. Notify the instructor in advance of all absences. 2% of the final grade is reduced for every absence without reason.
  • All assignments are prepared and completed on time (i.e. readings completed in full, materials prepared for presentations, etc.).
  • Everyone participates in group discussions and presentations. We hold each other accountable in the studio and to appropriate behaviour.
  • Individual research and group studio practice outside of the scheduled class times will be required.
  • Avoid wearing scents.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

  • Bring a book to write in. Ideally one with removable pages.
  • Appropriate studio clothing – we will be moving a lot in class.

REQUIRED READING:

All readings are provided by the instructor and available on Canvas as PDFs.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website 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