Fall 2010 • Thursdays 13:30-17:30 • EV 5.615
http://topologicalmedialab.net/xinwei • http://www.topologicalmedialab.net/xinwei/classes/fofa/CART414/
As micro-cameras, sensors, and active, luminous materials become ubiquitous, the space itself between us becomes a sensate and kinetic tissue that extends our expressive bodies. In this graduate / advanced undergraduate seminar, we explore the emergence of bodies, objects or events in fields of active matter. We look critically at the technologies of performance vs. technologies of representation. We explore poetically how continuous transformations could act on living matter.
This seminar will orient graduate and advanced undergraduates to contemporary work in the critical studies of media arts and sciences, and especially prepare for professional art research via computational media and experimental technologies of performance. It is designed to introduce the research questions and approaches that motivate the Topological Media Lab's work in responsive media and installations constructed as phenomenological experiments.
Students will present critical readings in philosophy, art, performance, and computer science in class. Students will also have an optional opportunity to create tangible media or responsive installations in small groups. Students are expected to be already versed in some medium or media, and be prepared to (1) write short essays about theoretical research questions, and / or (2) work with real-time, responsive video, sound, or kinetic media (e.g. Max / Jitter or MSP) to create experimental installation-events.
Students may treat this as an advanced installation course synthesizing approaches from experimental performance, computational media, movement, sound and materials arts. It's good preparation for working with students and professionals from neighboring discplines like architecture, performing arts, science studies, computational and botanical sciences.
In Fall 2010, the graduate parallel to the course (SIP 637X - SIP 825S) includes a choice of advanced topics, such as the following three potential streams: (1) the vegetal as a non-anthropocentric mode of existence or expression, (2) psychology and architecture; (3) ecology and economics. It will be supplemented by a rapid tour of mathematical foundations for study of temporal patterns.
This course welcomes advanced undergraduates and graduate students who want to engage challenging texts in close reading and by creating installation-events. A prior course in philosophy and art, such as CART 255 New Media Theory, is recommended but not required. Relevant practical experiences can include areas such as fiber arts, performance and theater, sculpture, realtime computational video and sound; wireless sensors; computational physics; and architecture, etc.
The calendar is arranged into chapters with strands of readings and exercises as studies or responses inspired by the readings and the current themes. This Fall's class may treat active and vegetal matter.
We'll start with :
Felix Guattari's Chaosmosis (chapters 1-2), and
Akeel Bilgrami's essay, "Occidentalism, the Very Idea: An Essay on Enlightenment and Enchantment";
It's probably a good idea to read these selections (and peek at the last chapter in Chaosmosis), before the start of the semester, to orient yourself before entering the seminar.
Readings will be selected from the associated list of references. You may suggest other relevant readings and present them after discussing them ahead of time with me.
The discussion sessions' format will be pretty free, but here is a prototypical pattern for a session:
Each week you'll write a one page reflection and be prepared to share it with the class. Your writing and projects should respond to the readings and the accumulated themes from class discussion.
Historically, the mid-term has been an event instantiating the themes and approaches of the course. See the video (midterm meal 2005, midterm meal 2006 , midterm meal Winter 2008) documenting past midterm events.
If you choose to write a paper instead of creating a project:
You will write a 15 page research paper responds to the themes of the seminar. The paper should aspire to the level of writing expected for a journal such as Configurations or Grey Room.
Graduate students will be expected to write the paper in addition to consulting with or otherwise participating in a group project.
Calligraphy from Topological Media Lab on Vimeo.