2007 Spring
Courses taught in Spring 2007.
COMM 225: Digital Media I
Morgan Schwartz
office: Nugent 560, Room A
tel: 1-212-774-4865
email: mschwartz AT mmm DOT edu
web: http://sodacity.net/courses/
SPRING 2007
Section 01 Monday, 7:15 - 9:55 pm
Section 02 Tuesday, 2:30 - 5:20 pm
Section 03 Wednesday, 7:15 - 9:55 pm
Nugent 556
Syllabus
Course Description
Digital and interactive media permeate virtually every aspect of our society from information delivery and product marketing to education and entertainment. In this course you will learn practical and critical skills necessary to become a technically proficient and thinking digital media maker. Literacy in any medium is the ability both to access (read) materials created by others and to generate (write) materials for others. In this course you will learn to "speak" the language of digital media and to become conversant with the computer as an expressive medium. Through hands-on training, you will be introduced to creative approaches to media production and to a range of software. The format of this class is designed to bridge practice and theory. Topics will include digital imaging, typography, animation, video, sound and web design. We will concern ourselves with "how" and "why" the digital world is constructed the way it is. Students will be challenged to deconstruct this world and to develop an ability to analyze and critique the cultural implications of digital media in our lives. Prior computer experience is not required, but students are expected to take the initiative to become comfortable operating a Macintosh computer.
Learning Goals
- You will be able to understand the function and relationships of computer hardware and operating systems, input and output peripherals and the Internet.
- You will be able to use Macintosh-platform digital media software including Adobe Photoshop (for image manipulation), and Macromedia Dreamweaver (for web design).
- You will be able to present and articulate your creative ideas to others.
- You will be able to give and receive constructive critical feedback in a group setting.
- You will read, write, and think about the roles computers and media play in your life, in your creativity and in society in general.
Textbooks and Materials
materials:
USB Flash Drive (256MB or bigger) - OR - portable Hard Drive
required texts:
all required readings will be available online or handed out in class
optional technical texts:
Adobe Photoshop CS2 for the Web Hands-On Training
Photoshop CS2: Visual QuickStart Guide
HTML, XHTML, and CSS: Visual QuickStart Guide (6th Ed)
Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 Hands-On Training
Macromedia Dreamweaver 8: Visual QuickStart Guide
optional history/theory texts:
The Reconfigured Eye by William J. Mitchell
Multimedia - From Wagner to Virtual Reality edited by Randall Packer & Ken Jordan
The New Media Reader edited by Noah Wardrip-Fruin & Nick Montfort
Grade Weights
Participation: 20%
A large amount of class time will be dedicated to group critiques, team projects and class discussion. I encourage you to take an active role in contributing to make our class a fun and dynamic place to be.
Weekly Assignments: 50%
This is where its at - you can't learn HTML by osmosis or wait until the end of the semester to cram for an exam. Multimedia production involves a complex spectrum of techniques and software. If you do the assignments each week you will do well. If not, you will fall behind rapidly. Weekly exercises are due at the beginning of class the week after they are assigned unless noted otherwise.
Rant or Rave: 5%
This 2-3 page paper will be assigned later in the semester. You will select a website, CD-ROM, multimedia technology or media phenomenon that interests you and make an analysis or critique. Your paper should address the following:
* describe the product/service - what does it do and for what purpose?
* who is the intended audience? who is the actual audience?
* what media elements are used and how do they contribute to or detract from the product/service's effectiveness
* place this product/service in the context of other media - does it extend a previous technology, what future impact will it have on society?
* offer your evaluation (critical or positive)
Final Project: 25%
This project will be self-initiated and should integrate many of the skills you will learn this semester. When the time comes I will suggest possible topics and approaches. You will have the option of working individually or collaborating with other students.
Tips
- Warning - this course demands substantial work outside of class time to complete the projects. Unless you already own an Apple computer with the relevant software, you should plan on coming into the Digital Media lab for an additional 3 hours every week.
Attendance is essential to succeed in this class. The skills and techniques taught are cumulative - they build upon previous ones. Missing just one week can make it very difficult to catch up. You will also note that class participation makes up a sizable percentage of your final grade - if you are absent you cannot participate and your grade will suffer. - Save different versions of your projects and save often. Make back-ups of your files.
- Work in the lab with a friend - when learning new technology, 2 brains are usually better than one. You are welcome to work on your assignments at home but many students use the Multimedia Lab in room 556. Lab hours will be posted after the first week of classes. Students may not use the lab when another class is in session. If the lab is locked during regular lab hours you may get a key from the Security Desk.
Safety
Electrical:
Water/liquids are a excellent conductors. You can be shocked if you are touching water that touches electricity. Be careful with drinks around the computers!
Carpal Tunnel
Computer keyboarding, typing and use of the mouse are among many common activities that have been identified as contributing to repetitive stress induced carpal tunnel syndrome.
Attendance Policy
Attendance will be taken in each class. You are allowed one unexcused (no questions asked) absence, after which your final grade will drop substantially with each absence. In the event that an extraordinary circumstance will require you to miss a class, please let me know ahead of time, by calling me, or by email.
Disabilities
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for this course must either enroll in the Program for Academic Access or register with the Office of Student Support Services. For any accommodation, the instructor must be presented with either a letter from the Assistant Director of the Program for Academic Access or an Accommodations Card from the Office of Student Support Services during the first week of classes.
Academic Honesty Policy
MMC fosters an academic community where students and faculty work together to create a learning experience that imparts knowledge and forms character. To achieve this, the College requires all members of the community to adhere to the policy of Academic Honesty that can be found in the Student Handbook, the College Catalogue and on the College website.
Section 01 - Schedule
JAN 29: 01 - introduction
- digital media - what is it?
- computer basics - hardware, software, peripherals, i/o
- mac operating system - how to find your way around [desktop, files, commands, tips]
- how to find digital materials - google, MMC resources, library of congress, obiblio.org
read:
- "Overture" from Multimedia: From Wagner to Virtual Reality by Randall Packer & Ken Jordan
- "Chapter 1 & 4" from The Reconfigured Eye by William J. Mitchell
assignment:
- download 10-20 online (digital) images for self-portrait project
- collect 1 physical (analog) image of your favorite celebrity that is scratched/damaged [you can provide the scratches]
FEB 05: 02 - photoshop is a hammer [ - digital imaging - ]
- basic concepts - digital vs. analog, pixels, resolution
- scanning demo
- Photoshop basics: selection strategies - shape, edge, color, brightness, etc
- image manipulation - curves, levels, brightness, contrast
- tools - smudge, clone, etc
read:
- "Chapter 8: Computer Collage" from The Reconfigured Eye by William J. Mitchell
assignment:
"cosmetic surgery" : scan, repair and enhance a scratched/damaged image of a celebrity - be prepared to show all 3 stages
FEB 12: 03 - photoshop is also a kitchen [ - digital imaging - ]
- layers, filters, adjustment layers
- discuss strategies of collage and composition
- in class exercise - play photoshop ping-pong
read:
- "Chapter 9:" from The Reconfigured Eye by William J. Mitchell
assignment:
"self-portrait" : create a collaged representation of yourself using the images you collected in week 1 and/or scanned images/objects
FEB 19: NO CLASSES - President's Day
FEB 26: 04 - text as sound [ - typography - ]
- basic concepts - types [serif, sans-serif, mono], screen issues
- typographic design issues - flow, spacing, color, contrast, weight → readability
- in class exercise - sound interpretations
read:
- "The Cut-Up Method of Brion Gysin" from The New Media Reader by William S. Burroughs
- "The Future of the Novel" from Multimedia: From Wagner to VR by William S. Burroughs
assignment:
"Propaganda" : Manipulate an image to change its meaning. You should do this by incorporating text and/or adding/removing visual information. Your aim is to influence the opinions of people, rather than impartially providing information.
MAR 05: 05 - web web web [ - HTML - ]
- Hey, what is the World Wide Web and how does it actually work?
- hand coding HTML - basic tags, basic text formatting
- 'view source' in class exercise - code sharing: Frankensite.
read:
- "Chapter 10: Identity Crisis" from Life on the Screen by Sherry Turkle
assignment:
"cut-up" : Use what you know of HTML to format the text of a poem or song lyric into an interesting web page layout
MAR 12: NO CLASSES
MAR 19: SPRING BREAK
MAR 26: 06 - web web web web web web [ - HTML - ]
- incorporating images and links [still hand coding]
read:
- "Chapter 2: The Vocabulary of Comics" from Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
assignment:
"false identity" : Develop a false or fictional identity for an online dating service. Your web page should use only "shared" images and incorporate links to external sites.
APR 02: 07 - image optimization and animation [ - digital imaging - ]
- concepts - image types [JPG, GIF, PNG], transparency, browser safe, anti-aliasing
- optimizing images for use on the web [ImageReady]
- creating animated GIFs [ImageReady]
assignment:
"exquisite corps" class project - create 3 animated GIFs: head, torso & legs
APR 09: 08 - web authoring [ - HTML - ]
- basic tour of Dreamweaver
- how to set up and organize a project
- text formatting, images, links the Dreamweaver way
- some basic approaches to layout - tables
assignment:
"mini-portfolio" - create a simple webpage with links to the previous weeks assignments
APR 16: 09 - web authoring part 2 [ - HTML - ]
- layout continued
- navigation, architecture, sitemaps
- imagemaps
assignment:
"Sitemap" - Develop a sitemap and 1 page written proposal for your final project
APR 23: 10 - turn up the volume [ - SOUND - ]
- basic concepts - sampling rate, frequency, file formats
- how to capture/record/digitize/download audio & sounds [Audio Hijack Pro]
- basic sound editing, loops, and FX [Garage Band]
assignment:
- "Rant or Rave" - see 'Assignments' section of the syllabus [due in 2 weeks]
APR 30: 11 - lights, camera ... [ - VIDEO - ]
- basic concepts - frame rate, aspect ratio, CODECs, file formats
- how to capture/record/digitize/download video
- basic editing, effects, transitions, audio [iMovie]
assignment:
- work on final project
MAY 07: 12 - open lab [ - WORK - ]
- work on your final project in class
MAY 13: 13 - Final Class
- in class critique of final projects
- wrap-up and what comes next! Flash teaser [brief tour]
Section 02 - Schedule
JAN 30: 01 - introduction
- digital media - what is it?
- computer basics - hardware, software, peripherals, i/o
- mac operating system - how to find your way around [desktop, files, commands, tips]
- how to find digital materials - google, MMC resources, library of congress, obiblio.org
read:
- "Overture" from Multimedia: From Wagner to Virtual Reality by Randall Packer & Ken Jordan
- "Chapter 1 & 4" from The Reconfigured Eye by William J. Mitchell
assignment:
- download 10-20 online (digital) images for self-portrait project
- collect 1 physical (analog) image of your favorite celebrity that is scratched/damaged [you can provide the scratches]
FEB 06: 02 - photoshop is a hammer [ - digital imaging - ]
- basic concepts - digital vs. analog, pixels, resolution
- scanning demo
- Photoshop basics: selection strategies - shape, edge, color, brightness, etc
- image manipulation - curves, levels, brightness, contrast
- tools - smudge, clone, etc
read:
- "Chapter 8: Computer Collage" from The Reconfigured Eye by William J. Mitchell
assignment:
"cosmetic surgery" : scan, repair and enhance a scratched/damaged image of a celebrity - be prepared to show all 3 stages
FEB 13: 03 - photoshop is also a kitchen [ - digital imaging - ]
- layers, filters, adjustment layers
- discuss strategies of collage and composition
- in class exercise - play photoshop ping-pong
read:
- "Chapter 9:" from The Reconfigured Eye by William J. Mitchell
assignment:
"self-portrait" : create a collaged representation of yourself using the images you collected in week 1 and/or scanned images/objects
FEB 20: 04 - text as sound [ - typography - ]
- basic concepts - types [serif, sans-serif, mono], screen issues
- typographic design issues - flow, spacing, color, contrast, weight → readability
- in class exercise - sound interpretations
read:
- "The Cut-Up Method of Brion Gysin" from The New Media Reader by William S. Burroughs
- "The Future of the Novel" from Multimedia: From Wagner to VR by William S. Burroughs
assignment:
"Propaganda" : Manipulate an image to change its meaning. You should do this by incorporating text and/or adding/removing visual information. Your aim is to influence the opinions of people, rather than impartially providing information.
FEB 27: 05 - web web web [ - HTML - ]
- Hey, what is the World Wide Web and how does it actually work?
- hand coding HTML - basic tags, basic text formatting
- 'view source' in class exercise - code sharing: Frankensite.
read:
- "Chapter 10: Identity Crisis" from Life on the Screen by Sherry Turkle
assignment:
"cut-up" : Use what you know of HTML to format the text of a poem or song lyric into an interesting web page layout
MAR 06: 06 - web web web web web web [ - HTML - ]
- incorporating images and links [still hand coding]
read:
- "Chapter 2: The Vocabulary of Comics" from Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
assignment:
"false identity" : Develop a false or fictional identity for an online dating service. Your web page should use only "shared" images and incorporate links to external sites.
MAR 13: NO CLASSES
MAR 20: SPRING BREAK
MAR 27: 07 - image optimization and animation [ - digital imaging - ]
- concepts - image types [JPG, GIF, PNG], transparency, browser safe, anti-aliasing
- optimizing images for use on the web [ImageReady]
- creating animated GIFs [ImageReady]
assignment:
"exquisite corps" class project - create 3 animated GIFs: head, torso & legs
APR 03: 08 - web authoring [ - HTML - ]
- basic tour of Dreamweaver
- how to set up and organize a project
- text formatting, images, links the Dreamweaver way
- some basic approaches to layout - tables
assignment:
"mini-portfolio" - create a simple webpage with links to the previous weeks assignments
APR 10: 09 - web authoring part 2 [ - HTML - ]
- layout continued
- navigation, architecture, sitemaps
- imagemaps
assignment:
"Sitemap" - Develop a sitemap and 1 page written proposal for your final project
APR 17: 10 - turn up the volume [ - SOUND - ]
- basic concepts - sampling rate, frequency, file formats
- how to capture/record/digitize/download audio & sounds [Audio Hijack Pro]
- basic sound editing, loops, and FX [Garage Band]
assignment:
- "Rant or Rave" - see 'Assignments' section of the syllabus [due in 2 weeks]
APR 24: 11 - lights, camera ... [ - VIDEO - ]
- basic concepts - frame rate, aspect ratio, CODECs, file formats
- how to capture/record/digitize/download video
- basic editing, effects, transitions, audio [iMovie]
assignment:
- work on final project
MAY 01: 12 - open lab [ - WORK - ]
- work on your final project in class
MAY 08: 13 - Final Class
- in class critique of final projects
- wrap-up and what comes next! Flash teaser [brief tour]
Section 03 - Schedule
JAN 31: 01 - introduction
- digital media - what is it?
- computer basics - hardware, software, peripherals, i/o
- mac operating system - how to find your way around [desktop, files, commands, tips]
- how to find digital materials - google, MMC resources, library of congress, obiblio.org
read:
- "Overture" from Multimedia: From Wagner to Virtual Reality by Randall Packer & Ken Jordan
- "Chapter 1 & 4" from The Reconfigured Eye by William J. Mitchell
assignment:
- download 10-20 online (digital) images for self-portrait project
- collect 1 physical (analog) image of your favorite celebrity that is scratched/damaged [you can provide the scratches]
FEB 07: 02 - photoshop is a hammer [ - digital imaging - ]
- basic concepts - digital vs. analog, pixels, resolution
- scanning demo
- Photoshop basics: selection strategies - shape, edge, color, brightness, etc
- image manipulation - curves, levels, brightness, contrast
- tools - smudge, clone, etc
read:
- "Chapter 8: Computer Collage" from The Reconfigured Eye by William J. Mitchell
assignment:
"cosmetic surgery" : scan, repair and enhance a scratched/damaged image of a celebrity - be prepared to show all 3 stages
FEB 14: NO CLASSES
FEB 21: 03 - photoshop is also a kitchen [ - digital imaging - ]
- layers, filters, adjustment layers
- discuss strategies of collage and composition
- in class exercise - play photoshop ping-pong
read:
- "Chapter 9:" from The Reconfigured Eye by William J. Mitchell
assignment:
"self-portrait" : create a collaged representation of yourself using the images you collected in week 1 and/or scanned images/objects
FEB 28: 04 - text as sound [ - typography - ]
- basic concepts - types [serif, sans-serif, mono], screen issues
- typographic design issues - flow, spacing, color, contrast, weight → readability
- in class exercise - sound interpretations
read:
- "The Cut-Up Method of Brion Gysin" from The New Media Reader by William S. Burroughs
- "The Future of the Novel" from Multimedia: From Wagner to VR by William S. Burroughs
assignment:
"Propaganda" : Manipulate an image to change its meaning. You should do this by incorporating text and/or adding/removing visual information. Your aim is to influence the opinions of people, rather than impartially providing information.
MAR 07: 05 - web web web [ - HTML - ]
- Hey, what is the World Wide Web and how does it actually work?
- hand coding HTML - basic tags, basic text formatting
- 'view source' in class exercise - code sharing: Frankensite.
read:
- "Chapter 10: Identity Crisis" from Life on the Screen by Sherry Turkle
assignment:
"cut-up" : Use what you know of HTML to format the text of a poem or song lyric into an interesting web page layout
MAR 14: NO CLASSES
MAR 21: SPRING BREAK
MAR 28: 06 - web web web web web web [ - HTML - ]
- incorporating images and links [still hand coding]
read:
- "Chapter 2: The Vocabulary of Comics" from Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
assignment:
"false identity" : Develop a false or fictional identity for an online dating service. Your web page should use only "shared" images and incorporate links to external sites.
APR 04: 07 - image optimization and animation [ - digital imaging - ]
- concepts - image types [JPG, GIF, PNG], transparency, browser safe, anti-aliasing
- optimizing images for use on the web [ImageReady]
- creating animated GIFs [ImageReady]
assignment:
"exquisite corps" class project - create 3 animated GIFs: head, torso & legs
APR 11: 08 - web authoring [ - HTML - ]
- basic tour of Dreamweaver
- how to set up and organize a project
- text formatting, images, links the Dreamweaver way
- some basic approaches to layout - tables
assignment:
"mini-portfolio" - create a simple webpage with links to the previous weeks assignments
APR 18: 09 - web authoring part 2 [ - HTML - ]
- layout continued
- navigation, architecture, sitemaps
- imagemaps
assignment:
"Sitemap" - Develop a sitemap and 1 page written proposal for your final project
APR 25: 10 - turn up the volume [ - SOUND - ]
- basic concepts - sampling rate, frequency, file formats
- how to capture/record/digitize/download audio & sounds [Audio Hijack Pro]
- basic sound editing, loops, and FX [Garage Band]
assignment:
- "Rant or Rave" - see 'Assignments' section of the syllabus [due in 2 weeks]
MAY 02: 11 - lights, camera ... [ - VIDEO - ]
- basic concepts - frame rate, aspect ratio, CODECs, file formats
- how to capture/record/digitize/download video
- basic editing, effects, transitions, audio [iMovie]
assignment:
- work on final project
MAY 09: 12 - open lab [ - WORK - ]
- work on your final project in class
MAY 16: 13 - Final Class
- in class critique of final projects
- wrap-up and what comes next! Flash teaser [brief tour]
Class schedule and notes
Class notes, links and resources.
Class 01 - Introduction
Watch: Tripod Performs at Comedy Festival.
Talk:
- watching Google vs. watching TV
- time shifting
- video games and relationships
Review the syllabus.
Discuss: black box or black box
Take apart a computer.
Explore OS X and learn some keyboard shortcuts.
Learn how to take screenshots.
Download images from:
- search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN)
- http://flickr.com
- Library of Congress
- archive.org
- ibilio.org
- many others places ...
Class 02 - Photoshop - Cosmetic Surgery
Assignment: Cosmetic Surgery
Collect 1 physical (analog) image of your favorite celebrity that is scratched/damaged [you can provide the scratches]
For this project you will need to turn in three .psd files:
- Scan your image using one of the scanners in the Digital Media Lab. Crop/resize this image so that it is 800x600 at 72dpi. [cosmetic-scan.psd]
- To the best of your abilities, repair the scanned image using Photoshop. [cosmetic-repair.psd]
- Give your celebrity some cosmetic surgery – play with tools, brushes, filters to transform the original image. [cosmetic-improve.psd]
Class 03 - Photoshop - Self-Portrait
Assignment: Self-Portrait
Using a minimum of 10 different images, create a composition that explores collage to make a representation of your self identity. The image should be 800x600 pixels.
Class 04 - Photoshop - Propaganda
Assignment: Propaganda
Develop a piece of propaganda and deliver it to your intended audience. For this project you will need to develop both a message and a distribution strategy. The message should involve images and text and should use at least one of the tactics indicated below. Your aim is to influence the opinions of people, rather than impartially providing information. You should design the message with your distribution strategy in mind. Think about your audience. What is the best way to reach them? You can use email, mailboxes, cell phones, walls/bulletin boards, etc., etc. You could choose to spoof a form of propaganda that you have found (please share the original with me) or you could develop your own from scratch.
References:
Think Again - activist artists
Propaganda is a specific type of message presentation directly aimed at influencing the opinions of people, rather than impartially providing information. You could view advertising as a form of propaganda whereby a company tries to convince a certain demographic to buy their product. The government and other groups use propaganda to encourage/discourage types of behavior (stop smoking, wear seatbelts, be Jewish). Perhaps the most powerful forms of propaganda come in times of war where it is used to created hatred towards a supposed enemy or to try and undermine the enemy's resolve. Propaganda uses various tactics:
WORD GAMES
Name-calling - The use of names when referring to groups or individuals (usually negative) - commie, fascist, pig, yuppy
Glittering generalities - The use of adjectives to describe in a positive way - Makes the product, event, person sound better then they are.
Euphemisms - Using language that attempts to pacify the audience in order to make an unpleasant reality more palatable. During wartime, civilian casualties are referred to as "collateral damage," and the word "liquidation" is used as a synonym for "murder."
FALSE CONNECTIONS
Transfer - A device by which the propagandist carries over the authority, sanction, and prestige of something we respect and revere to something he would have us accept.
Testimonial - The use of an important person to testify to the importance of the product, event, or person even if that person may not be an expert in the matter.
SPECIAL APPEALS
Plain Folks - The use of common language "Normal Folk" to describe the product, event or person to make it seem as if its already been accepted by the masses.
Bandwagon - The use of "Everybody's doing it" so you should to.
Fear - By playing on the audience's deep-seated fears, practitioners of this technique hope to redirect attention away from the merits of a particular proposal and toward steps that can be taken to reduce the fear.
Class 05 - HTML - Cut-Up
Assignment: Cut-Up
Select an original text[s] or poem[s] (this can be written by you or by another author). Using what you know of HTML and any other means at your disposal (language translation software, the cut-up machine, Google searches, surfing, etc.) create your own cut-up Web page of this original text[s]. You can write your own HTML code and/or use "View Source" to copy & paste code from other websites. Make sure to turn in the original text[s] with your assignment. Remember that the goal of a "cut-up" is not complete randomness, but is rather a means to disrupting conventional linear narrative to arrive at meaningful new connections.
Background:
The "cut-up" is a technique created by Brion Gysin and made famous by the writer William Burroughs. In one approach, a page of text is cut down the middle and then across the middle to create 4 sections. These sections are then rearranged to create a new page. The method has its roots in collage and randomness, approaches to visual art that were initially embraced by the surrealists. In many ways Burroughs' approach to writing can be considered a precursor to hypertext, non-linear narrative and computer-based multimedia storytelling. We actually experience the "cut-up" in many aspects of our daily routine such as when we channel hop between television stations or when we "surf" the Internet. Burroughs argued that the cut-up is not just randomness for the sake of randomness, but a means to discovering unexpected associations between words and ideas. In this way it can be thought of as a valuable tool in many disciplines.
References:
The Cut-Up Machine
Dialect Translation - search for your own!
http://rinkworks.com/dialect/
http://www.ighetto.com/html/jive.shtml
http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~jbc/home/chef.html
Mark Napier
http://www.potatoland.org/
http://www.potatoland.org/shredder/
Class 06 - HTML - False Identity
Assignment: False Identity
Develop a false or fictional identity to be included on an online dating service. Create an online presence/profile for this identity in the form of a web site (3 page minimum). Your web site should use only "shared" or found images and should incorporate links to external sites.
Background:
In Sherry Turkle's chapter "Identity Crisis" she discusses how the ability for people to easily create multiple online personae challenges our notion of fixed identities. In the past, a strong identity was associated with stability and clear boundaries. But Turkle argues that in today's world, this concept is being replaced by a notion that celebrates flexibility and mutability. She suggests that the "home page" is a compelling manifestation of "new notions of identity as multiple yet coherent". When working on this assignment, consider your own online identity. What are the freedoms and risks associated with your online life? Are there things that are safer and easier to explore online rather than in RL [real life]?
References:
Basic HTML tags
Web Color Codes:
http://www.visibone.com/colorlab/
http://www.webmonkey.com//reference/color_codes/
http://html-color-codes.com/
Web sites:
http://www.thing.net/~cocofusco/
http://geobodies.org/
http://www.blacknetart.com/
http://www.nancyburson.com/
Class 07 - Animation - Exquisite corpse
Assignment: Exquisite corpse
For this assignment you should create 3 separate animated GIF files that when stacked on top of each other create the complete body of a person - or - creature - or - animal - or - thing - or - robot. The 3 images should portray the head, torso and legs of your "being". Each file should have dimensions 300 pixels wide by 200 pixels tall. Save each body part both as a .psd file and "Save optimized as" a .gif file. You should turn in:
body.psd, body.gif
torso.psd, torso.gif
legs.psd, legs.gif
Background:
Animations attract attention and can enliven a web page design. Animation techniques can include motion, zooming, fading [in or out], spinning, color changes, selective revealing and more.
Exquisite corpse is a method by which a collection of words or images is collectively assembled. It is a technique invented by Surrealists in 1925, and is based on an old parlor game called Consequences in which players wrote in turn on a sheet of paper, folded it to conceal part of the writing, and then passed it to the next player for a further contribution. Later, perhaps inspired by children's books in which the pages were cut into thirds, the top third pages showing the head of a person or animal, the middle third the torso, and the bottom third the legs, the game was adapted to drawing and collage.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exquisite_corpse
http://blueballfixed.ytmnd.com/
http://www.futureofthebook.org/itinplace/
Do a Google search for "animated gif" to find many archives of free images.
http://k10k.net
under issues select "Font Cockpit" and "Fun Fun Fun"
Class 08 - Dreamweaver - Personal Portfolio
Assignment: Personal Portfolio
Using Dreamweaver create a personal portfolio website for the projects you've completed so far in class. You can design the website anyway you like, but it should include the following elements:
- A homepage with some basic information about you and what this website is for, this file should be called 'index.html".
- Six additional pages, 1 for each of the previous projects - include a title and brief description about your project [cosmetic surgery, self-portrait, propaganda, cut-up, false identity, and exquisite corps] *note - for cut-up and false identity you can simply link to the pages you've already made
- Navigation - every page should have links to every other page
!! Important !! - Don't remove any files from your original projects folders - instead, duplicate any files that you need for your portfolio. (ie you should still have your original files in your folders for project 1, project 2, etc.)
References:
http://netdiver.net/ - a great directory of innovative web design for inspiration
Last Class
Final Project Presentations
If you are interested in publishing your final project to the Internet I've created a resources page for your reference.
COMM 325: Digital Media II
Morgan Schwartz
SPRING 2007
Section 01
Thursday, 2:30 - 5:20 pm
Nugent 556
Syllabus
Course Description
In this second semester of the multimedia course sequence, students will develop, design and produce their own advanced interactive projects. Media theorist Lev Manovich claims we are living in 'Generation Flash'. Low bandwidth Internet connections created a demand for lightweight vector graphics software spurring a new aesthetic sensibility. Flash is an authoring environment that allows artists to weave together traditional linear animation, user interactivity, object-oriented programming and multimedia (video, sound, etc) blurring the lines between art, design and computer programming. In this class we introduce the fundamental principles of Flash animation and basic Action Script. Prerequisite: COMM 225.
Learning Goals
- You will be able to integrate many forms of digital media into cohesive multimedia projects using the Macromedia Flash authoring environment.
- You will use basic principles of computer programming to add interactivity to your projects.
- You will be able to present and articulate your creative ideas to others.
- You will be able to take ideas through a complete design process from concept to production.
Textbooks and Materials
materials:
USB Flash Drive (256MB or bigger) - OR - portable Hard Drive
required texts:
all required readings will be available online or handed out in class
Optional texts:
Macromedia Flash 8: Visual QuickStart Guide
Macromedia Flash Professional 8: Hands-On Training
Grade Weights
Participation: 25%
A large amount of class time will be dedicated to group critiques, team projects and class discussion. I encourage you to take an active role in contributing to make our class a fun and dynamic place to be.
Projects: 50%
You can't learn digital media passively or wait until the end of the semester to cram for an exam. To learn this stuff you have to make things! Digital media production involves a complex spectrum of techniques & software. If you do each project you will do well. If not, you will fall behind rapidly.
Final Project: 25%
This project will be self-initiated and should integrate many of the skills you will learn this semester. When the time comes I will help to suggest possible topics and approaches. You will have the option of working individually or collaborating with other students.
Tips
- Plan ahead! Digital media projects can be incredibly time consuming and occupy a lot of time outside of class. Don't leave things for the last minute.
- Attendance is essential to succeed in this class. The skills and techniques taught are cumulative - they build upon previous ones. Missing just one week can make it very difficult to catch up. You will also note that class participation makes up a sizable percentage of your final grade - if you are absent you cannot participate and your grade will suffer.
- Save different versions of your projects and save often. Make back-ups of your files.
- Work in the lab with a friend - when learning new technology, 2 brains are usually better than one. You are welcome to work on your assignments at home but many students use the lab in room 556. Lab hours will be posted after the first week of classes. Students may not use the lab when another class is in session. If the lab is locked during you may get a key from the Security Desk.
Attendance Policy
Attendance will be taken in each class. You are allowed one unexcused (no questions asked) absence, after which your final grade will drop substantially with each absence. In the event that an extraordinary circumstance will require you to miss a class, please let me know in advance by email.
Disabilities
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for this course must either enroll in the Program for Academic Access or register with the Office of Student Support Services. For any accommodation, the instructor must be presented with either a letter from the Assistant Director of the Program for Academic Access or an Accommodations Card from the Office of Student Support Services during the first week of classes.
Academic Honesty Policy
MMC fosters an academic community where students and faculty work together to create a learning experience that imparts knowledge and forms character. To achieve this, the College requires all members of the community to adhere to the policy of Academic Honesty that can be found in the Student Handbook, the College Catalogue and on the College website.
Section 01 - Schedule
FEB 01: 01 - introduction - First Memory
- introduction, syllabus, etc
- review/intro to GarageBand
- in class exercise - share first memories with your partner
FEB 08: 02 - Re-thinking Narrative
- lecture about narrative forms
- continue with GarageBand, digitizing, effects, enhancing audio quality
- critique "retell" assignment
read:
- "Chapter 2: The Vocabulary of Comics" from Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
DUE:
"retell" - In class you will partner with a classmate and share your first distinct memory. Using the GarageBand software "retell" the story in a 1-3 minute audio piece. Your project should be based on this memory, but you are not required to retell the story exactly as it was told to you - you have creative license to embellish, exagerate, extrapolate, interpolate the story to generate a compelling narrative. That said, you should try to respect the original story (and the person who told it) so as not to misrepresent them.
FEB 15: NO CLASSES
FEB 22: 03 - introduction - Setting the Stage
- tour of the Flash authoring environment
- using text - static, broken, dynamic
- the Stage - movie properties
read:
- tba
DUE:
"remix" - assignment description will be handed out in class
MAR 01: 04 - drawing a Tween - remix culture
- The Timeline - layers, framerate, keyframes
- Shapes - properties, grouping, ungrouping breaking apart
- Tweens - shape, motion [position, scale, color, alpha]
read:
- "Chapter 4: Time Frames" from Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
DUE:
"t e x t" - assignment description will be handed out in class
MAR 08: 05 - creating a Mask - Thinking about Time
- importing artwork from illustrator/photoshop
- creating masks
- using motion paths and guides
read:
- "Generation Flash" by Lev Manovich
DUE:
"Little Black Boxes" - assignment description will be handed out in class
MAR 15: 06 - incorporating Sound
- Finding sounds online
- Importing sound, recording sound in the classroom
- Event sound, streaming sound
DUE:
"re-re-mix"- assignment description will be handed out in class
MAR 22: SPRING BREAK
MAR 29: 07 - animation Tricks
- Animation techniques: easing, blur, gravity
- Working with MovieClips
DUE:
"My Life" - Animate your life story in 30 seconds or less (bunnies optional). Have a storyboard and at least 10 seconds of animation. [Draft due Mar 29th]
APR 05: 08 - the Loop - Generation Flash
- nested MovieClips
- making animated loops
- programming loops
DUE:
"My Life, take 2" - final draft of My Life.
APR 12: NO CLASSES - ADVISEMENT DAY
APR 19: 09 - make it Interactive
- Creating buttons
- Using Behaviors
DUE:
"How To": Develop an interactive Flash movie that illustrates/teaches your audience how to do something. This could be anything from how to make a PB&J sandwich to how to knit to how to make a Flash movie. It must have at least 5 different scenes; at least 1 voiceover and it must utilize buttons for your audience to interact with. Have a sitemap and at least 2 of the 5 scenes. [Final piece due April 26th]
APR 26: 10 - make it even more Interactive
- Approaches to navigation
DUE:
Final draft of "How To".
MAY 03: 11 - incorporating video
MAY 10: 12 - Open Lab
- Work on your final project in class
MAY 17: 13 - Final Class
- In class critique of final projects and wrap-up
Class schedule and notes
Class notes, links and resources.
Feb 01 - Introduction - First Memory
FEB 01: 01 - introduction - First Memory
- introduction, syllabus, etc
- review/intro to GarageBand
- in class exercise - share first memories with your partner
Links:
http://www.theyrule.net
http://escapelab.com.au
http://svt.se/hogafflahage/hogafflaHage_site/Kor/hestekor.html
http://becominghuman.org
http://teddiesinspace.com
http://homestarrunner.com
places to download sound effects and loops:
http://sounddogs.com
http://flashkit.com
Feb 08 - Re-Thinking Narrative
Feb 08: 02 - Re-Thinking Narrative
- discussion about narrative forms
- continue with GarageBand, digitizing, effects, enhancing audio quality
- critique “retell” assignment
Links:
http://www.6amhoover.com
http://www.yhchang.com
Weekend by Walter Ruttmann
http://www.plunderphonics.com
http://www.sfsound.org/tape.html
http://www.fictive.org/bits
http://webjay.org/by/webjaybs/deangoesnuts
DUE:
Read:
– “Chapter 2: The Vocabulary of Comics" from Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
Assignment:
"retell" – In class you will partner with a classmate and share your first distinct memory. Using the GarageBand software "retell" the story in a 1-3 minute audio piece. Your project should be based on this memory, but you are not required to retell the story exactly as it was told to you - you have creative license to embellish, exagerate, extrapolate, interpolate the story to generate a compelling narrative. That said, you should try to respect the original story (and the person who told it) so as not to misrepresent them.
Feb 22 - Flash - Setting the Stage
FEB 22: 03 - Flash - Setting the Stage
- tour of the Flash authoring environment
- using text - static, broken, dynamic
- the Stage - movie properties
DUE:
Read:
Dub Revolution
Assignment:
"BBBB remix" - appropriate, reuse, and transform. Using the audio files provided generate a 1-3 minute story. You can only use material from George Bush, Barack Obama, Borat, or Beck. You must use material from at least 2 of these people. Files are located in Public in a folder called COMM325_Files. Please turn in a typed transcript of the completed piece.
Sharing 101 - Survival Skills for the Digital Citizen
COMM 308.03
This course is motivated in large part by the spirit of the open-source movement. Participatory culture, fans, gamers, bloggers and vloggers are challenging the dominant content of mainstream media and traditional notions of privacy and intellectual property. In this course we will complete projects that introduce and experiment with a variety of tools that enable collaboration and sharing. What is socially engaged citizenship in the context of open-source technology?
[Buzzwords: blogs, vlogs, wikis, online radio, podcasting, RSS feeds, del.icio.us, technorati, Indymedia, Wikipedia, open API, flickr, skype]
Pre-req Comm 225 or permission of instructor.
Syllabus
Learning Goals
- You will be able to publish (design, write, publicize, maintain) a blog dedicated to a topic(s) of your choice.
- You will be able to make contributions (design and content) to wikis and other online collaborative authoring environments.
- You will be able to discuss concepts of privacy and social networks as they relate to your digital identity.
- You will be able to discuss the relationship of participatory culture to notions of citizenship and democracy.
- You will be able to present and articulate your ideas to others in a variety of environments, both online and offline.
Textbooks and Materials
materials:
generosity and good will
required texts:
all required readings will be handed out in class or available online at: http://sodacity.net/courses
Grade Weights
Participation: 10%
A large amount of class time will be dedicated to group critiques, team projects and class discussion. I encourage you to take an active role in contributing to make our class a fun and dynamic place to be.
Weekly Share: 5%
One week you will collaborate with a classmate to share or give something to the rest of the class. Each group will be given 10 minutes at the beginning of class. Each "share" will be posted to the class website for futher discussion. You could make something, juggle something, demonstrate something, sing something, etc, etc.
Qwik Writes 10%
Occasionally I will give "pop" in-class writing assignments, in which you will be asked to make critical reflections on the day's readings.
Citizen Journalism 20%
You will develop and maintain your own blog over the course of the semester. In writing your blog you will strive to develop a unique and personal voice about topics that are interesting and important to you. You will experiment with connecting and communicating with your readers.
Collective Intelligence 20%
As a class, we will engage in an experiment about massive authorship. Over the course of the semester, we will use a wiki, a form of collaborative software, to collectively research, write and visualize a specific topic. You will write a reflective essay comparing and contrasting your experience of writing an individual blog to co-authoring a wiki.
Your Public/Private Self 10%
Assignment details forthcoming.
Your Social Network 10%
Assignment details forthcoming.
Final Paper/Project: 15%
This project will be self-initiated and should integrate many of the skills/concepts you will learn this semester. When the time comes I will suggest possible topics and approaches. You will have the option of working individually or collaborating with other students.
Digital Media Lab
Work in the lab with a friend - when learning new technology, 2 brains are usually better than one. You are welcome to work on your assignments at home but many students use the Digital Media Labs in room 556 or 559. Lab hours will be posted after the first week of classes. Students may not use the lab when another class is in session. If the lab is locked during regular lab hours you may get a key from the Security Desk.
Attendance Policy
Attendance will be taken in each class. You are allowed one unexcused (no questions asked) absence, after which your final grade will drop substantially with each absence. In the event that an extraordinary circumstance will require you to miss a class, please let me know ahead of time, by calling me, or by email.
Disabilities
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for this course must either enroll in the Program for Academic Access or register with the Office of Student Support Services. For any accommodation, the instructor must be presented with either a letter from the Assistant Director of the Program for Academic Access or an Accommodations Card from the Office of Student Support Services during the first week of classes.
Academic Honesty Policy
MMC fosters an academic community where students and faculty work together to create a learning experience that imparts knowledge and forms character. To achieve this, the College requires all members of the community to adhere to the policy of Academic Honesty that can be found in the Student Handbook, the College Catalogue and on the College website.
Schedule
Week by week course schedule:
Feb 06 - Blogorama
Workshop:
- The language of blogging.
- Setting up a blog.
blog platforms:
http://www.civiblog.org
http://www.blogger.com
http://www.typepad.com
http://www.livejournal.com
http://www.movabletype.org
http://www.wordpress.org
DUE:
Register an account at http://sodacity.net/user.
Write a 1-page brainstorm for your blog project. It should include:
- Generate at least 3 possible names for the blog.
- Identify at least 2 and no more than 4 topics that you plan to blog about (its ok if they are only loosely related). Spend some time thinking about this. You will be asked to make at least one post on your blog every week of the semester... so choose things that you are interested in and care about so that you don't get bored. The point here is NOT to recreate what you are already doing on MySpace, Facebook, etc. - so topics can't include things like what you did with your friends last Saturday night...
- Research and identify at least 3 other blogs that deal with similar material. They don't have to agree with you (in fact it would be more interesting if they didn't) but the things they write about should be fairly obviously related to some of the things you plan on writing about. The point here is to find some "massive conversations" that are happening online and join them. Briefly describe each one.
Readings:
We Media. Chapter 1: Introduction to participatory journalism Shayne Bowman and Chris Willis
A Definition of Sociable Media by Judith Donath [pdf]
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Judith_Donath-Sociable_Media.pdf | 112.32 KB |
| Willis_and_Bowman-We_Media_Ch1.pdf | 572.63 KB |
Feb 13 - Citizens journalism
Workshop:
Extending your blog skills: commenting, link equity, search engine optimization (SEO)
Share:
Cassie + Bridget > http://mccd.udc.es/orihuela/epic/
DUE:
By Friday February 7, 2007:
- create your blog at http://blogger.com
- write your 1st post - a couple of paragraphs introducing your blog to the world - indicate the themes, topics, debates you will be dealing with
- email me your blog URL
By Tuesday February 13, 2007:
- your 2nd post - this is your first "real" post after the intro
- you should have commented on at least 1 of your classmates blogs (I'll email you a list of their URLs)
Readings:
Handbook for bloggers and cyber-dissidents (read online) or download: PDF version
Besieged Lebanese turn to Internet by Zeina Karam
In the Midst of War, Bloggers Are Talking by Sarah Ellison
Feb 20 - Your privately public self
Notes:
Your Privately Public Self
Workshop:
Extending your digital self:
DUE:
Now that you've planted your blog, grow it:
- claim your blog on technorati.com
- weeding: try to respond to comments in a timely manner, watch out for spam
- continue to write at least 1 post per week
- experiment with promotion: post a comments on other blogs about your content, email your blog to friends and family, ask for other people to give you a boost
- create a blog roll
- experiment with another form of media: add images, audio or video
Links:
http://technorati.com
http://www.gabcast.com
http://bloglines.com
How to Blog Safely (About Work or Anything Else)
http://www.google.com/search?q=blogger+themes
http://www.blogger-templates.blogspot.com
http://blogger-themes.blogspot.com
http://blogfresh.blogspot.com/2005/08/blogger-hacks-series.html
Readings:
"Blogging Outloud: Shifts in Public Voice" by danah boyd
"Steal this bookmark!" by Katharine Mieszkowski
Thomas Vander Wal's definition of folksonomy.
Clay Shirky discusses folksonomy
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| danah_boyd-Blogging_Outloud_Shifts_in_Public_Voice.pdf | 129.94 KB |
| Katharine_Mieszkowski-Steal_this_bookmark.pdf | 377.85 KB |
Feb 27 - Gift Economy
Workshop:
DUE:
Your private public self - part one:
Register at http://secondlife.com.
Choose a name.
Get Dressed (create your avatar).
Learn how to fly.
Register at http://del.icio.us
Choose a name.
Start bookmarking socially.
Readings:
Mary Douglas' foreward to The Gift by Marcel Mauss [PDF]
Pekka Himanen, “The Academy and the Monastery” [PDF]
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Marcel_Mauss-The_Gift_foreward.pdf | 949.77 KB |
| Pekka_Himanen_The_Hacker_Ethic_Ch4.pdf | 1.57 MB |
Mar 06 - Social Network
Discussion:
Social networks have been the focus of much recent research and entrepreneurship. This discourse views social relationships as nodes and links (or ties). Nodes are individual entities (often people) and the links are the relationships between them (parent-child, student-teacher, friend-friend). The people you know are your social network. Social relationships can be characterized on a spectrum from shallow to deep. Some theorists claim that social networks with many weak ties are more valuable than ones with fewer and deeper ties. The premise is that the more connections you have, the more likely that new ideas and opportunities will be introduced to you. This seems to be the guiding principle of many of these new social networking websites. Deeper connections have greater costs in terms of time commitments, etc and tend to have redundant ties. Of particular value in these systems are nodes (people, entities) that can bridge two networks thereby brokering relationships between networks that otherwise are not directly linked.
In 1967, Stanley Milgram made the famous "small world experiment" which claimed to prove that people in the world are separated by at most 6 links. While the experiment is considered to have many flaws, the notion of six degrees of separation has persisted in popular culture.
some links:
http://oracleofbacon.org/index.html
http://www.albany.edu/museum/wwwmuseum/work/lombardi/
http://www.theyrule.net/
http://smg.media.mit.edu/projects/SocialNetworkFragments/implementation/layout/6-2.mov
http://www.buddygraph.com
http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue7_4/krebs/
DUE: 4-5 page essay
1. Take a snapshot of your SL avatar and attach it to this assignment.
2. Describe the appearance of your avatar in Second Life in depth.
- does your avatar resemble you?
- do you change your appearance frequently or do you have one standard appearance?
- what motivated any changes your made?
- did you ask others for feedback on "how you look"?
- have you spent any money on your appearance? How much? On what?
- do you like how you look in Second Life?
- are there changes you'd like to make but can't due to lack of funds, skills, etc?
- Conduct interviews with 2 other people in Second Life (who are not in our class).
- be sure to inform them that you are doing research for a class and that nothing they tell you will be posted publicly to the Internet.
- ask your subjects questions about their own appearance
- what motivates the way they look (certain gestures, purposefully androgynous, dressed as an animal or object)?
- summarize each subject's comments
- reflect on the role/meaning of appearance in Second Life. How does the way people form identities in this environment differ/align with Real Life. What were your expectations and how did they measure up to your actual experiences.
- Compare and contrast the experience of constructing your new alter egos - your new visual + virtual Second Life self/avatar and your new metadata del.icio.us self. Specifically address how your notion of privacy is different with these identities than in Real Life (RL).
Readings:
Get up, stand up, social network by Paul Lamb
The Rhythms of Salience: A Conversation Map by Judith Donath
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Judith_Donath-Conversation_Map.pdf | 64.5 KB |
Mar 13 - NO CLASSES
No Class This Week
I will be out of town attending the 2007 SXSW Interactive Festival.
Mar 27 - The Commons
Workshop:
Introducing the wiki.
Wiki 101
MediaWiki Handbook
DUE: write and draw
- How do people display social networks in everyday life (that is, not online)? Give 2 concrete, specific examples. Why do they do this? What are the costs of making this display? The benefits? Does honesty play in?
- Explore two different social networking sites [LinkedIn, Orkut, Friendster, Tribe, Ryze, Facebook, MySpace and others...]. One should be LinkedIn and the other is up to you. What different aspects of your personality/identity can be expressed in these sites? How does the design of these sites facilitate networking? How does this sort of display compare to traditional means of displaying social connectedness. What are the advantages and disadvantages? Are signals of friendship here reliable? Why or why not?
- Draw a diagram of your social network (family, friends, acquaintances) using nodes and links. Aim to have between 30 and 60 people in your network - the more complete the better. Show connections among those people whom you know know each other. As you draw the diagram, think about where you are placing people - how have you grouped them, what meaning, if any, are you giving to adjacency or top/bottom?
+ Think about how you can draw connecting lines: they can be thicker, thinner, longer, shorted. They can be solid or dashed, dark or light, wavy, curved, straight or angular. Consider the challenge of showing people who are physically distant but personally close.
+ Think about the groups/relationships in which people participate in your network. They might range from tight knit groups like families, to loosely focused groups like a college dorm. How can you use color, shape, size to represent these different types of groupings?
+ The final result can be turned in as a digital file (photoshop, illustrator, flash) or on a physical sheet of paper. You might consider including a legend or codex for your diagram.
- (Optional) Take part in the Small World's Research Project http://smallworld.columbia.edu and discuss your results.
Readings:
"The Wealth of Networks: Chapter 3. Peer Production and Sharing" by Yochai Benkler
"Silence is a Commons" by Ivan Illich
Optional:
"The Tragedy of the Commons" by Garrett Hardin
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Yochai_Benkler-Wealth_of_Networks_Ch03.pdf | 766.16 KB |
| Ivan_Illich-Silence_is_a_Commons.pdf | 62.23 KB |
Apr 03 - Collective Intelligence
DUE: play in the sandbox
Links:
http://www.learningtoloveyoumore.com
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu
http://clickworkers.arc.nasa.gov/top
http://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome
Readings:
Discourse Architecture and Very Large-scale Conversation by Warren Sack [PDF]
Introducing the wiki.
Wiki 101
MediaWiki Handbook
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Warren-Sack_Very-Large-scale-Conversation.pdf | 2.85 MB |
Apr 10 - The Networked Public Sphere
DUE: FunkyEDU updates
Wiki location: http://media.mmm.edu/wiki
minimum:
2 substantive original entries [150-200 words each]
3 substantive edits of existing entries
Email me the 5 links to your entries by Monday night.
-
note, in place of a text-based entry, you can upload a layout/image/design of your own creation. Uploading images you find online does not count here.
-
suggestions - the faculty page is starting to develop. Think about what other sections are needing attention or creation.
Links:
the Evolution of Cooperation
The Prisoner's Dilemma
Readings:
The Wealth of Networks: Chapter 7. Political Freedom Part 2: Emergence of the Networked Public Sphere by Yochai Benkler
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Yochai_Benkler-Wealth_of_Networks_Ch07.pdf | 1.48 MB |
Apr 17 - The Internet of Things
DUE: FunkyEDU updates
Wiki location: http://media.mmm.edu/wiki
minimum:
2 substantive original entries [150-200 words each]
3 substantive edits of existing entries
Email me the 5 links to your entries by Monday night.
- note, in place of a text-based entry, you can upload a layout/image/design of your own creation. Uploading images you find online does not count here.
Readings:
A Manifesto for Networked Objects (Why Things Matter) by Julian Bleeker
Technologies of Cooperation by Howard Rheingold
A video, podcast and other materials from a lecture Howard Rheingold gave about this topic can be found here
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Julian_Bleecker-Why_Things_Matter.pdf | 943.23 KB |
| Howard-Rheingold_Technologies-of-Cooperation.pdf | 1.15 MB |
Apr 24 - We the participants
DUE: 4-5 page comparative essay
Compare and contrast your experience of writing an individual blog to that of co-authoring a wiki. Your essay should draw from class readings. Try to look critically at the output of both endeavors.
Some similarities and differences you might consider:
- type of content generated
- quality of the content
- structure of the resulting document
- freedom of expression
- accountability
- strengths and limitations of each
- accessibility
- interactivity, participation
Readings:
We Media. Chapter 4: The rules of participation by Dan Gillmor
May 01 - Critiques and propositions
If you're interested in continuing your blog and would like to host it at your own domain name (get rid of the blogspot) these links might be helpful:
Suggestions on where to buy domain names and webhosting.
Info on using a custom domain and using your own webhosting service.
Info on using a custom domain but continuing to host your blog at blogger.
May 08 - Final Presentations
Last day of classes - presentation and discussion of final projects.
DUE: Final Take-Home Endeavor
You may work in groups of 2 or 3.
This endeavor is meant to be an integrative exercise, covering as much of the course work as possible, and also one in which you begin to come to terms with the points of view of the readings, class discussions, small group discussions, shares, websites, projects, the course as a whole, and your own reactions to them. I ask that you show your struggle to make sense of the course work and how you relate to it personally as well as intellectually. There are no right answers, and any judgments, reservations, criticisms, rejections, acceptances, celebrations, provocative questions, hesitations, insights, etc. are acceptable as long as they are backed up by careful references to sources (readings, websites, etc) and/or thoughtful reasoning.
Part 1
Respond to the following 2 questions - stating opinions is not enough, cite relevant authors in your discussion. I highly recommend that you write cooperatively with your classmates (as opposed to divvying up the questions and writing individually). Your answers will be stronger if you generate answers through discussing the various themes and issues raised by the course material.
Groups of 2 should write 4 pages per question.
Groups of 3 should write 6 pages per question.
- Sharing and participatory culture are essential concepts for this course. Explore your understanding of what these terms mean. To do this you might consider some of the various forms we explored in class (folksonomies, gift economies, blogs, the commons, SecondLife, social networks etc, etc, etc). Which concepts do you find most compelling? Do these phenomena enhance or detract from social interaction? How are our real lives (RL) merging, intersecting, blurring with our virtual lives (VL)?
- Yochai Benkler argues that the network allows citizens to change their relationship to the public sphere. What does he mean by this? What is the Networked Public Sphere? What is the democratizing potential (strengths and limitations) of the Internet? What is the role of freedom of expression in a democratic society?
Part 2
The Networked Public Sphere is being designed as we speak. How this occurs will govern what you can do, what you can see, what you look like and who can gain access to what. It is our responsibility to participate in envisioning this future.
Imagine: you have been provided 10 gazillion dollars of seed money and a crack team of engineers and computer programmers who can make anything you design.
The Challenge: design either a new web service or personal display (handheld or wearable device) that augments/enhances social interactivity.
Questions:
+ What are you making, what does it do?
+ Who are you making it for - who is your audience?
+ What kind of identity information is emitted?
+ Is the display/service public, private, both?
+ How does it interact with other users - proximity, affinities?
+ What problem does it set out to address?
+ What are some related products/services - how does yours differ?
Format:
A 10-15 minute presentation in the form of Power Point or a webpage/blog. Please turn in either a copy burned to CD or a URL.
The presentation should incorporate the following:
- A name for your service or device (a neologism).
- Answers to the above questions.
- Use cases or scenarios that demonstrate typical user experiences.
- Visual designs - at least 4 visualizations that depict what the service/device/interface looks like and how it would be used
!!! your device/service does not have to work - but you need to explain how it would work.
May 15 - NO CLASSES
No Classes - Observe Friday's Schedule
Student Blogs
in no particular order:
http://the-penguino.blogspot.com by Quikktrip
http://awaybutnot.blogspot.com by crushedice
http://perfbyperf.blogspot.com by CassieLynn
http://grafaroidnyc.blogspot.com by asmyth
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