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Academic Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Courses
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Liberal Arts: Social Sciences |
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LASS326 American Slavery 3cr This survey history course provides a broad
overview of the origins and evolution of American
slavery. Lectures provide historical context for
analysis of a wide range of documents and films
analyzing the construction of laws defining
American slavery, religious ethos of slaves,
gender identities, resistance, slave culture, the
role of free people of color in the period of the
American slave regime, the coming of the Civil
War, and the aftermath of emancipation.
Lecture
Spring |
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LASS360 Memory and Dreams 3 cr. This course explores the intersecting realms of memory and dream. Dreaming is an entirely subjective experience, but how objective is remembering? How do we understand phenomena like post-traumatic or implanted or false memories? How can culture construct our memories–and our forgettings–for us? How can we separate identity from memory and either from forms of fiction? The world of dream: is it meaningful, nonsense, prophetic, usable? This course treats current neuroscience and neuropsychology, film clips, case histories, fiction, and analytic theory. In preparation for the final project, students keep a nightly dream journal. The course treats the nature of consciousness and subjectivity, the existence of a coherent self over time, and the creative uses to which memory and dream may be put.
Prerequisites: LALW100, FRSM100
Lecture/Seminar
All College Elective
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LASS402 Minds,Brains&Consciousness 3 cr. What is the mind? Some of history’s most
profound thinkers have attempted to answer this
question, yet the nature of the mind remains
elusive and hotly debated in contemporary
philosophy. Can the mysteries of conscious
experience be reconciled with a naturalistic,
scientific world view? Is the mind really just a
kind of computer, a machine made of meat? What
is thinking, and can computers do it? In this
course, we will investigate what Francis Crick
has called the Astonishing Hypothesis-“that
“You,” your joys and your sorrows, your memories
and your ambitions, your sense of personal
identity and free will, are in fact no more than
the behavior of a vast assembly of nerve cells
and their associated molecules.”
Prerequisites: LALW-100 and FRSM-100
Lecture
Fall |
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LASS403 Us/China: Ties Or Clashes 3cr This course explores the relationship between China and the United States from its beginning to the present. Unlike conventional narratives of Sino-U.S. relations focusing on politics and diplomatic relations, this course will cover more broadly social, cultural,and economic interactions, such as mutual perceptions and images,cultural/educational exchanges, migration and foreign policies, and international trade. Accordingly, we will look at a wide array of individuals and institutions such as missionaries, educators, merchants, migrants, non-government organizations, corporations and mass media rather than nation-states as the sole actors on the stage. We will place China and the United States in their regional and historical contexts while focusing on the interactive dynamic to show how their relations shaped their own histories as well as the global history. This course is to help students develop a solid understanding of the evolution of Sino-U.S. relations over time as well as a sharp and well informed perspective on current challenges and opportunities, especially the new face of
Sino-U.S.relations with China’s rise as a major economic powerhouse and the repositioning of the United States in the world. In addition to learning about the substance of these facets of Sino-U.S. relations, the course is designed to teach several important skills to students: informed reading of various types of sources, historical and critical thinking, policy analysis and debates,oral presentation and writing, and teamwork. Different assignments are designed to develop and advance these skills.[Formelry titled China-U.S. Relations]
Prerequisites: FRSM-100 and LALW-100
Seminar
Fall |
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LASS404 Asian Diaspora and American Experience 3cr This course surveys Asian American history (1850-
present) from international and global
perspectives. It starts with the massive
migrations of different Asian groups to the U.S.
from the Gold Rush to WWII, focusing on themes
such as colonialism, imperialism, labor,
communities, legal exclusion, and foreign
policies. Then it moves on to the great changes
within the Asian American community since 1965
and how Asian Americans are changing American
society and the relations between the United
States and Asia.
Prerequisites: LALW-100 and FRSM-100
Seminar
Spring |
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LASS406 Seminar on Romanticism 3cr A seminar in the study of Romanticism in Europe
and America in the late 18th and early 19th
century.
Prerequisites: LALW-100, FRSM-100 and LALW-200
Seminar
Fall |
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LASS407 Immigration + Race in the USA 3cr Often portrayed as a “nation of immigrants” with ample and equal opportunities for the “huddled masses,” the United States has a long and complicated history of immigration marked not always by open doors but rather by exclusion, marginalization, and contestation. Immigration has helped define American national identity, and it continues shaping its political debates, economic patterns, social transformations, and cultural life. It has become even more salient and contentious since the 2016 presidential election. This class places contemporary immigration debates in historical context and provides a systematic review of American immigration history in local, national and global contexts. We will start with the early stages of immigration since the colonial era and then place the great waves of European, Asian, and Mexican immigration during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the context of comparable and relatable global migrations across the world. We will discuss the rise of federal laws on immigration in the late 19th century and the tightened immigration control and restriction in the early 20th century, followed by the impacts of WWII and the ensuing Cold War on immigration. The rest of the class will focus on the more recent immigrant and refugee communities from Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa, highlighting the changing patterns of migration since the 1965 immigration reform (including the changes in post-9/11 America). Based on an important theme so relevant to our current time, this class helps students build a strong sense of civic engagement and develop critical thinking and analytical skills with original research.
Prerequisites: LALW-100, LALW-200 and 9 credits from Liberal Arts
Seminar
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Photography |
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MPPH100 Intro Photo for Non-Majors 3 cr. A beginning course for students with an interest in creative work and study in black and white photography. Teaches exposure controls, camera operation and rudimentary film development and printing.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPPH206 Photography in the Digital Age 3 cr. An introduction to the digital darkroom that offers a solid foundation in digital imaging skills. Technical focus is on the current array of input, editing and output options. The content of student work is addressed in periodic critiques, and class discussions emphasize the role of the computer in contemporary photography.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPPH214 Drawing With Light 3cr Drawing with Light introduces students to making cameraless photographs in combination with
collage, assemblage, and hand-applied elements including drawing. Students use photographic
techniques such as photograms and the camera obscura as departure points for investigations of
the line, value, shape, texture and space.
Hybrid studio Critique
Fall and Spring |
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MPPH240 Sophomore Major Studio I 6 cr. This required sophomore course is the first in the progression of major studio/hybrid seminars
in photography. The course addresses the aesthetic and technical dimensions of contemporary practice in black and white analog photography. Proficiency in B&W darkroom techniques is
emphasized. At the discretion of the instructor, the class will concentrate on the use of either
4X5 view cameras or small/medium format cameras for the semester. Weekly assignments and
critiques familiarize students with the importance of this equipment in contemporary
practice as well as the history of the medium. Slide presentations and field trips are combined
with the principles of optics, cameras, film, photographic chemistry and darkroom technique. Studetns are required to attend the regular lecture series that occurs within the limits of scheduled course contact hours.
Prerequisites: Majors Only
Hybrid Studio/Critique
Departmental Requirement Fall |
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MPPH280 Sophomore Studio/Medium Format 6cr This required sophomore course is the first in the progression of major studio/hybrid seminars
in photography. The course builds a base of knowledge about black and white analog
photography. Black and white darkroom techniques and fine silver gelatin printing are emphasized.
The class concentrates on the use of the medium format camera. Weekly assignments and critiques
familiarize students with contemporary photographic practice, as well as in the history
of the medium. Slide presentations and field trips are combined with principles of optics,
cameras, film, photographic chemistry, and darkroom techniques.
[Previously titled Soph. Studio I]
Seminar Hybrid
Dept Requirement Fall and Spring |
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MPPH281 Sophomore Studio/Large Format 6cr This required sophomore course is the second in the progression of major studio/hybrid seminars
in photography. The course addresses the aesthetic and technical dimensions of
contemporary practice in black and white analog photography. Advanced black and white darkroom
techniques are emphasized. The class will concentrate on the use of the 4X5 view camera.
Weekly assignments and critiques familiarize students with the importance of this equipment in
contemporary practice as well as the history of he medium. Slide presentations and field trips
are combined with the principles of optics, cameras, film, photographic chemistry, and
darkroom techniques. [Formerly titled Soph. Major Studio II]
Seminar Hybrid
Dept Requirement Fall and Spring |
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MPPH303 Alternative Camera, Alternative Techniques 3 cr. An introduction to non-silver processes such as palladium and cyanotype printing and to unusual types of cameras including plastic cameras, pinholes, and others. This class will include regular demonstrations as well as critique and research techniques for seeking out unusual photographic materials.
Prerequisites: Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
Critique
Departmental Elective
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MPPH304 Lighting for Photography 3 cr. This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of photographic
lighting. Students will explore the uses of strobe, tungsten and ambient light in both studio and location settings. Classes will consist of lectures on a wide array of approaches to the use of lighting, in-class demonstrations, and critique of student work. Over the course of the semester we will endeavor to create a collaborative conversation regarding the use of lighting and its integral relationship to the photographic image.
Prerequisites: Open to Soph, Junior, and Senior Only
Critique
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MPPH323 Topics in Photography 3 cr. Courses with this title offer in-depth studies of special topics in photography. Past seminars have included “Ways of Seeing”, “Photo Book Making”, “Portrait”, and “Afterlife: Professional Practices in Photography”.
Prerequisites: MPPH240 and MPPH-241 or permission of instructor
Critique
Departmental Elective
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MPPH350 Visiting Artist Seminar 3 cr. This course introduces students to leading practitioners in the field of contemporary photography through frequent lectures by visiting artists, historians, and curators. The course also includes readings and discussion, film screenings, slide lectures, and visits to area exhibitions.
Prerequisites: concurrent enrollment in Junior Projects, Senior Projects or Senior Thesis
Lecture/Seminar
Departmental Requirement Fall/Spring |
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MPPH360 Major Studio: Digital Photography 6 cr. This course is a rigorous introduction to the digital tools available to photographers. The class covers a wide array of topics, with emphasis placed on digital image capture and the use of the computer as a parallel tool to traditional photographic practices. Weekly critiques address students’ aesthetic and technical progress and are supplemented by readings, lectures, and discussions that evaluate the role of the computer in contemporary photography. Students are meant to develop a solid understanding of these digital imaging practices as well as an adaptable approach to emerging technologies.
Prerequisites: MPPH260 and MPPH261
Seminar/Hybrid
Departmental Requirement Fall |
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MPPH361 Junior Projects 3 cr. In this required course, students develop and refine a personal vision of their own through long-term photography based projects, more advanced technical knowledge, and a deeper familiarity with uses of the medium. Weekly critiques, slide presentations and group discussions are important elements of this class.
Prerequisites: MPPH260, MPPH261, MPPH360 and concurrent enrollment with the same instructor in MPPH350critique
Departmental Requirement Spring |
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MPPH374 Photo: Documentary 3 cr. This course provides an overview of the history, theory, and politics implied in making documentary work. Assignments and weekly critiques of student projects will encourage our greater understanding of the world and of the photographic language of documentary. By the end of the semester, students will produce a coherent body of work following a specific subject chosen in consultation with the instructor. Related readings, discussions, and slide presentations will be introduced. Formely titled: Documentary Seminar
Prerequisites: MPPH240 or MPPH241
Critique
Departmental Elective Fall & Spring |
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MPPH377 Landscape Photo 3 cr. A course designed to explore the contemporary landscape, both with the camera and through readings on the land and on environmental concerns. Emphasis is on student photographic work, discussion of imagery and literature, and developing a personal perspective on the human relationship to the land.
Prerequisites: MPPH240 and MPPH241 or permission of instructor.
Critique
Fall/Spring |
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MPPH392 PH Course Assistantship A course assistantship allows qualified
sophomores, juniors, and seniors to assist a
faculty member with whom they have studied
previously. Duties may include set up, assisting
with demonstrations and critiques during class
meetings. Course assistants may not grade
students. Students may register for only one
3-credit course assistantship each semester, and
no more than two such assistantships may count
toward degree requirements.
Students selected by faculty to be course
assistants submit a Course Assistantship form
with the faculty and chair’s signatures to the
Registrar during registration and no later than
the end of the Add/Drop period. Students who are
performing a Teaching Assistantship should follow
Independent Study procedures
Prerequisites: By Permission of the Instructor
Fall/Spring |
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MPPH398 PH Internship 3 cr. An internship is a supervised professional
experience that allows you to use classroom
training in a real work environment, develop your
skills, focus your career goals, and make
professional contacts.
MassArt offers students enrolled in a degree
program the opportunity to register an internship
for credit. An internship counts as 3 studio
elective credits. To receive credit, the
internship must meet our basic internship
requirements, be approved by a faculty advisor,
and registered before you start the internship.
Prerequisites: By Permission of Instructor
Fall/Spring |
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MPPH399 PH Independent Study 3 cr. Juniors and seniors who have a specific studio
project which cannot be accomplished within the
structure of a course may arrange to work with a
faculty member on an independent basis. The
Independent Study form (available in the
Registrar’s Office) includes a description of the
project. Students may take only one 3-credit
independent study each semester, and no more than
four independent studies will count toward the
degree.
Independent Study forms, with faculty and the
chair’s signatures, should be submitted to the
Registrar during registration and not later than
the Add/Drop deadline.
Prerequisites: By Permission of Instructor
Fall/Spring |
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MPPH406 Polaroid 20X24 3 cr. This course is centered on using the specialized Polaroid 20X24 camera. Students work directly with the instructor to create work based in the studio. Students will learn lighting and collaborative techniques unique to the Polaroid.
Undergraduate Elective Spring |
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MPPH440 Senior Projects 6cr Students will immerse themselves in a specific project to be worked on throughout the semester and formally presented at final review. Weekly critiques of student work will be one emphasis of the course with time dedicated to developing artist statements, a written thesis paper, and preparation for a career in photography. Students will learn to critically evaluate ideas. Students will be introduced to leading practitioners in the field of contemporary photography through bi-weekly lectures, readings, and written analysis. The talks by visiting artists, historians and curators are organized by the department. Lab time, technical demonstrations, oral presentations, field work, and visits to area exhibitions and studios will occur on a regular basis.
Prerequisites: MPPH-361
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MPPH461 Senior Thesis 3 cr. In the final semester of the major, students are expected to complete a body of work, participate in a class exhibition, finalize a written thesis and complete preparation for pursuing a career in photography. The class will consist of critique, slide lecturers, student presentations, and discussions on assigned readings.
Prerequisites: MPPH260, MPPH261, MPPH360, MPPH361, MPPH460 and concurrent enrollment with the same instructor in MPPH450
Critique
Departmental Requirement Spring |
Studio for Interrelated Media |
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MPSM204 Light Lab 3 cr. This course will explore the use of theatrical and commercial lighting, dimming and control units. The class will visit professional installations to learn the hardware and safety practices from working technicians. Students will design and build their own class projects. [Formerly titled Lighting for Events and Installations]
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPSM205 Stagecraft & Technical Production 3 cr. This course aims to demystify basic lighting, rigging, sound and staging practices. Technical workshops will be conducted during class time where students work in teams to complete assignments. Demonstrations and lectures also include site planning, power distribution, and safety in the workspace. Students will prepare and present their own personal projects using the class as crew and SIM’s technology.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective Fall |
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MPSM207 Beat Research 3 cr. This is a studio course about electronic music and culture. Students explore the techniques of sampling, sequencing and drum programming using current music making software including Reason and Ableton Live. Most assignments involve the creation of music/sound but we also address techniques of video production and performance.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPSM209 Light as a Sculptural Element 3 cr. To explore light as a sculptural element in art making, this class will focus primarily on the application of light as a transformative medium in all visual art practices. The class will examine the works of artists such as Thomas Wilfred, James Turrell, Ann Hamilton, Won Ju Lim, Diana Thater, Wolfgang Laib, Cai Guo-Qiang, Robert Irwin, Shirin Neshat, Bill Viola, Olafur Eliasson and many others. This course is designed to familiarize the student with a wide variation of art practices and to encourage a sense of discovery in relation to the medium of light and in everyday observations.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPSM211 Interrelated Media Practice 3 cr. This is a critique studio course where students
produce and present interrelated media artworks in
progress and/or in final form. The course is
closely modeled after the Studio for Interrelated
Media Major Studio course, but with a smaller
class size. Additionally, rotating faculty also
present emerging topics related to interrelated
media for discussion and exploration. For SIM
Majors, this course provides a more intimate
setting to work through artworks in progress. For
Non-majors, it is an opportunity to expand one’s
artistic practice, interact with artists from
other disciplines, and refine public speaking
skills. There is no prerequisite and it is an open
elective.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective Fall/Spring |
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MPSM221 Interdisciplinary Video 3cr This is a studio course in which students learn
the basics of video production - from shooting to
editing to the use of effects and finally
publishing/screening final works. The class
explores the inclusion of video in installations,
live performance, and other experimental
applications. The contemporary practice of video
production is presented within the historical
context of the moving image from silent films up
to the modern Youtube era. Additionally,
introductory video mapping technologies and video
sound techniques are presented. The course
combines lectures, demonstrations, workshops,
visiting artists, and both collaborative and
individual assignments.
Hybrid Studio Critique
Undergraduate Elective Every Other Fall |
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MPSM222 We Are Pirates! : Appropriation, Decomposition and Interrelated Media 3cr Appropriation, modification and trafficking of
imagesacross networks, systems and digital
devices have become a mass ritual of contemporary
social participation. While large media
conglomerates
make professional use of post production tools
for editing and enhancing each and every image to
which we are exposed daily, a large sector of
the population responds to this environment of
saturation by appropriating and trafficking
memes, video, animation and amateur photography.
Where do artists and designers fit within this
exchange?
What are the creative tools involved in the
market of piracy and uncreativity? Who owns the
images and cultural products we share everyday?
Students in this class explore the basics of
design fundamentals through a series of
decompositional exercises devoted to learning the
digital tools involved in the manipulation of
existing media, along with a
series of lectures and readings on piracy,
originality and contemporary
art and design practices. The class aims to stir
the imagination of the group and invite students
to embrace piracy as a learning process where
applications for digital production appear as
critical tools with a potential to respond to
their mere commercial use.
Hybrid Studio Critique
Fall |
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MPSM272 Sound Performance 3 cr. Students will learn elements of sound performance, technical considerations including vocal techniques, content development and presentational context. Students present live sound pieces on a weekly basis.
Critique
All College Elective
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MPSM273 Intro to Sound Studio 3 cr. Students will learn principles of electroacoustic and digital sound processing, including audio recording, editing, mixing, and signal processing techniques. Students are required to present “live” or recorded sound pieces. Sound studio includes analog and digital synthesis, analog and digital recording and editing systems, signal processors. Weekly assignments. Fall term only.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPSM276 Studio for Interrelated Media/Major Studio 3 cr. This is the first year of the Major Studio class (2 semesters of MPSM276 required) in SIM in which individuals and groups present and discuss work in media of their choice such as audio, video, computer, performance, publishing, and production of events that interrelate media. Each week, student presentations of work are organized into performances and exhibitions produced by students who select, schedule and technically support the presentation. In this first year of SIM, students are required to complete all components of a sophomore review board. While students register for different sections of the course each year, each section shares the same space, time and faculty so that all SIM majors are able to meet each other, collaborate, mentor and critique each other’s work. SIM Majors are required to take 6 semesters of SIM Major studio in total. 2 MPSM276 (Sophomore year), 2 MPSM376 (Junior year) and 2 MPSM476 (Senior year).
Prerequisites: SIM majors only. Take two semesters of this course.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
Departmental Requirement Fall and Spring |
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MPSM307 On the Spot 3 cr. As human beings, we carry with us precious instruments for expression - the body and the voice. This course explores perception - looking and listening - as a tool for making instantaneous performance choices. We will work through a series of improvisational techniques from concepts of “action theater” to contact improvisation. Students will work individually, in duets, and in groups to explore gesture, space, time, energy, intention and the voice. We will experiment with the voice by “sounding” as well as by speaking. The course may also consider objects and environments in relation to performance. Students will be encouraged to make direct relations between their principal fields of artistic interest and time-based, improvisational performance. Some readings and video may be included to introduce students to the various forms that improvisation has taken in twenty-first century live art.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPSM311 Elec.Projects/Artists/Digital 3 cr. This course introduces students to computer interfaces for connecting interactive sculpture,
performance and installation with software. Course content includes microcontrollers,
electrical sensors, custom-made circuits and programming. No previous programming experience is
necessary.
Prerequisites: MPSM-310 strongly advised but not required.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPSM313X Beat Research II 3 cr. This course is designed for students who have already taken Beat Research I and wish to continue making art in a community of Beatmakers and electronic musicians. Emphasis will be on critiques, the sharing of advanced techniques and the organizing of media for presentation outside of the class (audio CD, video DVD, live performance etc)
Prerequisites: MPSM207
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPSM317 Events & Exhibitions 2 3 cr. This is the second semester of a year-long course. This course is for those that are actively involved in organizing and producing events and exhibitions throughout the year. However the emphasis is on events that are complex enough that they require at least a year to plan. It is required for Eventworks producers and Godine Family gallery managers. Students will meet with the instructor one-on-one throughout the semester, additionally the class will meet periodically as a group to discuss general production issues. It is also open to those not involved in Eventworks or Godine Gallery but that have another event(s) in mind. By permission of instructor. This is a one-year long course. [Formerly titled Event Planning and Production II]
Prerequisites: MPSM 319X Event Planning and Production
Lecture/Seminar
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MPSM336 Events & Exhibitions 1 3 cr. This course is for those that are actively involved in organizing and producing events and exhibitions throughout the year. It is required for Eventworks Producers and Godine Family Gallery Managers. Students will meet with the instructor one on one throughout the semester, additionally the class will meet periodically as a group to discuss general production issues. It is also open to those not involved in Eventworks or Godine Gallery but that have another event (s) in mind. [Formerly titled Events Planning and Production]
Prerequisites: by permission of instructor
Hybrid Studio/Critique
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MPSM337 Electronic Projects for Artists 3 cr. The purpose of this studio course is to provide skills and information that will be useful for artists who use electrical devices in their artworks. Examples will be shown to help students in incorporating/integrating electrical circuits and sensors in a variety of media including sculpture, installation and performance. This intro course covers how to work safely with electrical current. We show how to use components like breadboards, resistors, capacitors and transistors, Integrated Circuits, read schematics and build electrical circuits. The ultimate goal is for artists to incorporate this knowledge in the production of projects of their own design.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPSM338 Adv.Techniques/Sound Pro 3cr. This is a sound production course offering advanced experience in sound recording and studio
techniques. Students will have the opportunity to work with multi-track recording, signal
processing, mastering techniques and surround sound production. Both the technical and
aesthetic aspects of creating sound works for a variety of mediums including music production,
sound art, installation and sound for moving image will be covered. Students will produce and
critique their work in the both the SIM Sound Studio, Design and Media Center and with the
Pozen surround sound systems. The course will included tutorials, individual exercises, group
projects, and guests from the sound production field.
Prerequisites: MPSM273
Spring Only |
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MPSM342 Methods & Design/Art Exhibition 3 cr. In this course, students will be guided through
the design/build fundamentals of installing an
art exhibit, preparing artwork for installation
and the construction methods used in producing
exhibitions. Students will have the opportunity
to learn new skills that can be applied to
preparing and installing their own artwork. The
course, which takes place in a classroom and
gallery setting, will start with an introduction
to the fundamentals (hardware, tools,
understanding basic floor plans, construction,
fabrication, sustainable materials, shipping,
lighting and basic A/V installation) followed by
a study of concept and design processes (exhibit
design, curation, registration), installation
procedures and finally, install/de-install a
professional exhibit at MassArt’s Bakalar and
Paine Galleries.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective Fall/Spring |
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MPSM345 Internet Culture & Technology 3 cr. This course will explore topics related to
artists’ use of the Internet as a medium for
creative production and distribution. Lectures
and discussions will cover topics relevant to
artists’ work on the Web including: social media,
the free software movement, censorship, humor,
streaming media, Net Neutrality, tele- robotics,
programming and web- based multimedia. Techniques
for creating web content will be demonstrated
using commercial and free software. Some examples
will involve writing code, but no previous
programming experience is assumed. All students
will be required to create a website as a final
project and after being given options, they will
be free to choose methods and content most
appropriate for their own process in the creation
of work.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective Fall |
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MPSM346 Interdisciplinary Projects in Sustainability 3 cr. Sustainable art and design focuses on how to leave our future more just,healthy and
environmentally stable than it is today. Through careful consideration of
materials,lifecycles,subjects, audiences,economies,and many other aspects of
daily life, we will imagine and make projects that address significant issues resulting from
environmental impacts on human and animal societies. Open to students from all departments,
this course focuses on developing projects in nterdisciplinary studio settings that address
issues of sustainability on our campus,in our city,and in the larger global context. Research
practices,collaboration and charrette forms will be explored through a series of assignments
leading up to a half semester independent project.
Through readings,field trips,studio vosots and critique,we will learn about revolutionary
projects in sustainability in design and art fields today. Open to juniors and seniors, this
class will allow students to work in the medium of their choice while focusing on research and
development in the area of sustainability.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
Undergraduate Elective Spring
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MPSM349 Performance, Art & Politics 3 cr. In this studio course, students will be introduced to historical examples of politically-engaged performance art as a context for creating their own work. This will include the creation of original performance art works by adapting techniques which were developed by the Czech Underground which built a platform for the artists-run “Velvet Revolution” of 1989. For students without experience in video, the course will also introduce the basic tools and principles of video production.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPSM357 Experimental Ensembles 3cr. Experimental Ensembles is an opportunity for students to collaborate in significant ways on
works that involve various groupings of student ensembles engaging in collective actions that are
both performance and non-performance based. The class explores the artistic practice of
conducting, composition, and collaboration along-side the experience of following the
direction of others in order to create an artwork that has a public impact. Students will have to
the opportunity to use each other as actors, agents, units, and parts of their creative vision
in varied environments and alternative spaces. Topics included the examination of historical
works that have emerged from: the Fluxus art movement; happenings of the ‘60s; performative
installation; live choral-based configurations; experiments with sound, light, motion, site, and
performance; as well as, alternative genres such as live cinema. An ensemble can be a Flash mob, a
gathering of organized movements and soundings on a park walk, mobile sculptural elements, or a
series of instructions that a group or public is asked to follow. We will work in large ensembles
and also experiment with smaller forms within the group.
Undergraduate Elective Fall and Spring |
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MPSM358 Immersive Media - AR/VR 3cr Immersive media and the Landscapes of Augmented &
Virtual Reality
In this course, students have the opportunity to
survey the current state of augmented and virtual
reality tools and applications. The ever-changing
landscape of augmented and virtual reality offers
artists uncharted territory in artistic expression
and the opportunity to create a new artistic
language. This course provides a review of the
theory, history, and development of both AR and VR
while exploring the artist’s potential within
these mediums. Students are expected to make work
using video mapping, smart phone AR, and to
participate in VR sessions. The course includes
several visiting artists and professionals in the
field.
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge in video production.
Studio
Spring |
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MPSM361 Investigations in Expanded Cinema 3cr Expanded cinema can describe a film, video,
multi-media performance or an immersive
environment that extends the boundaries of filmic
concepts. In this course we explore elements of
light, motion, materiality, and sound to create
works that extend beyond the traditional cinematic
relationship between the audience and the screen
by considering the variables of space,
architecture, sculptural forms, and viewer
relationship. The course investigates how pre
cinematic forms can inform the post cinematic.
Much of our investigations focus on approaches to
physical installation that extend the notion of
the frame into multidimensional environments using
light, space, and architecture - concepts that can
also be applied to creating simulation media with
virtual and augmented reality technology.
Readings, research, and discussion will be an
integral aspect of this course. We also touch on
themes such as Post Cinema, Media Archaeology,
Time Space Compression, and Post Continuity. This
course is designed to familiarize the student with
a wide variation of art practices related to
contemporary installation and immersive notions of
art.
Hybrid Studio Critique
Fall |
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MPSM376 Studio for Interrelated Media 3 cr. This is the second year of the Major Studio class (2 semesters of MPSM376 required) in SIM in which individuals and groups present and discuss work in media of their choice such as audio, video, computer, performance, publishing, and production of events that interrelate media. Each week, student presentations of work are organized into performances and exhibitions produced by students who select, schedule and technically support the presentation. In this junior year of SIM, students are required to complete all components of a junior review board during their first semester of MPSM376. While students register for different sections of the course each year, each section shares the same space, time and faculty so that all SIM majors are able to meet each other, collaborate, mentor and critique each other’s work. SIM Majors are required to take 6 semesters of SIM Major studio in total. 2 MPSM276 (Sophomore year), 2 MPSM376 (Junior year) and 2 MPSM476 (Senior year).
Prerequisites: 6 credits of MPSM 276
Hybrid Studio/Critique
Departmental Requirement Fall and Spring |
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MPSM392 SIM Course Assistantship |
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MPSM399 SIM Independent Study |
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MPSM402 Art, Life and Money 3 cr. This course is targeted towards soon-to-graduate art students who are thinking about the practicalities of continuing life as in independent artist after art school. Throughout the semester students will meet graduates of the Studio for Interrelated Media as well as others pursuing unconventional artistic paths. Through discussion, presentations and field trips, issues surrounding the realistic struggles of maintaining life as an independent artist alongside the celebration of such a choice will be explored. The course will attempt to demystify tax responsibilities, non-profit organization opportunities, and grant-writing. Students will interview artists as well as research methods for balancing art, life and money after school. Students will also practice writing their artist statement and resume and create a personal five year plan using any media.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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MPSM405 Publications: Print, Digital,PostDigital 3cr. The rise of digital publishing, online media platforms, and mobile devices has radically altered the way we look at information, art and culture, while inspiring new uses and interpretations of print media. Artists and cultural producers everywhere are actively experimenting with alternative print and publishing practices that evoke analogue memories, critically document the present, or reformulate the future of the medium. These contemporary practices examine media sustainability, propose mediated participation and configure new social spaces for the dissemination and interchange of ideas.
In this context we will initiate our studies. This class proposes a collaborative studio environment in which we will investigate various printmaking techniques, examine the history of the medium, observe and critique its current state, and experiment with the different forms that compose the expanded field of contemporary print. Through studio and post-studio projects
students are asked to propose and discover alternative approaches to printmaking, cultural production and social engagement, while discussing issues of authorship, piracy,
reproduction, dissemination, interchange, and participation. [Formerly Titled: Expanded Print Media]
Undergraduate Elective Spring Only |
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MPSM406 Contemporary Art Issues 3cr Students explore issues of theory, interpretation and criticism of contemporary art, focusing on developments since 1980. Contemporary and
historical readings along with in-class discussion and group presentations provide a basis for critically understanding one’s own
artistic practice in relation to other artists, as well as the culture at large. Students are exposed to writings, interviews, and artworks
representing marginalized populations and ideas often overlooked in mainstream historical sources. Throughout the semester, students
practice research and critical writing skills by observing and writing about the work on display throughout the campus as well as in galleries and
museums in Boston. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to experiment with methods for presenting and disseminating their writing.
Hybrid Studio Critique
Undergraduate Elective Fall |
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MPSM407 Advance Video Techniques 3cr In this course students explore the latest
developments and possibilities in video image and
sound capture, editing, and screening. The
course explains the finer points of several types
of cameras and accessories accessible for student
use in the Studio for Interrelated Media
department equipment collection. Guests bring
workshops and demos of the cutting edge
applications in VR, immersive media and augmented
reality. Practical applications of video
documentation are taught via hands-on
collaborative projects documenting art projects
on campus. This is an advanced course for
students that already have some video skills in
place.
Prerequisites: This is an advanced course for
students that already have some video skills in
place.
Hybrid Studio Critique
Instructor’s Discretion |
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MPSM408 Intensive Performance Art Studio 3cr In this class, students develop and deepen ways
performance art fits into their practice. Through
class exercises, assignments, and personal
research, students investigate audience -
performer relationships, site-specificity, working
with extended duration, body awareness, risk
management, personae work, delegated performance
approaches, and documentation strategies.
Approaching performance art through a visual arts
lens, we investigate the history and contemporary
climate around the medium’s inclusion and/or
exclusion from institutional art contexts, public
space, and artist-run initiatives. Students
complete readings, writing assignments, follow a
course blog, and attend local art
exhibitions/events during the semester that will
be discussed in class. This course includes
guest-artist presentations, guest critics, and
significant student-led studio time. Students are
required to present works in progress and
developed pieces throughout the semester. Our
efforts culminate into a final event where
students share developed live works with the
public. In addition to exhibiting their own works,
students collaborate in the organization,
promotion, and documentation of this event.
Prerequisites: MPSM216 Performance Art Fundamentals or MPSM307 On the Spot
or Instructor Permission
Hybrid Studio Critique
Spring |
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MPSM409 Mining Meaning 3cr This class focuses on the development of artistic
practice and individualized research through
multiple lenses. During the course, students are
expected to create project based works through
multi-faceted approaches to research. The course
examines Practice-based Research which is a form
of research that aims to advance knowledge partly
by means of practice. Students will be introduced
to the writings of Donna Haraway, Vilem Flusser,
Oscar Wilde, James Baldwin, Juhani Pallasmaa,
Kumagusu Minakakta, Theaster Gates, William
Kentridge, Susan Sontag, and many others.
Discussion, in-depth reading and written analysis
regarding contemporary issues in art are a
fundamental component of the course.
Hybrid Studio Critique
Spring |
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MPSM476 Studio for Interrelated Media 3 cr. This is the third and final year of the Major Studio class (2 semesters of MPSM476 required) in SIM in which individuals and groups present and discuss work in media of their choice such as audio, video, computer, performance, publishing, and production of events that interrelate media. Each week, student presentations of work are organized into performances and exhibitions produced by students who select, schedule and technically support the presentation. In this final year of SIM, seniors are required to complete all components of a senior review board. While students register for different sections of the course each year, each section shares the same space, time and faculty so that all SIM majors are able to meet each other, collaborate, mentor and critique each other’s work. SIM Majors are required to take 6 semesters of SIM Major studio in total. 2 MPSM276 (Sophomore year), 2 MPSM376 (Junior year) and 2 MPSM476 (Senior year).
Prerequisites: 6 credits of MPSM376
Hybrid Studio/Critique
Departmental Requirement Fall and Spring |
Studio Foundation |
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SFDN109 Figurative Paint,Color and Light 3cr. Through painting the figure, this class examines
current practices and uses of color as they
pertain to both visual artists and designers. A
variety of color issues are explored including
vocabulary, theories, cultural context,
expressiveness, and pictorial qualities.
[Formerly Figurative Painting&Color]
Undergraduate Elective Spring |
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SFDN181 Studio for Drawing 3 cr. STUDIO FOR DRAWING introduces drawing as a practice of observation. We approach the illusions of space and form through formal analysis, subjective interpretation and through the human figure. We consider and examine the multiple functions of drawing across time and culture. We emphasize the breadth of the drawing experience and its application across disciplines. [Formerly Drawing Studio I]
Hybrid Studio/Critique
Departmental Requirement Fall |
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SFDN182 Visual Language 3 cr. From the complexities of art and design, Visual Language will isolate a series of topics for
examination, discussion, and development. These topics are fundamental to all of the disciplines
within the fields of art and design. The topics explored are: learning about terms and concepts
common to all of the visual arts (for example, composition, space content, color); exploring
material, media and presentation skills (traditional and digital technologies included);
initiating an historical and contemporary context for art and culture (issues surrounding the
history and the institutionalization of art, and issues in contemporary art making and critical
thinking); and, furthering a student’s own sense of direction in the arts. Through prescribed
projects emphasizing two-dimensional formats, students will progressively define and articulate
their subjective interests, expressive ideas, and visual affinities.(Formerly Visual Language I)
Hybrid Studio/Critique
Departmental Requirement Fall |
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SFDN183 Form Study 3 cr. Form Study is an introduction to the central tenets of three-dimensional art and design. Understanding 3D form and space is vital to all majors, in particular 3D fine arts and crafts, industrial design, fashion, and architecture. It is also a necessary component for the successful composition and production of two-dimensional images.
Employing a wide range of materials and processes, students design and construct projects that investigate the three-dimensional elements of line, plane, surface, volume, mass, and space.
Hybrid Studio/Critique
Departmental Requirement Fall/Spring |
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SFDN185 Drawing Projects 3 cr. DRAWING PROJECTS is a menu of advanced drawing courses building on the elements introduced in Studio for Drawing.
There are 2 groups of courses in the menu:
A.) Studio 2 (4 sections)
B.) Thematic Menu (18 - 22 sections)
Studio 2 builds on the variety of principles and techniques introduced first semester yet explores drawing principles more intensely, in greater depth, building in time needed for practice.
It is an essential choice for anyone who may not have entered with the strongest drawing experiences prior to art school, or are challenged by drawing and need more time and practice to develop their ability, especially in preparation for major concentrations which demand strong drawing skills.
It is likewise directed towards students who have already acquired certain drawing skills but want to develop these further and more intensely. They typically expect to enter major concentrations that rely more heavily on drawing, such as illustration, fashion, industrial design, animation, graphic design, printmaking and painting.
Acknowledging different abilities within this class, a variety of challenge levels are designed for projects throughout the semester.
Thematic Menu courses advance the formal and expressive issues introduced first semester but with a specific focus area. Intensely exploring a single theme, participants take the time needed to develop a drawing practice, conceptually and technically. A menu of courses is organized each semester to evenly represent each of 3 areas - observation, expression, technical drawing. Students select from the menu based on their needs, interests, and with their intended major in mind, typically in conjunction with their advisor or Studio for Drawing faculty member. [Formerly Drawing Studio II]
Prerequisites: SFDN-181
Hybrid Studio/Critique
Departmental Requirement Spring |
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SFDN188 Handmade Paper & Book 3 cr. Pulp made into beautiful sheets of paper will be used for artists books and journals filled with imagery. Students will explore Western papermaking techniques with Thai Kozo and Abaca fibers. Japanese book binding, the accordion, simple side-bound books and journals for personal mark making will be emphasized. Students will be drawing and painting with water-based pigments, hand and machine sewing, graphite, inks etc. In this class drawing skills, perception, and expression will be motivated by the extraordinary qualities of paper and the book as art for visual narrative. [Formerly titled: Pulp: Paper and Book]
Hybrid Studio/Critique
All College Elective
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SFDN191 Time 3 cr. Time-based work is an important element of contemporary fine art and design and is fundamental to all art and design studio majors. Working in a wide range of media, students are introduced to basic concepts of art and design in time. Students will develop an understanding of temporal concerns across a wide range of time-based work including narrative, performative, spatial, tactile, and digital approaches.
Assignments direct students in creating works that utilize attributes of time and movement; elements of serial, sequential, and narrative ordering; still and moving image production and editing; sound and image relations; and narrative and non-narrative approaches. Students will complete a final independent project in a time-based media of their choice. They will be introduced to the fundamental strategies used in art and design fields to conceptualize, produce, and present an independently conceived project.
Prerequisites: Visual Language I
Hybrid Studio/Critique
Departmental Requirement Spring |
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SFDN205 A Studio in Mexico - Puebla and Cholula Join us for a magical visit to Mexico City, Puebla and Cholula. From the Diego Rivera murals and Frida’s home to the great pyramids at Teotihuacan and one of the most splendid anthropological museums in the world, Mexico City is unparalleled as a magnet for artists across media. Puebla and Cholula have inspired artists from pre-Colonial times. We travel to south central Mexico and visit remarkable sites, including colonial palaces and homes, cathedrals and basilicas, museums and art galleries, local artists and ateliers and amazing markets. Talavera covered architecture native to Puebla and covered with polychrome patterns, introduces the second part of our journey. Puebla and the historic Hotel Colonial will be our hub after 4 days in Mexico City. Pre-Hispanic tombs and pyramids with intricate stone carved drawings, dozens of religious cathedrals and basilicas built by the Spaniards with unique paintings and patterned adornments, artisan markets with indigenous groups identified by traditionally patterned garments all provide a lush environment for art students and an opportunity for immersion in a culture very different from our own and our very close neighbor. Built as a drawing and mixed media course this program would have great appeal to students interested in design as well as fine arts and across disciplines in these areas. This would include at least students interested in photography, architecture, pattern, surface design, ceramics, drawing and illustration, painting, sketchbooks, art history, cultural studies. Course considers the breadth of drawing rather than a purely academic drawing focus. We will work with drawing as a thinking device, a means of observing and visual note-taking, of exploring multiple media.
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SFDN206 Boston to Beijing: China Through the Five Senses 3cr. This course’s intention is to immerse students in the vibrancy and history of China through the
immediacy of the five senses. The daily exposure to the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feel of
contemporary and historic Chinese culture, arts and architecture will broaden students’
understanding of this amazing country, while enhancing their own creative endeavors. The
primary focus is the examination of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional art, within
the context of China’s rapid rise on the world stage. During our travels we will visit Buddhist
Temples, the splendors of Imperial Courts and the lush gardens of the aristocrats. Some of the
sites include The Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, Ming Gardens, and The Great Wall of
China.
Our sojourn through China will find us trekking through numerous cities such as Beijing and
Shanghai, in addition to many other historically and culturally prominent locations. Each of these
areas is steeped in history, and their spiritual and artistic lives exemplify these regional and
external influences. Many of these sites date back to the Song Dynasty, and are of great
significance to Chinese culture as sources of inspiration for artists and scholars of all
backgrounds. Beyond enriching students’ cultural experience, this introduction into China’s
incredible art, artifacts and architecture, will enhance students’ understanding of the broader
contemporary world.[Fomerly titled Travel Course to China]
TRAVEL COURSE
Fall Only |
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SFDN207 Resonating Bodies 3cr An experimental, cross-discipline course focused on using sound from non-Western instruments as a starting point for developing an individual
portfolio of visual artwork. Although not a science class, we will investigate the latest
research regarding harmonic therapies, vibrational effects of metal gongs/singing bowls
on the brain, drumming, and the potential healing aspects of sound relative to personal well-being.
There will be weekly listening sessions to soundscapes with dramatically large resonant
gongs, sing bowls, and other non-western instruments. We will listen to the “Music of
the Plants” device developed in Damanhur, Italy, to access sound melodies generated from living plants. In-class exercises, research, written and visual documenting of direct observational experiences with sound - physical, mental, and emotional - will develop our resource material. The format of artwork produced by students will vary depending on their interests, knowledge and experience. This is a studio class open to all media.
Students will collaborate and create sound tools. Artists such as Harry Bertoia, Hans Jenny’s work with Cymatics, Alexander Lauterwasser, Pauline Oliveros’ “deep listening”, and others will be introduced.
Hybrid Studio Critique
Undergraduate Elective Fall and Spring |
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SFDN208 Sustainable Projects for Artists And Designers 3cr Sustainable art and design focuses on how to
leave our future more just, healthy, and
environmentally stable than it is today. Through
careful consideration of materials, life cycles,
subjects, audiences, economies, and many other
aspects of daily life, we imagine and make
projects that address significant issues
resulting from environmental impacts on human and
animal societies.
Open to students from all departments, this
course focuses on developing projects in an
interdisciplinary studio setting that address
issues of sustainability on our campus, in our
city, and in the larger global context. Research
practices, collaboration, and charrette forms are
explored through a series of assignments
including a community service project. Through
readings, field trips, visiting lecturers, and
critique, we learn about revolutionary projects
in sustainability in design and art fields today.
This class allows students to work in the medium
of their choice while focusing on research and
development in the area of sustainability.
Seminar
Instructor’s Discretion |
Travel |
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TRVL201 Ghana: Color, Pattern, and Culture At The Center of the World 3cr Ghana, as some say, is the center of the world, since it is the closest landmass to 0 latitude, 0 longitude. It is also the first black African
country to achieve independence and is a wonderful place to connect to local culture, beauty of textiles, fashion, art, and history.
The core goal behind this travel course to Ghana is brining old world techniques into modern use, appreciating new environments, and broadening personal education. Students are given the opportunity to live, work and create in Nungua, a
coastal town just outside of Accra. Through workshops, lectures, studio and factory visits, students will learn and gain hands on experience in the techniques used by local Ghanaian artists, educators, artisans and business owners. Excursions to Accra, Odumase Krobo and Cape Coast will also be included in this eye-opening travel experience.
Prerequisites: By permission
Travel
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TRVL202 Crossing the Pond: Exploring Communication Design in Londan and Leeds 3cr The UK is recognized internationally for cutting edge and innovative communication design-Design, Illustration, Advertising, Motion Graphics and Animation. London is home to writers, politicians, artists, musicians, animators and designers. In its metropolitan area are well over seven million people representing communities from every corner of the earth. It is truly an international city. In London our student group will visit the studios of leading designers, illustrators and animators, as well as the important art museums. Leeds is a very lively and historic city located in West Yorkshire, England. It is a stylish city crammed with top-quality museums and art galleries and spectacular Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Leeds is also a popular location for businesses in the creative industries, especially graphic design, advertising, film and new media.
Prerequisites: By Permission
Travel Course
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TRVL203 Laos: A journey into Culture and Craft Through a Social Enterprise 3cr Experience the mystical country of Laos through an integrative collaboration with the social enterprise, Ma T Sai, as we travel to some of the northern villages and work with artisans on a collaborative project. The course will explore the culture of Laos, through the people, the food and the varied landscape from the Mekong River to the Buddhist temples. Students will participate in a variety of workshops on traditional handwork and explore the unique atmosphere of the UNESCO World Heritage City, Luang Prabang.
Prerequisites: By permission.
Travel course/
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TRVL204 Italy: Ferraris to Footwear 3cr See Italy from a design perspective - footwear, automotive and fashion. Italy 2020 promises to enhance each student’s creative process using the artistic culture of Northern Italy as our “Muse”. Through lectures and coursework, insights to Italy’s cultivated design lens of footwear design foundation and historical automobile carrozzieri (coachbuilders), the semester will then culminate
into a three-week travel program to Italy: Turin, Bologna, Florence, and San Miniato. Students will learn design and manufacturing processes of luxury automotive, fashion and footwear professionals to inspire, incorporate and discover methods for designing; translatable into any discipline.
Prerequisites: By permission.
Travel course
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TRVL302 Antwerp/Paris:fash. Spectrum 3cr This course will examine both the historical heritage of couture design as found through the textiles, techniques and craftsmanship of the
designers as well as a contemporary view of the globalization of fashion and where designers are heading in the future. We will examine how the old world techniques continue to shape and work within the technological advancements of the present day. Students will examine how Antwerp has surfaced as a leading innovative force in fashion and what this means in the larger global context. All of this will be accomplished through lectures and coursework throughout the semester and will culminate with a 2 week travel program to Antwerp and Paris. Students will complete a final project based on their research, exploration and travel experiences.
Prerequisites: By permission.
Travel
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Post-Baccalaureate |
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MPPH509 Major Studio-Photo Post-Bac 6cr Students participate in a weekly Major Studio seminar which includes critique, visiting artists, field trips, and meetings with curators and gallerists. In addition, photography post-baccalaureate students enroll in elective photography classes, technical courses, and art history electives.
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MPPH510 Major Studio II-Photo Post-Bac 6cr Students participate in a weekly Major Studio
seminar which includes critique, visiting artists,
field trips, and meetings with curators and
gallerists. In addition, photography
post-baccalaureate students enroll in elective
photography classes, technical courses, and art
history electives.
Prerequisites: MMPH509
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