Course Number: ARTD 467, 566B, and 666B
Course Name: Advanced Video Art
Meeting Time and Room: TU/TH 2:00PM - 4:45PM AB 300
Professor: Mr. Bart Woodstrup
Office Hours: TU/TH 5p.m. - 7p.m. Design Office Room H (by appointment)
Semester: Fall 2009
Email: bwoodstrup@niu.edu or bart@bartwoodstrup.com
Phone: 815.753.3808 (email preferred)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This class is an advanced study in the use of video as a medium for artistic statement. Students will receive lectures on the historical and contemporary issues relating to the Video Art movement. The student will be expected to create work that exemplifies both the technical knowledge gained as well as the conceptual and aesthetic practices of Video Art.

COURSE OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course the student will:

• Demonstrate advanced skills in shooting, lighting, and other image acquisition techniques.

• Demonstrate advanced skills in compositing, keyframing and editing techniques.

• Use video as a tool for generating content for other media (i.e. web, animation, video games, installation).

• Produce real-time effects and other non-linear techniques of Live Cinema video performance.

• Communicate an idea, data-set, and information in a linear time-based format.

• Distribute digital video across a variety of media and formats.

• Demonstrate a deeper appreciation of contemporary Video Art practice, artists and methodologies.

RESOURCES AND MATERIALS

You will be required to purchase media for recording and distributing your projects (MiniDV tapes, DVD's, webspace, etc.) - please budget accordingly. You may wish consider joining online 'tutorial' websites for additional technical advice (i.e. lynda.com). We will mainly be using After Effects, Processing, and/or MAX/MSP/Jitter in addition to standard non-linear video editing software (Adobe Premiere). You may wish to download a 30-day demo or student version of MAX/MSP/Jitter (cycling74.com). You will not be required to purchase any software or book for this course.

ASSIGNMENTS

10% - Quizes
10% - Attendance/Participation
10% - Project 1: SOURCE
10% - Project 2: GEOLOCATED
20% - Project 3: INSTRUCTABLE/DataViz
20% - Project 4: LIVE CINEMA
20% - Project 5: Final Project
___________________________
100% Total

ASSESSMENT

Participation
• You will be required to discus topics, present your work, and provide constructive feedback about your colleague's work.
• Part of each assignment grade will be based on your participation during critique.
• Ideas and comments that intentionally cause any physical or emotional harm to the student or anyone else will not be accepted.
• A student may excuse themselves for a short duration if there is a conflict of religious beliefs with the content presented.

Attendance
Attendance is mandatory and taken at the beginning of class. If you arrive after attendance has been taken, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor.

Attendance and tardy final grade modifications as follows:
• Each three tardies equal one absence.

• Each three absences equal reduction of total points by one letter grade.

• Work-in-class days are not "free" days, and you are required to attend.
• Attendance to the final critique during exam week is mandatory. Failure to appear will result in the reduction of total points by one letter grade.

Grading
• Grades will be based on an appropriate level for continuation into an artistic or industry related profession.
• Any appeal for grades must be brought to the instructor during office hours or at a scheduled time convenient to both parties. Keep in mind that an appeal has the potential to raise or lower your grade.

• Incomplete grades ("I") will only be granted for the death of a family member during the semester, or a note from a doctor documenting a hospitalization representing a significant period of time.

• Only if given the final grade of "I" (incomplete) will additional work after the conclusion of a semester be accepted.

Grades are not curved and adhere to the following scale:

100-90 A = Excellent work that exhibits a mastery of all aspects of the assignment.
89-80 B = Above average work that satisfies all basic requirements.
79-70 C = Adequate work that satisfies all basic requirements.
69-60 D = Weak work that is careless or lacks effort.
59-0 F = Incomplete or failing work.

Note: I will send grades and official announcements via blackboard so make sure to read your official NIU email. This syllabus may be modified at the instructor’s discretion. Students will be notified in a timely manner of any changes.

Exhibiting Student Work:

I customarily document student assignments that I wish to reproduce (with credit) in my scholarly work. If you do not want me to reproduce your work or use your name, please notify me in writing. I customarily credit student work when it’s displayed on the boards or posted on the Internet. If you do not want me to use your name or post your work, please notify me in writing.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Student-teacher relationships are built on trust. Students must trust that teachers have made appropriate decisions about the structure and content of the courses they teach. Additionally, teachers must trust that the assignments that students turn in are theirs. Acts that violate this trust undermine the educational process. All work produced in this course must be original and created by the student. The first infraction will result in a failure for the course and a report to the Office of the Dean. Works that involved the use of appropriation should be discussed with your instructor before you submit them for grading. Collaborative work and discussion is encouraged. Instructor must be notified of students' intention to collaborate on assignments well ahead of that assignment's deadline. Instructor will determine whether or not collaboration will be allowed. Upon assignment completion, there must be documentation of each member's contribution to the finished assignment. The instructor reserves the right to award members of the collaboration different grades.

DISABILITY CLAUSE

NIU abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which mandates reasonable accommodations be provided for qualified students with disabilities. If you have a disability and may require some type of instructional and/or examination accommodation, please contact me early in the semester so that I can provide or facilitate in providing accommodations you may need.

If you have not already done so, you will need to register with the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR), the designated office on campus to provide services and administer exams with accommodations for students with disabilities. The CAAR office is located on the 4th floor of the University Health Services building (815-753-1303). I look forward to talking with you soon to learn how I may be helpful in enhancing your academic success in this course.