Media Study

Department of Media Study

College of Arts and Sciences
231 Center for the Arts
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-6020

Phone: 716.645.6902
Fax: 716.645.6979
Web: www.mediastudy.buffalo.edu

Roy Roussel
Chair

About the Program

The department offers degree programs in media production and critical studies. Courses taught in the production of media cover 16 mm film camera work and editing, scriptwriting, video camera use, nonlinear (computer) editing, documentary making, virtual reality creation, robotics, computer animation, web-based art, interactive software development, and sound. Students also take courses in the history, theory, and social effects of media.

Degree Options

Special majors, double majors, and joint majors pursued in conjunction with other departmental programs are possible.

Advisement

Students are encouraged to meet with the departmental undergraduate advisor in selecting their media study coursework and concentration. Students must see the departmental advisor prior to application to the major (usually at the end of the sophomore year).

Transfer Policy

Media coursework taken at another institution is evaluated by faculty for credit in the media study program. Students should provide a transcript and syllabi for courses taken; tapes or film may be required for evaluation of production courses. A meeting with the departmental undergraduate advisor is recommended prior to registering. Transfer students who transfer in 50 credit hours or more and have college-level coursework in media production - film, video or digital arts - are required to submit their work for acceptance into this concentration. Transfers who fall short of 50 credit hours or who do not have experience in their chosen concentration are not required to submit a portfolio until they have completed 50 credit hours or a course that allows them to prepare appropriate material for the review. For applications, please contact the Department of Media Study.

Honors, Awards, and Scholarships

Entering freshmen with samples of work in media, a minimum high school average of 90 percent, and a minimum combined SAT score of 1230 or ACT score of 28 are eligible for consideration for creative honors scholarships. These scholarships carry a stipend of $2,500 for four years of undergraduate study as a media study major. Special applications are available through the department and are due by February 1.

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research and Practical Experience

There are opportunities in the community for internship experience in media, at local television stations and cable companies, in advertising agencies, in production companies, and at the following media access centers: Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Squeaky Wheel, and CEPA Gallery. Students may also intern with film, video, documentary, or Web production companies. Students gain academic credit and a wealth of experience in an on-the-job training program, which increases employment opportunities after graduation.

Notable Program Features

Access to film and video cameras and accessories, computers, and editing components is available for student projects on a sign-out basis. The Media Study Equipment Room has more than 300 pieces of equipment, including 22 digital camcorders, 15 S/VHS camcorders, 15 super 8 cameras, 20 16 mm cameras (bolex and synch) packages), microphones and audio recorders, light kits, tripods, and film-to-video transfer equipment. Students have access to post-production facilities, including 20+ digital editing stations for Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro or Media 100, eight film editing suites; two digital audio editing stations with Pro Tools; 20 digital stations packaged for 3D animation, Web design, and interactive design with Director, Flash Animation, Premiere, Photoshop, and Maya 3-D animation; Linux Red Hat PCs for OpenGL graphics programming; and a PC lab with Visual Studio 6 for robotics programming. Students may present work at nine locations in media study, including our large screening room where each year we screen student work.

Career Opportunities/Further Study

The B.A. in media study prepares students for graduate work and research in this field. Students go on to pursue careers as independent artists; motion picture photographers; film/television writers, producers, directors; editors and technicians; special effects/graphic designers; CD ROM, game, and Web designers; film reviewers/critics; curators in galleries and museums; broadcast team members; employees in federal and state funding agencies; advertisers and promoters; university/college professors; media specialists/consultants.

Media Study - B.A.

Production and Critical Studies

Production and Critical Studies Concentrations

Acceptance Criteria
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in the prerequisite courses.
Completion of a minimum of 50 credit hours.

Advising Notes
Students in all areas of concentration must take 18 credit hours of electives in one discipline or a set of disciplines outside media study that indicate a coherence, breadth, and depth of general advanced study, to be approved by the faculty of media study. Four of the six electives must be 300/400-level courses; two electives may be 200-level courses. Students can elect to pursue a traditional minor or double major in another department to fulfill this requirement.
48 credit hours in media study (a total of twelve courses) are required.
Students must receive a C- or higher in all media study courses.
Each course taken may be counted only once and applied to only one requirement.
All required courses are 4 credit hours unless otherwise noted.
Students choose to pursue either the production concentration or the critical studies concentration.

Prerequisite Courses
Any three media study courses.

Production Concentration

Required Courses
Three basic production courses (group A)
Two intermediate production courses (group B); at least one course must be a starred (*) course
One advanced production course (group C); prerequisite course must have been completed
One media and culture course (group D)
Two introduction to interpretation courses (group E)
One advanced analysis course (group F)
Two electives courses from group B, C, D, E, F, or G

Portfolio Review

Students interested in pursuing the Production Concentration are required to pass a portfolio review of work completed in the basic production classes. If a portfolio is declined by the department, the student is allowed to submit it a second time. If declined twice, the student may pursue either the Critical Studies concentration or the Film Studies concentration. Students must pass portfolio review in order to enroll in the starred (*) intermediate production courses in group B. Portfolio reviews are conducted each Fall and Spring. Please contact the undergraduate student advisor for further information on the portfolio review.

Summary
Total required credit hours for the major: 66-84

See Baccalaureate Degree Requirements for general education and remaining university requirements.

Recommended Sequence of Program Requirements

FIRST YEAR
Fall—One basic production course from group A, one media and culture course from group D
Spring—One basic production course from group A

SECOND YEAR
Fall—One intermediate production course from group B, one elective from group G
Spring—One introduction to interpretation course from group E, one basic production course from group A

THIRD YEAR
Fall—One intermediate production course from group B
Spring—One introduction to interpretation course from group E, one elective from group G

FOURTH YEAR
Fall—One advanced production course from group C
Spring—One advanced analysis course from group F

Electives and Course Groupings

A. BASIC PRODUCTION
DMS 101 Basic Filmmaking
DMS 103 Basic Video or DMS 105 Basic Documentary
DMS 121 Basic Digital Arts or DMS 155 New Media or DMS 110 Programming for Digital Art
Note: Students can take either DMS 103 or DMS 105 and either DMS 121 or DMS 155 or DMS 110, but not both.

B. INTERMEDIATE PRODUCTION
DMS 221 Web Design
DMS 231 3D Character Animation
DMS 400 Film Workshop I*
DMS 341 Intermediate Video Workshop*
DMS 343 Digital Video
DMS 388 Screenwriting
DMS 419 Intermediate Digital Arts*
DMS 423 Programming Graphics I*
DMS 438 Building a Virtual Reality Art Project I (prerequisite junior/senior standing)*
DMS 446 Interface Design
DMS 450 Film & Development of Contemporary Art
DMS 485 Media Robotics I*

C. ADVANCED PRODUCTION
DMS 401 Advanced Film Production (prerequisite DMS 301)
DMS 403 Advanced Documentary (prerequisite DMS 341)
DMS 420 Advanced Digital Arts (prerequisite DMS 419)
DMS 424 Programming Graphics II (prerequisite DMS 423)
DMS 439 Building a Virtual Reality Art Project II (prerequisite DMS 438)
DMS 441 Advanced Video Production (prerequisite DMS 341)
DMS 447 Sound Design (prerequisite junior/senior standing)
DMS 486 Media Robotics II

D. MEDIA AND CULTURE
DMS 213 Immigration & Film
DMS 303 Video Analysis I
DMS 304 Video Analysis II
DMS 331 Urban Media
DMS 333 Third World Cinema
DMS 405 Ethnographic Film
DMS 409 Nonfiction Film
DMS 440 Women Directors
DMS 452 Films of the Civil Rights Era

E. INTRODUCTION TO INTERPRETATION
DMS 107 Film History I
DMS 108 Film History II
DMS 109 Introduction to Film Interpretation
DMS 225 Digital Literature Survey
DMS 259 Media Analysis

F. ADVANCED ANALYSIS
DMS 303 Video Analysis I
DMS 304 Video Analysis II
DMS 305 Film Analysis I
DMS 306 Film Analysis II
DMS 350 Information Theories
DMS 409 Nonfiction Film
DMS 411 Film Theory
DMS 412 Theory of Film Narrative
DMS 461 Elements of Machine Culture
DMS 474 Seminar on Postmodernism

G. ELECTIVES
DMS 110 Programming for Digital Art
DMS 155 New Media
DMS 213 Immigration & Film
DMS 215 Special Topics
DMS 216 Special Topics
DMS 303 Video Analysis I
DMS 304 Video Analysis II
DMS 331 Urban Media
DMS 333 Third World Cinema
DMS 350 Information Theories
DMS 381 Film Comedy
DMS 405 Ethnographic Film
DMS 407 History of Soviet Film
DMS 409 Nonfiction Film
DMS 411 Film Theory
DMS 413 Film Narrative
DMS 415 Special Topics
DMS 416 Special Topics
DMS 417 Special Topics
DMS 418 Special Topics
DMS 430 The Dream in Film & TV
DMS 440 Women Directors
DMS 452 Films of the Civil Rights Era
DMS 455 Special Topics
DMS 461 Elements of Machine Culture
DMS 474 Seminar on Postmodernism
DMS 490 Media Arts Internship
DMS 499 Independent Study

*Requires a portfolio for acceptance

Critical Studies Concentration

Required Courses
Three introduction to interpretation courses (group A)
Four advanced analysis courses (group B)
One media and culture course (group C)
One new media theory course (group D)
One production course (group E)
Two elective courses (group F)

Summary
Total required credit hours for the major: 66-84

See Baccalaureate Degree Requirements for general education and remaining university requirements.

Recommended Sequence of Program Requirements

FIRST YEAR
Fall—One introduction to analysis course from group A
Spring—One introduction to analysis course from group A

SECOND YEAR
Fall—One media and culture course from group C
Spring—One production course from group E, one introduction to analysis course from group A

THIRD YEAR
Fall—One advanced analysis course from group B, one new media theory course from group C
Spring—One advanced analysis course from group B

FOURTH YEAR
Fall—One advanced analysis course from group B, one elective from group F
Spring—One advanced analysis course from group B, one elective from group F

Electives and Course Groupings

A. INTRODUCTION TO INTERPRETATION
DMS 107 Film History I
DMS 108 Film History II
DMS 109 Introduction to Film Interpretation
DMS 225 Digital Literature Survey
DMS 259 Media Analysis

B. ADVANCED ANALYSIS
DMS 303 Video Analysis I or DMS 304 Video Analysis II
DMS 305 Film Analysis I or DMS 306 Film Analysis II
DMS 409 Nonfiction Film Analysis
DMS 411 Film Theory
Note: Students can take either DMS 303 or DMS 304 and either DMS 305 or DMS 306, but not both.

C. MEDIA AND CULTURE
DMS 213 Immigration & Film
DMS 331 Urban Media
DMS 333 Third World Cinema
DMS 405 Ethnographic Film
DMS 409 Nonfiction Film Analysis
DMS 440 Women Directors
DMS 452 Films of the Civil Rights Era

D. NEW MEDIA THEORY
DMS 350 Information Theories
DMS 415 Special Topics
DMS 461 Cyber Theory
DMS 480 Bodyworks

E. PRODUCTION
DMS 101 Basic Filmmaking
DMS 103 Basic Video
DMS 105 Basic Documentary
DMS 121 Basic Digital Arts
DMS 155 New Media

F. ELECTIVES
DMS 109 Introduction to Film Interpretation
DMS 211 Symbolism & Film
DMS 213 Immigration & Film
DMS 215 Special Topics
DMS 216 Special Topics
DMS 303 Video Analysis I
DMS 304 Video Analysis II
DMS 305 Film Analysis I
DMS 306 Film Analysis II
DMS 329 Italian Cinema
DMS 331 Urban Media
DMS 333 Third World Cinema
DMS 350 Information Theories
DMS 381 Film Comedy
DMS 405 Ethnographic Film
DMS 409 Nonfiction Film
DMS 412 Theory of Film Narrative
DMS 415 Special Topics
DMS 416 Special Topics
DMS 417 Special Topics
DMS 418 Special Topics
DMS 430 The Dream in Film & TV
DMS 440 Women Directors
DMS 450 Film & Development of Contemporary Art
DMS 452 Films of the Civil Rights Era
DMS 455 Special Topics
DMS 461 Elements of Machine Culture
DMS 474 Seminar on Postmodernism
DMS 480 Bodyworks
DMS 490 Media Arts Internship
DMS 499 Independent Study

Media Study - Minor

Acceptance Criteria

Minimum GPA of 2.0.
Minimum grade of C+ in any course applied to the minor.

Required Courses

BASIC PRODUCTION (Choose one)
DMS 101 Basic Filmmaking
DMS 103 Basic Video
DMS 105 Basic Documentary
DMS 121 Basic Digital Arts
DMS 155 New Media

INTERPRETATION (Choose one)
DMS 107 Film History I
DMS 108 Film History II
DMS 109 Introduction to Film Interpretation
DMS 225 Digital Literature Survey
DMS 259 Media Analysis

MEDIA AND CULTURE (Choose one)
DMS 331 Urban Media
DMS 333 Third World Cinema
DMS 405 Ethnographic Film
DMS 409 Nonfiction Film
DMS 440 Women Directors
DMS 452 Films of the Civil Rights Era

ADVANCED ANALYSIS (Choose one)
DMS 303 Video Analysis
DMS 304 Video Analysis
DMS 305 Film Analysis
DMS 306 Film Analysis
DMS 350 Information Theories
DMS 409 Nonfiction Film
DMS 411 Film Theory
DMS 412 Theory of Film Narrative
DMS 461 Elements of Machine Culture
DMS 474 Seminar on Postmodernism

Summary
Total required credit hours for the minor: 24

Electives and Course Groupings (choose two)

Students can choose from DMS courses. Students who desire to take intermediate and advanced production courses must submit a portfolio. Four of the six classes must be at the 300 or 400 level.

Course Descriptions

DMS 101 Basic Filmmaking

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp Su
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Equipment, materials, and techniques involved in the construction of motion pictures; nature and process of the medium; 8mm and 16mm film. Lab fee.

DMS 103 Basic Video

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp Su
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Image and sound formation; energy and time structures observed on the cathode ray tube; competency with basic video equipment in production of tapes. Lab fee.

DMS 105 Basic Documentary

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp Su
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

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The fundamental theoretical, creative, and technical concerns of documentary and video production. Lab fee.

DMS 107 Film History I

Credits:  4 \ 1
Semester: F
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC/LAB

View Schedule

Surveys developments in international cinema from the 1890s to the present.

DMS 108 Film History II

Credits:  4 \ 1
Semester: Sp
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC/LAB

View Schedule

Surveys developments in international cinema from the 1890s to the present.

DMS 109 Introduction to Film Interpretation

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp Su
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC

View Schedule

Identification of and intellectual appreciation for the elements of film as a major art form.

DMS 110 Programming for Digital Art

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp
Prerequisites:  permission of instructor
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC

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Introduces students to programming in a general purpose computer language. Discusses the underlying fundamentals of how computers, electronics, and digital media work; and the mathematical bases of these fields. Presents students with ways that programming can be used in creating new, interactive, digital media art. Recommended for students interested in programming graphics and virtual reality. Lab fee.

DMS 121 Basic Digital Arts

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp Su
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC

View Schedule

Fundamental concepts and methods that underlie the use of computers in generating and processing images and sound, in the context of typical contemporary artistic practice in painting, photography, film, video, and music. Lab fee.

DMS 155 Introduction to New Media

Credits:  3 \ 1
Semester: F Sp Su
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC/LAB

View Schedule

Introduces desk top tools and fundamental concepts used in the development of interactive and non-interactive digital media. Focuses on theoretical and practical aspects of creating digital messages with authoring/presentation tools. Provides a foundation for creating a broad range of digital media. Lab fee.

DMS 213 Immigration and Film

Credits:  3
Semester:
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC

View Schedule

Examines silent and early sound films, as well as contemporary films; as a reflection of the immigrant experience, as a site of struggle between older and newer immigrants, and as an instrument of government politics.

DMS 221 Web Design

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

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Involves analyzing and creating web sites and web-based media for a variety of communication purposes. Addresses topics such as audience analysis, interface design, graphic design, and usability testing. Lab fee.

DMS 231 3-D Character Animation

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp
Prerequisites:  permission of instructor
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Provides students with an understanding of 3-D animation principles and how to use digital tools effectively to create animated compositions. Lab fee.

DMS 259 Introduction to Media Analysis

Credits:  3
Semester:
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Provides students with a theoretical and historical grounding in analyzing the media and visual revolution of the 20th century. Encourages students to experiment with various media codes in their final exam projects in which they combine technical skills with analytical and critical thinking.

DMS 303 Video Analysis

Credits:  4
Semester: F
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC

View Schedule

Viewing and analyzing electronic image/sound structures and compositional models (video art) in a context of contemporary critical thought; viewing tapes, readings, and lectures; having participatory discussions; and entertaining visitors conversant with the state of the art.

DMS 304 Video Analysis

Credits:  4
Semester: Sp
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC

View Schedule

Viewing and analyzing electronic image/sound structures and compositional models (video art) in a context of contemporary critical thought; viewing tapes, readings, and lectures; having participatory discussions; and entertaining visitors conversant with the state of the art.

DMS 305 Film Analysis

Credits:  4
Semester: F
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC/LAB

View Schedule

World cinema, American avant-garde, personal-independent cinema, including a view to its European counterpart.

DMS 306 Film Analysis

Credits:  4
Semester: Sp
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC/LAB

View Schedule

World cinema, American avant-garde, personal-independent cinema, including a view to its European counterpart.

DMS 333 Third World Cinema

Credits:  4
Semester:
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC/LAB

View Schedule

Introduces students to a collection of film and television productions, from colonized, neo-colonized, and decolonized countries whose political, economic, and cultural structures have been shaped by the colonial process.

DMS 341 Intermediate Video Workshop

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp
Prerequisites:  DMS 103 or DMS 105; portfolio review
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Develops technical skills for effective use of video as an artistic tool for documentation and for personal expression. Covers lighting, editing, postproduction, video electronics, and staging. Lab fee.

DMS 343 Digital Video

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp
Prerequisites:  DMS 103, DMS 121
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC

View Schedule

Video postproduction as digital study; integrating digital arts production with video imagery. Lab fee.

DMS 400 Film Workshop I

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp
Prerequisites:  DMS 101, portfolio review
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Creative explorations and experimental articulations of primary cinematic realities; encourages development of personal styles.Lab fee.

DMS 401 Advanced Film Production I

Credits:  4
Semester: Sp
Prerequisites:  DMS 301 or permission of instructor
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Introduces microphones, 1/4-inch magnetic tape recording and editing, and A&B roll editing. Lab fee.

DMS 403 Advanced Documentary Production

Credits:  4
Semester: Sp
Prerequisites:  DMS 341 or DMS 342; permission of instructor
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Principles and theory of documentary form, ethical issues, methods. Production work in digital video, audio, web based media or still photography. Lab fee.

DMS 406 Ethnographic Film

Credits:  4
Semester: F
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Provides a critical understanding of ethnographic media and cultural documentary. Combines theory and hands-on production practice. Examines cross cultural issues of representation, marginality, community collaboration, indigenous media and fieldwork for media.

DMS 409 Nonfiction Film

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC/LAB

View Schedule

Screenings and discussion related to examining non-fiction and documentary film and video from 1920 to the present, including cinema verité, experimental, reflexive, diary, political, music television, and political documentaries.

DMS 411 Film Theory

Credits:  4
Semester:
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM/LAB

View Schedule

Principle theories of film through critically reading texts and closely examining films discussed in them.

DMS 413 Film Narrative

Credits:  4
Semester:
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC/LAB

View Schedule

Principle forms of film narrative with readings in narrative theory and film theory.

DMS 415 Special Topics

Credits:  4
Semester:
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC/LAB

View Schedule

The content of this course is variable and therefore it is repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply.

In-depth study of media topics. Recent topics have included gender and technology, cyber theory, virtual communities, and interface design.

DMS 416 Special Topics

Credits:  4
Semester:
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC/LAB

View Schedule

The content of this course is variable and therefore it is repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply.

In-depth study of media topics. Recent topics have included gender and technology, cyber theory, virtual communities, and interface design.

DMS 419 Advanced Digital Arts Production

Credits:  4
Semester: F
Prerequisites:  DMS 121 or DMS 155; portfolio review
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM/LAB

View Schedule

The content of this course is variable and therefore it is repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply.

The conceptual and practical production of digital art, primarily focusing on the manipulation and generation of moving images and sounds from within a computer environment. Lab fee.

DMS 420 Advanced Digital Arts Production

Credits:  4
Semester: Sp
Prerequisites:  DMS 419, permission of instructor
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM/LAB

View Schedule

The content of this course is variable and therefore it is repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply.

The conceptual and practical production of digital art, primarily focusing on the manipulation and generation of moving images and sounds from within a computer environment. Lab fee.

DMS 423 Programming Graphics I

Credits:  3 \ 1
Semester: F
Prerequisites:  DMS 121 or DMS 155; portfolio review
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM/LAB

View Schedule

Production course. Introduces students to the concepts and practice of programming 2-D computer graphics using C++, Open GL, the GLUT libraries, and a basic sound server. The major focus is on creating interactive art experiences by programming both graphics and sound. Students write their own code to create customized computer tools and visuals and learn the fundamentals of graphics programming. Lab fee.

DMS 424 Programming Graphics II

Credits:  3 \ 1
Semester: Sp
Prerequisites:  DMS 423, permission of instructor
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM/LAB

View Schedule

Builds on DMS 423 and extends students' knowledge of Open GL and C++ into programming virtual reality environments. Students use CAVElib software to build immersive 3-D virtual worlds. Lab fee.

DMS 428 2D Animation Graphics

Credits:  4
Semester:
Prerequisites:  One of the following: DMS 121, DMS 101, DMS 103, or DMS 231
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Introduces students to major concepts in 2D animation and motion graphic design. Topics include developing concepts, rotoscoping, interpolated animation, and composing animation with video. Surveys the history of animation, fine arts animation, and contemporary trends in motion graphic design. Students will produce a finished portfolio of animation and motion graphic design work. (Production intensive design course.)

DMS 435 Narrative Scriptwriting

Credits:  4
Semester:
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Gives students first-hand experience with all the primary aspects and stages of preproduction planning (scriptwriting and storyboarding or structural diagramming) of a feature film.

DMS 438 Building a VR Art Project I

Credits:  3 \ 1
Semester: F
Prerequisites:  DMS 121 or DMS 155; portfolio review
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM/LAB

View Schedule

For students with graphics programming experience and 3-D modeling packages (specifically Maya). Students collaborate as teams to build immersive virtual reality art experiences. Introduces the student to the Ygdrasil system, a high-level VR authoring toolkit for large- scale art projects. Lab fee.

DMS 439 Building a VR Art Project II

Credits:  3 \ 1
Semester: Sp
Prerequisites:  DMS 438, permission of instructor
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM/LAB

View Schedule

In this sequel to DMS 438 students extend their skills with VR authoring tools and programming/modeling for real-time applications. Focuses on networking with remote sites, as well as the use of agents, smart environments, gaming techniques, interface and interactivity, and effective sound design in VR. Lab fee.

DMS 440 Women Directors

Credits:  4
Semester:
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Provides a critical understanding of women as feature film directors. Looks at English-language productions from the 1990s by a cross-generation of emerging and established filmmakers, including Jane Campion, Julie Dash, and Mary Harron. Also considers the "uncomfortable truths" regarding underrepresentation of women directing both studio and independent productions. Lab fee.

DMS 441 Advanced Video Production

Credits:  4
Semester: F
Prerequisites:  DMS 341 or DMS 342
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM/LAB

View Schedule

Making independent video art: camera work, editing, acting, and directing. Group exercises and critiques. Requires video production and postproduction outside of class. Lab fee.

DMS 442 Advanced Video Production

Credits:  4
Semester: Sp
Prerequisites:  DMS 341 or DMS 342
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM/LAB

View Schedule

Making independent video art: camera work, editing, acting, and directing. Group exercises and critiques. Requires video production and postproduction outside of class. Lab fee.

DMS 447 Sound Design

Credits:  4
Semester: F
Prerequisites:  portfolio review, or permission of instructor
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Explores issues and techniques in the area of sound design and audio production. Contextualizes the relation between image and sound by drawing from many media forms, existing and/or original, to create and visually represent sound. Lab fee.

DMS 451 Avant-Garde Cinema

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC/LAB

View Schedule

Examines the history of the so-called avant-garde, from the Russian and French avant-garde of the 1920s to the postwar European and American experimental milieu. While focusing principally on Europe and North America, the course gives attention to related developments in Africa, Asia, and South America, depending on availability. Questions of methodology, canon, genre, marginality, oppositionality, plagiarism, primitivism, originality, and ideology come into theoretical play while we examine the Institutional Mode and its discontents.

DMS 457 Locative Media and the City

Credits:  4
Semester:
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Introduces students to major concepts in 2D animation and motion graphic design. Topics include developing concepts, rotoscoping, interpolated animation, and composing animation with video. Surveys the history of animation, fine arts animation, and contemporary trends in motion graphic design. Students will produce a finished portfolio of animation and motion graphic design work. (Production intensive design course.)

DMS 461 Elements of Machine Culture

Credits:  4
Semester: F Sp
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

View Schedule

Explores issues relating to culture and technology. Focuses on advanced readings and fiction pertaining to cyberculture. Critically analyzes technology including social meanings of technological tools, formalist and socialist art practices, the organic body vs. the mechanical engine, cyborgs, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and robotics.

DMS 474 Seminar on Postmodernism

Credits:  4
Semester:
Prerequisites:  None
Corequisites:  None
Type:  SEM

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Various theoretical discussions of postmodernism and approaches to particular texts, which define them as postmodern and/or use theories of postmodernism in their analysis.

DMS 485 Computing for the Arts I

Credits:  4
Semester: F
Prerequisites:  Portfolio review, permission of instructor
Corequisites:  None
Type:  LEC

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Introduces students to the programming of fast and robust industrial microprocessors for art-intervention purposes. Students investigate concepts in the programming language C and write code to control remote devices, sensors and motors. This course is both a traditional programming course as well as a studio course in using computation in art practice. Lab fee.

DMS 499 Independent Study

Credits:  1 - 8
Semester: F Sp
Prerequisites:  permission of instructor
Corequisites:  None
Type:  TUT

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The content of this course is variable and therefore it is repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply.

 

Updated: May 19, 2006 2:28:53 PM