Course Number: IAT 206
Course Title: Media Across Cultures
Credit Hours: 3 Vector: Lecture-Lab
Course Description
A critique of current approaches to media and the design of cultural interfaces. Cultural differences in art, design and communication are examined and related to current trends in new media. Culturally appropriate alternatives to ethnocentric norms are explored through creative media projects.
Prerequisite:
None.
Recommended: None.
Corequisite: None.
Special Instructions: None.
Course(s) to be dropped if this course is approved:
This is an elective course in the Digital Media Environments stream. The course is part of the cultural studies group in the SIAT curriculum.
Will this be a required or elective course in the curriculum; probable enrolment when offered?
Indicate Semester and Year this course would be first offered and planned frequency of offering thereafter.
2004-3 and annually thereafter.
Which of your present CFL faculty have the expertise to offer this course? Will the course be taught by sessional or limited term faculty?
SIAT Faculty
Are there any proposed student fees associated with this course other than tuition fees?
No.
Is this course considered a `duplicate' of any current or prior course under the University's duplicate course policy? Specify, as appropriate.
No.
Note: Senate has approved (S.93-11) that no new course should be approved by Senate until funding has been committed for necessary library materials. Each new course proposal must be accompanied by a library report and, if appropriate, confirmation that funding arrangements have been addressed.
Provide details on how existing instructional resources will be redistributed to accommodate this new course. For instance, will another course be eliminated or will the frequency of offering of other courses be reduced; are there changes in pedagogical style or class sizes that allow for this additional course offering.
The course is already supported by the resources at the Surrey campus.
Does the course require specialized space or equipment not readily available in the department or university, and if so, how will these resources be provided?
Space and equipment are already in place to support this course at the Surrey campus.
Does this course require computing resources (e.g. hardware, software, network wiring, use of computer laboratory space) and if so, describe how they will be provided.
This course requires the use of the lecture space and labs already in place at the Surrey campus.
This course will critique current approaches to media and the design of cultural interfaces. Cultural differences in art, design and communication are examined and related to current trends in new media and performance. Culturally appropriate alternatives to ethnocentric norms are explored through creative media projects.
Topics:
Logics of Indeterminacy – Systems of Divination
Marking Time
Cycles of Time
Models and Maps
Systems of Relationships
Indigenous design
Space, Time and Context in Experience and Performance
Alternate aesthetic models and philosophies of art and design
Theories of competence and interaction
Projects:
Essay in media across cultures
Project in intercultural media
Students will be required to provide written documentation of their projects with detailed accounts of the design process involved and its relation to the course readings and materials.
Coursepack readings drawn from the following:
Anderson, Richard L. 1990. Calliope’s Sisters: A Comparative Study of Philosophies of Art, Prentice-Hall
Ascher, Marcia. 2002. Mathematics Elsewhere: An Exploration of Ideas Across Cultures, Princeton University Press.
Brinner, Benjamin. 1995. Knowing Music, Making Music: Javanese Gamelan and the Theory of Musical Competence and Interaction, University of Chicago Press
Eglash, Ron. 1999. African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design, Rutgers University Press
Herbst, Edward. 1997. Voices in Bali: Energies and Perceptions in Vocal Music and Dance Theater, Wesleyan University Press.
Koren, Leonard. 1994. Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers, Stone Bridge Press.