CA

New Course Proposal –

IAT 480-3 Special Topics in Performance and Media Art

S. Kozel, T. Schiphorst, School of Interactive Arts and Technology

12 November 2004

Calendar Information

Course Number: IAT 480-3

Course Title: Special Topics in Performance and Media Art

Credit Hours: 3 Vector: 2-0-0

Course Description

A specific set of debates or practices alive and relevant to the professional interactive arts world will be selected to form the basis of this course. Students will be guided as they research with considerable depth the topic(s) from the perspective both of artistic practice and theoretical discourse. Emphasis will be placed upon the conceptualization and articulation of the students’ own views. A seminar format will be used, and assessment can be based on practice and/or written research.

Prerequisite: Issues in performance & Media Studies IAT323 or by approval of the instructor

Recommended: Interactive Performance and Installation IAT322 or Kinesthetic Space IAT321

Corequisite: none

Special Instructions: None.

Course(s) to be dropped if this course is approved:

None

Rationale for Introduction of this Course

This is an intensive theoretical course which will allow 4^th year students to deepen their understanding of current issues in the professional media art world. It aims to foster intellectual maturity, deepen critical reflection and writing skills, and prepare students for graduate study or other writing and thinking intensive careers. It also prepares students for presenting their own conference presentations since this will be the mode of assessment.

Currently, there exists no 4^th year ‘special topics’ course in PMA. We have accommodated students wanting such a course by permitting a few strong students to take certain graduate courses. This situation has not been ideal, and it is clear that there is a distinct need to continue the development of thought and practice into 4^th year. In previous years PMA students have complained of a dearth of relevant courses in the 4^th year and felt that the momentum gained in the 3^rd year was lost.

Will this be a required or elective course in the curriculum; probable enrolment when offered?

This course will be one of 3 out of a bundle of 6 upper level courses that students may select.

Scheduling and Registration Information

Indicate Semester and Year this course would be first offered and planned frequency of offering thereafter. This course will initially be offered in fall 2005 and following years depending on student demand.

Which of your present CFL faculty have the expertise to offer this course? Will the course be taught by sessional or limited term faculty?

Of our present faculty, the following have the expertise to offer this course:

Susan Kozel, Associate Professor

Thecla Schiphorst, Associate Professor

It is anticipated that new faculty hires will also be able to teach this course.

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.

Resource Implications

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.

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?

The course will be housed effectively in the increased classroom space of the new Surrey Campus. Some additional books may need to be acquired.

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.

No new computing or lab resources will be required.

Course Outline

Course Objectives

The main objective of this course is to follow on from the groundwork laid by the Issues in PMA IAT 322 course in 3^rd year by deepening the students skills of reading, writing and argumentation. Students will read and discuss important texts, and will be asked to integrate the arguments into a framework that includes artwork by professional artists alongside their own practices. Students should emerge from this course confident that they can enter a graduate program or follow a writing/thinking intensive career.

Course Description

Each year a general topic will be selected and will be reflected by assigned texts and references to projects. Students will critically reflect upon the assigned material and expand it with their own research. They will have the option of presenting a paper or a project/performance that addresses the topic and demonstrates depth of engagement. This will receive feedback from their peers and be translated into their final submission.

Learning Activities and Evaluation:

Activities consist of class-based discussion (30%), presentation of a paper or project (30%), and submission of a final document (40%).

Texts, Resources & Materials

Suggested:

The texts will be selected each year to best reflect current trends in critical theory and philosophies of media and performance art. They can include:

Massumi, Brian. 2002. Parables for the Virtual. Durham & London: Duke University Press.

Grosz, Elizabeth.2001. Architecture from the Outside. Cambridge MA: the MIT Press.

De Certeau, Michel. 1988. The Practice of Everyday Life. Berkeley: U of California Press.

Virilio, Paul.2000. Art and Fear. London: Continuum.