Video Art II is an exploration of advanced aesthetic, conceptual and technical aspects of digital video in relationship to performance and installation art. The course will focus on themes such as gesture/movement/space/body, site-specific work, architecture and definitions of space, use of light and material, and formation of an event or a situation. The examples shown in accordance with each topic demonstrate various solutions to the issues discussed in class, and include gallery and museum field trips as well as guest artist lectures. Students are required to plan and draw performance and installation sketches as well as to produce videotape and construct a video installation work. Additionally, students must research and present on regularly assigned topics.
Our primary emphasis will be on the practical applications of creating live performance using digital video and video installation . You will develop your own performances using live-feed, pre-recorded, and interactive video, in the classroom and in site-specific locations. The semester will culminate in an exhibition. From a historical perspective, we will look at the American avant-garde of the 1960s and 1970s, when artists began to experiment with live art, video, and interactivity. Specifically, we will examine such artists as Nam Jun Paik and Charlotte Moormon, Joan Jonas, Laurie Anderson, Vito Acconci, Dan Graham, and more recent artists such as Orlan and Annie Sprinkle. We will compare early uses of technology in performance art with the Internet, which marks another era for experimentation in live art.
Course Objectives
- To continue student development as media artists: expanding technical proficiency using video while exploring the use of nontraditional aspects of the medium.
- To create time-based artworks focusing on performative methods and strategies.
- To create time-based work that considers a specific time/place following a thematic or conceptual idea that manifests as a form of video installation.
- To gain an understanding of the context of time-based artwork and its relation to contemporary theory. Through readings, videos, lectures, discussions and critiques, students will explore what makes video installation/video performance unique in the expression of artistic ideas.
Course Work and Assessment
Assignment
Percentage of Final Grade
Weekly readings accompanied by weekly quizzes / journal
& Active in class participation during discussion and critiqueReading assignments will be comprised of handouts, reserve materials, and web pages. The assigned reading materials are designed to compliment the imaginative process and provide a context for creative projects. Students will be required to turn in a typed half page response to assigned readings and be prepared for a class discussion.
20% of final grade
Multi-media research presentation
Each student will be required to create a multi-media presentation on a selected artist whose work has been instrumental in the development of video performance or video installation. Students must relate elements of class learning to the artists’ individual work of series of works.20% of final grade
Projects
Projects will be evaluated on the basis of :
- technical and conceptual quality
- development throughout the course
- completion of the project at the specified due date
- willingness to act on criticism
Students will complete three projects throughout the course. The first two will feature specific parameters to work within, and the third will be self-directed. Each project will be presented during group critique sessions in the format appropriate to the assignment and the project’s conception. Each student must hand in to the instructor a DV archived cassette with documentation of all projects. The class will have the opportunity to exhibit their Final Project in a 1-day class exhibition on campus.
exercise 1 : Speak to me : Narrative - January 30
exercsie 2: The Body Process - February 6
Project 1: Mobile video/performance. group project
February 27 due date
How will viewing images on the small screen change our perception of the moving image arts? How will the moving image arts change to present works on a hand-held device? Mobile phones, PDA's, i-pods, and other hand-held devices have already gained widespread acceptance as tools to capture as well as experience music and photographs. Now these devices are being further designed and equipped with video capabilities - both for viewing as well as capturing. What are the potentials of the handheld device as a cinematic tool for expression, activism, experimentation, and exhibition? With the recent announcement of the i-pod video device and the Emmy Awards creation of a new mobile film category, the advancement of this medium is now a foregone conclusion...the train has left the station that is for sure, but on what track is it heading?
We are looking for works made using cell phones, obsolete video cameras, wrist cams, toy (NON-vhs/dv/hi-8) video cameras, PDA's, and even small cameras that create mpg moving images. Please do not send any material using conventional video cameras unless it specifically relates to mobile culture. For films destined FOR the small screens of hand-held devices, any method of filmmaking is acceptable.
Mobile Exposure: http://rhizome.org/thread.rhiz?thread=19705&page=1#37470 Create concept and execution of performance as group. The final performance can be live, pre-recorded or a combination but must include a video component. The goal of the work is to collaboratively create a concept and execute it with the following guidelines:
---------Made for viewing on a mobile device and/or
---------Made WITH a mobile device for viewing on the big screen (or little screen too if possible).
Final presentations will be no longer than 10 minutes.
Final format:
mini-DV
ENTRY DEADLINE: March 31, 2006
exercise 3 Installation Artist Reseach: March 20
exercise 4 Installation Maquette: March 20
Project 2: Video installation, Concepts of Home
April 3 due date
You can approach this project in several ways; you can choose to collaborate on an aspect or completely make it an individual project. Your objectives are to explore installation as extending into the viewer's physical space using single or multiple channel video installation. {monitor, projection} This might be done by video projection along with performance, projection of video onto sculptural surfaces; enveloping the viewer in a confrontational projection space; etc. Additional media may be used. i.e. objects, props, photographs, print, paint.
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Conceptual approaches to HOME could include: shelter ; city ; country; home as headquarters or originating source; an objective in baseball ; a return function in computer science ; family roots; security/ insecurity
reading links >
ARTISTS >
Project 3: Video Performance/Installation: Self Designed
April 24th or Exam week
Work in groups or alone. This is a self-designed project that includes video/performance, video/installation or both. You can use elements from your other course investigations and/or works from this class. The conceptual base is your directive from originating sketches/maquette to execution. Your project will be informed by your senior thesis objectives & goals.Presentation to campus community.
60% of final grade, criteria:- Meeting all basic requirements of the assignments: 70%
- Conceptual strength of the project: 15%
- Focused development of the project from starting concept to ending presentation: 15%
- 10% deduction for late a3ssignments.
Attendance Policy
This class will present a lot of material in a short period of time. This material will be complicated, theoretical, and detail-oriented. Prompt attendance for all class periods is essential. This course also requires AT LEAST 6 hours a week of outside studio time. These kinds of projects require a lot of time and energy. They will be impossible to complete unless you work consistently throughout the semester and stay with the class.
Suggested Books
Performance: Live Art since 1960, by Roselee Goldberg
Handouts will be suppliedCourse Materials Highly Recommended
Firewire drive; slide projectors, video projectors
Course Materials Required
Assigned readings and handouts.
2 mini DV videocassettes
4-5 CD/DVD's
- For each project, students will present their work documented in the form of slides, CDs or video.
Headphones (with mini-jack plug)
Course journal
- A synopsis page will be written for each project, detailing each student’s findings.
Weekly Schedule
[January 23]
Introduction to the course
Lecture Presentation Performance Antecedents: Lenny Bruce / Vit Acconci / Laurie Anderson
In-class exercises : exquisite corpse/ fortunately...unfortunately / just a minute
Assignment: Exercise 1 Speak to me: NARRATIVE
[January 30]
Lecture Presentation Performance Antecedents 1930 – 1975: Black Mountain, Happenings, Schneeman, Klein, Wilke, Beuys,
Assignment: Exercise 2: The Body Process
Lenny Bruce link >––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
FIELD TRIP: FABRIC WORKSHOP
February 3 ( 6pm artist talk)
OR
Weekend of 4th / 5th
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[February 6]
Exercise 2 performance
Lecture Presentation:possible project 1explorations: future of video filmic texts / sci-fi conceptulaization of mobile video : wim wenders | This Perfect Day by Ira Levin
history of video as medium & art object: Development of media arts > - Introduction to Project 1: Mobile Video Revolution
Assignment: research mobile video / brainstorm project ; starting link >
brainstorm and to have a project proposal next week
Proposal should include your timeline, your concept, your equipment needs for working and for screening.
__________________________________
[February 13]
Proposal DUE
Lecture Presentation: TBA
Lab: TBA
Assignment: project 1
[February 20]
Lab: in-class editing, meet with faculty; run through of work, documenting temporal work
Assignment: project 1
[February 27]
IN-class work, update on progress, ready to present work next week at 5pm.
[March 6]
3:00 - 4:30pm ------ Introduction to PROJECT 2: Concepts of Home, Video Installation
5:00pm -- Presentation of Project 1
Lecture Presentation:
Installation Art Overview:
Video Installaltion << trajectories>>
Assignment: Read: “Television, Furniture, Sculpture”, Vito Acconci; “Video in Relation to Architecture” Dan Graham; and short essay by Bonita Ely: "Ancient History of Installation Art"
sketches, brainstorming, shooting for project 2; Exercise 3 & Exercise 4;
March 13 ---- Spring break
[March 20]
exercise 3: presentation on Installation artist
exercise 4: maquette
Lab: Meet with faculty to discuss project approach/equipment needs
Assignment: Read:“Video Installation Art” Margeret Morse; finalize site for installation, shoot video, edit
[March 27]
Project 2 Lab: editing in class, equipment testing, in-class run through
Assignment: run through project / Final editing
[April 3]
5:00pm --- Presentation of PROJECT 2: Concepts of Home, Video Installation
documentation required.
3:00 - 4:30 pm --- meet as class - Introduction to PROJECT 3: Video Performance/Installation: Self Designed
Assignment: dependent on project goals
[April 10]
3:30pm Meet as class- discuss realistic goals for completing project 3
Lab: dependent on project goals
Assignment: gather footage, secure permissions to use space, edit; dependent on project goals
[April 17]
3:30pm Meet as class
Lab: edit, test installation/performance
Assignment: dependent on project goals
[April 24]
Depending on your timetable: final project critique
Perform works for campus community[May EXAM WEEK]
FINAL PROJECT CRITIQUES
Perform works for campus community