This syllabus is intended to give students guidance in what may be covered during the semester and will be followed as closely as possible. However, the instructor reserves the right to modify, supplement and make changes as course needs arise.
- Sound as Object: Media, Space
Description:
A research and production oriented workshop leading to a collective networked interactive environment, using experience, performance, sound and video as our material. We will make one or more collective yet localized environment/s, object/s and/or performance/s, so please introduce us to your related readings, concerns, projects and skills and we will see what we can make together. We'll touch on the following skills to create our experiences: project development, computer programming, networking, basic electronics, audio and video production, and any skills that you bring to our workshop.
- Course Code: ATEK/IIMC-560-01, IIMC 360-01
- Semester & Year: Spring 2021
- Course Credit: 2 credits
- Time/Day: Tuesdays, 7:00 PM – 8:50 PM Pacific. 1/25/2021 – 5/14/2021. Classes will be recorded.
- How to Access the Class: Learn LMS and Discord (check learn.calarts.edu/courses/sound-as-object-media-space for Discord link)
- Instructor: Stephanie Smith
- Pronoun: she/her/hers
- Email: scsmith@calarts.edu
- How and when to contact the instructor: Discord is the best way to stay in touch with the me and with the class. If you are unable to access Discord, email is the best method.
- Office Hours: TBA
- Teaching Assistant: Autumn Rogers – autumn.rogers@alum.calarts.edu
Topics and class formats are subject to change depending on the trajectory of the group.
| # | Date | Format | Topic | Secondary Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01/26 | Intro and Lecture | Arduino | Orientation |
| 02 | 02/02 | Lecture | Arduino | Simple LED programs using operators |
| 03 | 02/09 | Group activity | Arduino | |
| 04 | 02/16 | Lecture | Arduino | Using sensors (IR sensor, photocell, multitasking) |
| 05 | 02/23 | Group activity | Arduino | |
| 06 | 03/02 | Lecture | Processing | Simple graphics and media |
| 07 | 03/09 | Group activity | Processing | |
| 08 | 03/16 | Lecture | Processing + Arduino | Adding sensors via arduino |
| 09 | 03/23 | Group activity | Processing + Arduino | |
| -- | 03/30 | Spring Break | -- | -- |
| 10 | 04/06 | Lecture | Web APIs | Sending and receiving data remotely |
| 11 | 04/13 | Group activity | Web APIs | |
| 12 | 04/20 | Lecture | Floating Topic | Dependent on class trajectory |
| 13 | 04/27 | Group activity | Final Project Planning | Project development |
| 14 | 05/04 | Group activity | Final Project | |
| 15 | 05/11 | Group activity | Final Project Presentation |
- Gain a basic understanding of programming and electronics fundamentals
- Effectively use prototyping as a methodology for project development
- Draft a realistic project development plan
- Use listening skills and improvisation to support collaborative efforts
- Continue self-learning of new programming languages and techniques
The goal of this course is to create an interactive work together. To achieve this, we'll adopt a philosophy to embrace unpredictability in the medium and with each other.
Each class will start with a warm-up activity that will aim to help us internalize:
- Listening as a form of collaboration
- Improvisation as collaboration
Technical skills and programming will be approached as a creative process with a focus on prototyping as a methodology for project development. The rapid development of projects in-class is meant to encourage the prototype approach to project development.
So, in addition to our warm-up activity, the class will continue with either a lecture, usually programming focused, or workshop where the class breaks into smaller groups to create a work based on a given prompt. These group projects should use the skills that we just learned in class and also introduce your own artistic practice to the collaboration.
For students in different time-zones:
- Workshop days will be noted in advance. Given the collaborative nature of this class, you are encouraged to attend the workshop days
- All classes will be recorded and archived for asynchronous attendance
- When you cannot attend, please follow up on discord or by email. We will work something out!
Active participation is fundamental to this course. Even if programming is not your main interest, you can still participate by applying their artistic practice to the collaborative aspects of this class, participating in project discussions, etc.
Assignments will be in-class group projects. It is up to you if you prefer to complete additional work on your projects outside of class. Readings should be completed before class.
- Personal computer with USB port (an iPad will not work for this course)
- Adapter for USB-A to USB-C if your computer only has USB-C ports
- Zoom for class lectures and collaborations (camera optional)
A basic electronics kit will be provided to you. The kit includes:
- Budget Pack for Metro 328
- Adafruit Metro w/Atmega328
- 3' USB cable
- Half-sized Breadboard
- Flexible breadboard wires
- 1K & 10K potentiometer
- 2 small pushbuttons
- 5 bright red diffused LEDs (250mcd)
- Red, green and blue ultra-bright LED
- 5 100 ohm resistors
- 5 1K resistors
- 5 10K resistors
- CdS photocell
- Female/Male 'Extension' Jumper Wires - 20 x 12"
- Infrared Proximity Sensor - Sharp GP2Y0A21YK
- JST to Breadboard Jumper (3-pin)
- A multimeter (alt)
The following readings will be provided to you and assigned throughout the semester. These readings do not need to be purchased.
- The Chairs Are Where the People Go: How to Live, Work, and Play in the City, Misha Glouberman
- Sonic Meditations, Pauline Oliveros
- WATER YAM, George Brecht
- Deep Listening: A Bridge to Collaboration, Pauline Oliveros
- Soundwalking, Hildegard Westerkamp
- Museum Exhibit Prototyping as a Method of Community Conversation and Participation, Kathleen McLean
- sparkfun.com - online store
- adafruit.com - online store
- All Electronics - electronics store in LA
- Apex Electronics - electronics surplus store in LA
| Activity | Weight |
|---|---|
| Attendance, Participation | 40% |
| Weekly Activities | 40% |
| Final Project | 20% |
Evaluation Criteria: Assignments are evaluated on level of effort and participation. This does not mean the work has to be complex, but just that you tried. For instance, programming assignments should demonstrate effort even if they are not totally functional (i.e. a copy-pasted tutorial is not acceptable, however a modified tutorial to support an artistic concept is). Group assignments are evaluated on members' level of participation.
Be Active: Participate! This is an active community of learners; passively completing the course materials is not enough to ensure success in this course. Participating in the Discord discussions will also help you stay up-to-date and engaged.
Be Responsible: My goal is for you to succeed in this class and to be able to apply what you learn to your chosen path. However, you are responsible for doing well. You are expected to read all reading materials and to participate in group and class activities. You are also expected to ask questions and or/schedule individual appointments with me or the TA if you have any questions.
Be Kind: Be courteous and respectful to your classmates and your instructor(s) through considerate etiquette. In this course, that includes (but is not limited to):
- Maintain a formal, respectful, civil, professional tone with all course communications to all course participants, including but not limited to journals, discussion boards, and emails.
- Avoid derogatory language, obscenity, and hate speech.
- Avoid the use of CAPS in writing, as this indicates shouting.
CalArts recognizes the importance of a diverse student body, and we are committed to fostering equitable classroom environments. You are invited, if you wish, to tell us how you want to be referred to both in terms of your name and your pronouns (he/him, she/her, they/them, etc.). The pronouns someone indicates are not necessarily indicative of their gender identity.
Additionally, how you identify in terms of your gender, race, class, sexuality, religion, and dis/ability, among all aspects of your identity, is your choice whether to disclose (e.g. should it come up in classroom conversation about experiences and perspectives) and should be self-identified, not presumed or imposed.
The readings, class lecture, and my comments in class will suggest a particular point of view. This perspective is my own and does not have to be yours. I encourage you to respectfully disagree with the ideas in the readings and lectures as well as the perspectives of your colleagues in the course. Please express yourself. A significant part of an education is learning about the complexity of various issues. Therefore, it is important that we listen and respect one another but we do not have to agree. A richer discussion will occur when a variety of perspectives are presented in class for discussion.
In order to learn, we must be open to the views of people different from ourselves. In this time we share together over the semester, please honor the uniqueness of your fellow classmates and appreciate the opportunity we have to learn from one another. Please respect each others' opinions and refrain from personal attacks or demeaning comments of any kind. Finally, remember to keep confidential all issues of a personal or professional nature that are discussed in class.
Students who are ill, under quarantine for COVID-19, or suspect they are ill will report that to Maria-Victoria Perez, Director, Care and Well-being (m-vperez@calarts.edu) . The director will verify and notify all faculty who have that student. Once notification is made, all faculty will make every reasonable effort to accommodate the student's absence and will communicate that accommodation directly to the student.
The following Institute policies can be found at:
- Remote Instruction Netiquette
- Appropriate Use Behavior (Netiquette)
- Appropriate Use & Access
- Sexual Respect
- Copyright
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of ideas and/or quotations (from the Internet, books, films, television, newspapers, articles, the work of other students, works of art, media, etc.) without proper credit to the author/artist. While the argument in a paper can be enhanced by research, students are cautioned to delineate clearly their own original ideas from source material. Students should introduce source material (either quoted or paraphrased); note when the source material ends; and provide citations for source materials using standard documentation formats.
Students who misrepresent source material as their own original work and fail to credit it have committed plagiarism and are subject to disciplinary action, as determined by the faculty member, the dean of the student's school and the Office of the Provost. If you have questions regarding plagiarism or would like direction on how to credit source material, there are reference guides on permanent reserve in the CalArts library. Please contact one of the CalArts reference librarians for more information.
Disability Services: CalArts is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in compliance with ADA of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to students with documented disabilities or otherwise documented. If you are a student requesting accommodations for equal access to this course, please register with the Disability Services Office, for the facilitation and verification of need. The Disability Services Office will meet with students and communicate with their faculty about appropriate and reasonable classroom accommodations. Students are encouraged to use these procedures early in the semester, so that the proper arrangements can be in place throughout this course. Any and all reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate our students. The Disability Services Office is located in the Office of Student Experience in A207, and can be contacted by emailing DSO@calarts.edu. Check out the Disability Services webpage at https://calarts.edu/life-at-calarts/support-and-advocacy/disability-services for more information.
Copyright Material:
The materials on this course and made available to students through the course site are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course, and may not be retained or further disseminated. The materials on this course website are protected by copyright; any further use of this material may be in violation of U.S. copyright law.
The following Institute services can be found at: