WHAT
Working collaboratively, you will create a multimedia web-based work that engages with the theoretical perspectives we have studied. Your artistic and/or critical project should exemplify and problematize, reveal the possibilities and limitations of, one or two of the key concepts we’ve covered so far. It should include at least two of the following components: text, hypertext/interactivity, images, audio, video. Keep in mind that this is not a production course, and your project doesn't have to be technically ambitious to succeed. You will be evaluated based on your incorporation of course material, the originality of your critical approach, and the effectiveness of its presentation.
WHY
The goals of this assignment are to:
- learn and mobilize some technical and formal aspects of digital multimedia
- communicate ideas creatively and multimodally (rather than through linear non-fiction prose)
- further master theoretical concepts through direct participation
- experience the collaborative process that is typical of digital production
HOW
.organization
You should touch base with your group soon to strategize and get in contact. Discuss your respective skills and talents and your goals for working together. You can start brainstorming ideas to work toward settling on a topic and approach. You can meet in person and/or converse virtually (by email, IM, messages or discussion on the course website, Google docs, etc.). After these issues are hammered out by the members of the group, you then might like to divide up specific tasks for further work and/or decide how to negotiate between the contributions provided by each member. Aim to finish the work by Monday 10/10 to leave some time to plan your presentation.
As a next step, come up with a draft of the presentation and the outline that reflects input from all group members, and go back over the suggested issues to be sure that you have considered all the relevant questions. Then, after the appropriate revisions, print up the final outline (including checked references), and decide precisely how you'd like to present your ideas to the class as a whole (for instance, how you will divide the various components of your presentation among the members of your group).
.platform
You may construct and host your work on the course website (using any combination of its modules: pages, files, videos, bookmarks, calendar). There's the possibility of installing additional plugins as long as they run on Elgg 1.6 http:/
You may host all or part of your work on other online media sharing services such as Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Google, etc. and/or use any external generators and shortcuts to build it.
You may also host your work on a personal web site by creating html pages or installing software (Brown has web space available). See the resource posts on web pages and multimedia for further suggestions.
.tools
Our labs/workshops will introduce some options for accessible web and graphics design, and you can also work independently in the multimedia lab where computer consultants are on duty. Remember that it is possible to do interesting things with simple tools that fit your skill level!
.components
Combine at least two! We will go over how to create and embed these in a web page. For any of the components, you may write/design/produce original material; appropriate and transform existing material from course texts, web pages, popular culture, etc.; or both. We're assuming that use of copyrighted elements is considered "fair use" (but please cite your sources).
TEXT The written word (but not necessarily organized in a linear/familiar way).
HYPERTEXT/INTERACTIVITY There are several different ways to incorporate options for users to choose, including: links (from text or images), javascript, Flash, YouTube annotations.
IMAGES May consist of photographs, illustrations, digital drawings, digital manipulations, collages, screen captures, slides, and so on.
AUDIO May consist of recorded or appropriated speech, music, noise, soundtracks, podcasts, and so on.
VIDEO May consist of filmed or appropriated documentation, scenes, stories, animations, visualizations, and so on.
.presentation
In addition to the project itself, your group will present the project to the class in our Tuesday lab on October 11. 2/3 of your grade is based on the critical and creative approach of the work, and 1/3 is based on your articulation of its rationale in the presentation.
You should demonstrate your work and explain your technical and conceptual process. Offer a close reading of the structure and content of your project and the theorist/theories you choose to draw from and complicate.
Some things to cover:
- how you made it
- what concepts you intended to express
- how well you feel your execution works (i.e. it's OK to include problems you ran into)
- how it engages particular course texts and themes
- how it engages other artworks or popular media
Each member of the group should speak at some point -- you can aim for 3-5 minutes each or around 15 minutes total (with the remainder of the time spent on class discussion and critique).
[an evaluation rubric is included in the PDF]
