COGR280 Workshop in Communication Media

SYLLABUS

COURSE SCHEDULE

RESOURCES

COGN 280 Advanced Workshop in Communication Media: Interactive Documentaries and Non-fiction Games

Prof. Brian Goldfarb

Term: Winter 2007

Meetings: Mondays 9:00 - Noon in MCC201 and Sequoyah Mac Lab

Office hours: Wednesdays 10:30-12 (in MCC 205)

email: bgoldfarb[at]ucsd.edu

Course website: http://communication.ucsd.edu/goldfarb/cogr280/

Course description:

This course is designed to provide graduate students with the opportunity to explore and experiment in a communication form other than the conventional academic oral presentation or paper. This term we will be addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by digital production and networked presentation of non-fiction media. An important area of consideration will be the ways in which the increasing popularity of game genres suggests new ways of thinking about non-fiction media production. Technical instruction will focus on digital and web-based media (graphics software and interactive design principles). Students with experience in other media (such as video, or photography) and projects already in progress may pursue them with approval of the instructor.

Objectives:

This course will:

encourage extensive hands on exploration of the use of digital media for creative communication.
develop planning and organizational skills appropriate to multimedia design.
provide exposure to diverse examples of contemporary media that introduce formal as well as conceptual approaches to media making.
consider theoretical and critical debates pertaining to digital media forms.
help participants to develop an effective language for describing their production work and providing constructive critique to peers and collaborators.
foster collaborative and interactive approaches to media practice.

Required Texts

Readings will be available on reserve at UCSD Library or via e-reserves: http://reserves.ucsd.edu/ . Note: If accessing e-reserves from off-campus, you will need to use the proxy server.

Production Materials/Supplies:

Storage media: a USB Drive, CDRs, DVD-R, and/or Firewire drive (provided for term) .
Headphones for use in the lab

Meetings/Projects:

Class meetings will be dedicated to critical discussion of assigned readings and media examples, software demonstrations, hands-on instruction, and group critiques.

The course will begin with short production assignments that will aid students in developing proposals and treatments for final projects. Students are encouraged to work in pairs or small groups for their final project. A written reflection will be submitted with the final project.