COM 202: Digital Aesthetics

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Dr. Steven Hammer
301 Bronstein Hall
shammer@sju.edu
for appointments: hammer.youcanbook.me

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Learning Objectives
In this course, students will:

Course Description
This course examines the role of aesthetic, sensory-based experience in digital environments. The course focuses on contemporary ways to understand sensory perception (especially sight and sound) and its relationship to meaning making.  Students will come to understand aesthetics as a mode of complex communication intricately related to social and cultural influences. Students will apply this understanding to a variety of hands-on projects involving graphic design, photography, sound design, and digital film production.

Academic Honesty:
Please familiarize yourself with the University’s Academic Honesty Policy.

Accessibility and Disability Support:
If you have any concerns as we begin–or throughout–the semester in regard to the accessibility of course materials or presentation, please contact me as soon as possible.

In accordance with state and federal laws, the University will make reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. For those who have or think that you may have a disability requiring an accommodation (learning, physical, psychological) should contact Services for Students with Disabilities, Room G10, Bellarmine, 610-660-1774 (voice) or 610-660-1620 (TTY) as early as possible in the semester for additional information and so that an accommodation, if appropriate, can be made in a timely manner. You will be required to provide current (within 3 years) documentation of the disability.

For a more detailed explanation of the University’s accommodation process, as well as the programs and services offered to students with disabilities, please see the Student Resources Page. If you have any difficulty accessing the information on-line, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities at the telephone numbers above.

Attendance:
Attendance (being in class, on time) and participation (engaging with us while you’re in class) are vital to your success in this course. Because this course is short, particularly in terms of our in-person meetings, I expect you to be present for every session. Likewise, I expect you to be prepared and on time for our video meetings in the second half of the course.

Revision
Revision, in most cases, is vital to both producing quality work and engaging in the process of learning new practices. Expect to revise your work, and know that I am nearly always open to considering multiple drafts of a project prior to assigning your final grade. If you wish to revise, I will expect revisions within one week of posting your original grade.

Gear
You will learn to produce media with a range of equipment and software this semester. I do require you to use the software and hardware I teach in class. This means that using your iPhone for audio recording or iMovie for video editing is highly discouraged and subject to penalty. I want you to begin learning tools that you will likely encounter after college. Luckily, the COM department has gear available to check out, and I will provide each of you with a full kit to use during this course.

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Reading Discussion – 10%

I want you to learn about why we approach production in a variety of ways, and so we will read about these approaches. In order for you to understand these readings deeply, I’ll ask you to lead a 15-minute discussion of one reading. Be sure that you do the following:

Mini Projects – 40%

In the first half of the class, I want to teach you how to use hardware and software with purpose and thoughtfulness. I believe that the best way to do this is to immediately immerse you in projects. So for each mode of production (image, audio, and video), I will ask you to do a mini-project that tests your new skills. You will be graded on your:

Portfolio – 50%

I hope that you will all leave this course having produced something you’re proud of, something that you believe should be in the world, and/or something that you can present to a future audience as evidence of your abilities. As such, your major project is comprised of a multimedia digital portfolio that contains:

Your portfolio will be built around a theme of your choice, which we will discuss and workshop throughout the course. You will also submit a 1000-word reflection essay in which you articulate your vision, decisions, influences, process, challenges, and self-evaluation. You’ll publish your portfolio online; I hope that you already have some kind of website or digital portfolio space. If you do not, I will work with you to set something up with WordPress.

I will work with you closely over the second half of the course as you develop this portfolio. In weekly meetings, you will be expected to meet draft and revision deadlines (on the schedule). You will be evaluated based on:

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Week 6
Introductions. Rhetoric and Production.

Week 7
Digital Photography: Equipment, composition.

Week 8
Photos: Critiques, Revision. Mini Project Due Sunday, Oct 21 via googleDocs.

Week 9
Videography: Equipment, composition.
Class in Bronstein Hall Wed, Fri.
Read the “Cinematography” section of this site.

Week 10
Videography: Mini Project Due Sunday, Nov 4 via googleDocs.

Week 11
Sound: Listening, Recording, Mixing.

Week 12
Sound: Mini Project Due Sunday, Nov 18 via googleDocs.

Week 13
Portfolio Proposal Workshop

Week 14
Portfolio Critiques and Revision, round one

Week 15
Portfolio Critiques and Revision, round two

Final Exam: We will meet during our scheduled final, in which you will present your portfolio.