Syllabus Fall 2014/15

DIGM 501: New Media: History, Theory and Methods

Section 2 - Fall Term 2014/2015

Meeting Time: Thursdays 12:30 – 15:20, URBN Center 202

Instructor: Prof. Stefan Rank [stefan.rank (AT) drexel.edu]

Office Hours: by appointment

Course Description

In this class we will conduct a critical examination of relationships among technology, ideology and production with the goal of developing research methods and practices to improve our performance and effectiveness as digital media designers, producers and communicators.

The main purpose of this course is to lay the foundation for graduate level research and practice in the New Media field.

Learning Objectives

• • To provide an understanding of the importance of theory building in digital media

  • To obtain insight regarding the relationship of theory and practice

  • To explore the potential of design research in digital media

  • To use New Media as a means to develop innovative perspectives on media and culture

Format

We will engage in an active process of readings, discussions, and class presentations. These activities will result in each student writing a research project proposal. For the most part, weekly readings will be assigned from the weekly readings below. Additional readings may be assigned based on class discussions.

Texts:

• [Bolter Grusin 2000] Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusin: "Remediation: Understanding New Media", MIT Press, Cambridge MA, 2000.

• [Wardrip-Fruin Montfort 2003] Noah Wardrip-Fruin and Nick Montfort (eds): "The New Media Reader", MIT Press, Cambridge MA, 2003.

  • [Simon 1996] Herbert A. Simon: “The Science of Design Creating the Artificial”, In: The Sciences of the Artificial, MIT Press, Cambridge MA, ch.5, pp.111-138, 1996.

  • [Cross 1999] Nigel Cross: “Design Research: A Disciplined Conversation”. Design Research 15(2):5-10, 1999. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1511837

  • [Cross 2007] Nigel Cross: "Natural and Artificial Intelligence in Design", In: Designerly Ways of Knowing, Birkhauser Verlag AG, Boston MA, chapter 3, pp.49-62, 2007.

  • [Bolter 2003] Jay David Bolter: "Theory and practice in new media studies", In: Digital Media Revisited, MIT Press, Cambridge MA, pp.15-33, 2003.

  • [Murray 1997] Janet H. Murray: "Lord Burleigh’s Kiss", In: Hamlet on the Holodeck, MIT Press, Cambridge MA, chapter 1, pp.13-26, 1997.

Recommended:

• • [Dizikes 2009] Peter Dizikes: “Our Two Cultures”. Sunday Book Review, New York Times. March 19, 2009.

  • [Manovich 2001] Lev Manovich: "The Language of New Media", MIT Press, Cambridge MA, 2001.

  • [Lessig 2006] Lawrence Lessig: "Code - version 2.0", Basic Books, New York, 2006.

Requirements and Grading Policy

• • Class Participation: Active and informed class participation is expected and mandatory.

  • Midterm: To conclude the first half of the class a take home midterm will consist of short essays based on readings and class discussions.

  • Finals: The second half of the class will be devoted to the development of a research project. The final research design may be further developed as a possible thesis topic in DIGM 502. The project must demonstrate knowledge of assigned readings especially those relating to Design Research.

  • Late Policy: All work must be submitted on time. Any work 1 day late will be penalized 15% and 2 days late will be penalized 30%. No work will be accepted beyond 2 days.

  • Plagiarism and Academic Integrity: For the benefit of those who may not have been told before, cheating or plagiarism are violations of both personal and academic integrity. Such violations are punishable with a failing grade on the work and may also result in a failing grade for the course and disciplinary actions on the part of the University. In this course in particular, plagiarism, including cutting and pasting from the internet without proper citation, will result in an F grade for the class

  • Two unexcused absences will constitute a loss of 20% of the final grade. Three absences, without a valid excuse will result in an F grade.

Students receiving an “A” grade will be active participants in class discussions, score well on the midterm and be well prepared to discuss his or hers research intentions, deliver a quality final research proposal.

Grading System

• 25% - Overall class participation

• 25% - Midterm essay exam

• 25% - Presentation process (5 preliminary reading list, 10 final reading list & presentation, 10 discussion)

• 25% - Written paper

A+: 100-97, A: 94-96, A-: 90-93, B+: 87-89, B: 84-86, B-: 80-83,

C+: 77-79, C: 74-76, C-: 70-73, D+: 67-69, D: 60-66, F: 0-59

Schedule (may be updated during the term)

Drexel University Code of Conduct

Academic Integrity, Plagiarism, and Cheating Policy

http://drexel.edu/provost/policies/academic_dishonesty.asp

Drexel University Student Handbook

http://drexel.edu/studentaffairs/community_standards/studentHandbook/

Students with Disability Statement

http://drexel.edu/ods/student_reg.html

Course Drop Policy

http://drexel.edu/provost/policies/course_drop.asp

Course Change Policy

The instructor reserves the right to change the course during the term at his or her discretion. These changes will be communicated to students via the syllabus, website announcement, or email.