EDPX 2400 Time Syllabus

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of time-based media, with an emphasis on audio and video production. Basic recording, capturing, editing and manipulation of time are covered. Students gain understanding on how to utilize, analyze, and manipulate time in digital media. Students learn the basic language and critical analysis techniques needed to understand when and how to take advantage of each time-based media for their practice.

Objectives

By the end of this course students will be able to:

Structure

This course is structured around short lectures, discussions, weekly exercises, and project work. Class time will be spent in critique sessions and short, fundamental lectures on media and technical skills. Due to the nature of the quarter system, we will move at a fast pace. Do not fall behind!

The major assignments are:

Exercises: Five topic-based exercises will be conducted throughout the first 6 weeks of the quarter. The emphasis on these exercises is practice on specific, fundamental concepts needed for more advanced project work. Each exercise will be critiqued both in-progress and with a finished presentation.

Major Projects: There are three major projects during the last 4 weeks which require use of the skills practiced throughout the course: Project 1 due week 7, Project 2 due week 9, & Project 3 due at the final. Project 1 requires thinking in new perspectives with a body-mounted camera. Project 2 is an expression on order & chaos via a split screen comparison. Project 3 is an exploration of multiple modes of interaction. Details can be found on the individual project pages:

The final project (Project 3) should reflect the culmination of the knowledge acquired throughout the quarter in this class and should be the most ambitious work for this course.

Readings & Video Discussion: One class will be spent on a discussion around copyright and fair use in media. As preparation, you will be required to read & respond to several short texts and one full-length film. Your responses will be made via the Canvas class page and used during in-class discussions.

Final Portfolio: At the end of the quarter students will turn in a professional portfolio consisting of all their work from throughout the quarter.

Project Originality and Subject Matter

The class exercises and projects are an opportunity to be creative and ambitious. Students will be responsible for all aspects of production. Collaborative projects will not be explored in this class.

Unless otherwise stated, all work in this class must be original and newly created entirely by the student for this class. Sampling/appropriation will not be allowed, unless noted in assignment requirements. Older work, even that which has not been used in former works is not acceptable.

Topics/subject matter that will not be accepted for classwork include:

family, friends, children, animals, dorms/apartments, DU/college looking environments, cars, your car, Light Rail stations, any sports and/or snow related activities, fictitious characters, fashion, pop-culture, music/melody/tunes in any shape or form, anything considered "cute" and the "lowest common denominator"

Recording and/or filming should take place at least a few miles away from the DU campus (you can utilize your free student Light Rail pass).

Expectations

Deliverables: You are expected to complete 3 major projects, 5 exercises, and provide responses for the readings. Exercises and projects have detailed guidelines to be followed as to approach, content, and format. Pay attention to these.

Statement for Creative Works: A statement for creative works will be submitted with each assignment unless otherwise stated. (See guidelines)

Presentations: You will be required to present all of your exercises and 3 major projects. This involves explaining the concepts, inspiration, and important media & stylistic choices. Feedback will be provided via a following critique.

Critiques: The project critique sessions are central for the conceptual development during this course. You are expected to verbally participate in the critique discussion and follow critique "best practices".

Backups: You must have adequate storage to have a backup of your work. Please do not rely upon the lab computers for your only source of backup, use your required external hard drive (see below). It is your responsibility to back up all your work. Late, incomplete projects due to any technical reason is not an acceptable excuse and will reflect in your grade.

Equipment & Required Materials

External Hard Drive: You will need an external hard drive for this course by the second week of class. The hard drive will need to be formatted for macOS for use with the EDP lab computers.

Min requirements: 7200 RPM or faster w/ USB 3

Recommended:

Avoid:

Headphones: Have a set of headphones or earbuds for use when editing on the EDP lab computers.

Equipment Check Out: All A/V equipment required for this class is provided by EDP and it is the student's responsibility to check out equipment from EDP TechCheck for up to 3 days at a time. Any assignments not finished on time due to equipment problems will be considered late. If the equipment is not returned punctually, students will not be eligible to borrow again for the quarter or possibly the year. If all included items (e.g. batteries, charger, cables, etc) are not returned, students may be charged for these items and/or lose check out eligibility. Be mindful that returning the equipment on time does impact your grade since other students require the equipment for their projects.

If you cannot make certain TechCheck hours due to your work or class schedule, send the instructor this information in an email ASAP.

Cultural Events

The attendance to a minimum of 3 cultural events is required. For this course, cultural events should be in the field of New/Digital Media. It’s highly recommended that you seek pre-approval for cultural events.

For each event create a document with the title, date, 2-4 images from the event, 1-2 sentence description, as well as a brief and concise paragraph of your impressions. Submit as PDFs via the Cultural Event assignments on Canvas.

Do not wait until the end of the quarter!

Grading

*Equally valued. Critiques in progress are worth 50% of each exercise/project grade.

Work will be graded on the basis of fulfillment of course requirements combined with an assessment of effort, creativity, risk, participation, and individual growth. Exercises and projects are graded based on ambition, technical proficiency, and providing full deliverables according to guidelines. Grades will be assigned as follows with the +/- range:

Fulfilling the requirements of the course is considered average and will earn a "C." Every student starts the class with a "C" grade. It will be necessary to work outside of class to complete all projects and assignments. Additional effort will be necessary to earn higher grades.

Policies

Attendance: Two or more unexcused absences result in the drop of a letter grade. Being late three times counts as an unexcused absence.

Absence: Contact me ahead of time if you are going to be absent. I expect reasonable circumstances, not convenience. You're here to learn, right?

Illness: If you are sick, please avoid contact with others and refrain from coming to class. If you are too ill to return to class and miss more than three classes, this may be sufficient grounds to assign a grade of "I"/incomplete.

Participation: Students are expected to assume an active and engaged role in every aspect of class through verbal communication. Turn off all personal electronic devices before you arrive to class.

Quality of Work: All creative work under consideration for critique or discussion should be of a completed/finished quality that warrants the attention and respect of your cohorts. No excuses or explanations.

Assignments: Late assignments are only accepted with permissions of the instructor. You'll lose 10% per day late up to a max of 7 days late.

EDP Computer Lab Usage: In order to use the EDP Labs, students must follow all the computer lab policies. A PDF with the rules is available on the landing page of the EDP website.

Honor code: All work submitted in this course must be your own and produced exclusively for this course. The use of sources (ideas, quotations, paraphrases) must be properly acknowledged and documented. See the DU Honor Code for details.

Religious accommodations: DU students are granted excused absences from class if needed for observance of religious holy days but should contact instructors to make alternate arrangements during the first week of class. See DU's religious accommodations policy.

Disabilities: If you qualify for academic accommodations because of a disability or medical issue please submit a Faculty Letter from the Disability Services Program (DSP) by the end of the first week of class.

Students who have disabilities (i.e., physical, medical, mental, emotional and learning) and who want to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Program (DSP); 303.871.2372;1999 E. Evans Ave.; 4th floor of Ruffatto Hall. Information is also available online at www.du.edu/dsp; see Handbook for Students with Disabilities.

Student Athletes: DU sponsors National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes at the undergraduate level in seventeen different sports. Student-Athlete Support Services are in place to assist these students in their academic work. According to their policies:

Student-athletes are responsible for informing their instructors of any class days to be missed due to DU sponsored varsity athletic events in which s/he are participating. Student-athletes are provided with a schedule of travel dates that coincide with class dates and an absence policy to present to instructors. This must be signed by the instructor and is the student-athletes responsibility to return the signed forms to an assigned athletics adviser. In the event that a team reaches post-season play (i.e. Conference or NCAA Tournament), letters will be sent to instructors informing them of additional missed class dates. It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to make arrangements with instructors regarding any missed lectures, assignments, and/or exams.