Video Art
Art 147/ComS 157
Phone: 916-278-6285
jenstark@csus.edu
Office Hours: Wed 11-12:30 Thurs 12-1:30

Mend 5012
Field Trips

Final Critique: Mon., Dec. 10 12:45 pm-2:45 pm

Premiere Tutorials
Adobe Premiere Shortcuts
Setting Up

New Project
Basic Edit
Editing with Shortcuts
Basic Title
Title Superimposition

Ripple/Roll
Slip
Slide

How to turn in your project:

Export your media in Premiere Pro
File Export Media
Output name: 1starkj (using your last name first initial--no underscores or punctuation)
Select your folder on the hard drive as your location
Format: Match Sequence Settings turned on
Use Maximum Render Quality Clicked on

LOGOUT ADOBE PREMIERE
LOGON WITH USERNAME AND PASSWORD
DROPBOX DIRECTIONS
FILE>CONNECT TO SERVER>
Enter: FILES.AL-LAB.CSUS.EDU
Click Connect (use user name and password for the class)
and drag your clip to the dropbox for your class (ComS 157)


 


Course Description

The creation and analysis of video artwork; including techniques of video production, post-production manipulation and critique, within the context of art and communication.The techniques and theory of producing and editing video will serve as a foundation for the pursuit of individual, creative projects. Students may produce single channel video art works or video art installations. In addition, students will become familiar with video art practice. Video screenings of artist’s video works will occur throughout the class, and a required field trip will offer students the opportunity see relevant exhibits and screenings in the Bay Area* (*trip location will very per semester depending upon locations of suitable screenings and exhibits)

 

The class will include group discussions of video and experimental film, readings from the assigned text (Video Art: A Guided Tour) and class critiques of student video work, which will include work in progress and final videos.

Video art/ video installations discussed or screened will include works by artists such as Naim June Paik, Sadie Benning, Miranda July, Animal Charm, William Wegman, Joan Jonas, Jim Finn, Pipilloti Rist, Anri Sala, Shirin Neshat, Steve McQueen, Douglas Gordon and Sam Taylor-Wood.
 

Objectives

  • To create expressive artwork using the medium of digital video
  • Further development of and competency in Video Production
  • To further or achieve a solid working knowledge of video editing software and web uploads
  • To learn and practice critical analysis
  • Understand video art practice through the exploration of video art and artists

This class will accommodate various skill levels.

Pre-Requisites:
Art 97 OR ComS 27

Assignments and Grading
Grading will be assigned in the following manner:
Students will produce three complete video artworks throughout the semester:
Video 1: 20%
Video 2: 20%
Video 3: 20%
Field Trip 10%
Video Artist Review 10%
Quickwrites: 20% (4 points each)

Turning in assignments:

Once your project is completed in Final Cut Pro
Go to File>Export>Quicktime Movie
Make sure that "Make movie self contained" is checked
Name the project the number of the assigned video, your last name and first initial

For example: (For assignment 1) 1starkj.mov

Go to your Mac finder window

click on Go>Connect to Server and type in the folllowing: afp://files.al-lab.csus.edu
Click on Groups
ComS 157
Drag file to Dropbox
Remember: Project files don't work, you must drag an exported movie to the server


Final Cut Pro Tutorials Lynda.com
Final Cut Pro Handout 1
Final Cut Pro Handout 2

Each video assignment will be evaluated equally on these four criteria:

  • Concept
  • Creativity and Innovation
  • Composition
  • Craftsmanshi

A Note About Grading:
If you turn in all your work on time (and if it is satisfactorily completed), attend class and participate, you are ensured a C. A’s and B’s are reserved for students who excel beyond average and competent work.

Classroom/Lab Etiquette:

Cell phones should be turned off in classrooms or in the labs. If a cell phone is mistakenly left on, please turn it off as soon as possible. Under no circumstances should the student pick up the cell phone and speak
while that student is a classroom or lab. If a student continues to use their
cell phone during class for any purpose (even texting) they will be dropped
from the class.

Students are not permitted to use the Internet during lectures or
student presentations. Any work on computers in class should
relate directly to classroom activities. Internet messaging, games,
etc are not permitted during class. Unfortunately this eliminates
the possibility of students looking up subjects that arise in the lecture.
This is only permitted if I invite the class to do so.

All of the above activities are extremely distracting to the instructor as well as the other students.

There should be no talking during lectures and student
presentations.

 


Schedule:
Weekly Schedule


8/27
1. Introduction to class, introduction to video art
Assign first reading from text
Questions for next class
Eweles Text
Freeland Text (Brillo Boxes)

Final Cut Pro test-out for students who are proficient in editing

8/29
Quickwrite/Quiz on Ewles and Freeland
Lecture: From Brillo Boxes to Performance
Discussion of Readings
Presentation 1 What is Video Art?
Questions for Next Quiz
Freeland Text
Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction


9/3
Labor Day Holiday

9/5

Quiz 2 on Freeland Text and Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

Ant Farm Screening

TV as Art (Wire Pilot--David Simon Interview)

Introduction and Discussion of Assignment 1

Assignment 1: Create a 30 second to one minute video dealing with issues prevalent in Television, Advertising and Media.  Topics can include, but are not limited to body image, consumption, politics, spectacle and beauty.  The length of the video will reference commercials, so you do not have to be literal in your video representation of them.  It can be difficult to work in such a short format, so be careful to edit your ideas carefully. 

Screening of Student Work

Questions for Next Quiz: Reading 1 and 2
Reading One
Reading Two

9/10
Screening of William Wegman, Eileen Maxson
Quiz 3 (maxson/wegman)
Questions for Quiz 4 on Reading 1
Reading 1
Lab: Basic introduction to using a video camera: tripod, focus, white balance, depth of field, Shooting demo and practice, focus on Framing and Shots.
Any students who have taken 27a and b or equivalent from a JC can leave. All others are required to complete the lab.

9/12

Quiz 4 on Bill Viola reading
Video screening Bill Viola
Discussion
Discussion of Project 1
BeginningVideo Editing
Lab Video 1
Lab Video 2


9/17
Discussion of Project 1 Continued
Editing Theory and Practice (terms and techniques)
Editing Techniques
Titles and Basic Compositing
Open Lab

9/19
Video screening and Lecture (Media Critique of the last 20 Years)
Animal Charm and Naomi Uman (Sign Up Sheet for Screening--3 Points subtracted from grade if you miss presentation and discussion)

9/24
LIghting Terms and Techniques
Three Point Lighting (Students who have taken 27a and b are excused from this lab)Graphics and Compositing in Final Cut Pro Continued
Open Lab
Superimposition
Titles
Wireframe
Open Lab

9/26
Screening:
Interesting Uses of Audio
Removed, Naomi Uman (Sensitive Subject Matter)

Project Update


Written research paper (video artist) assignment given
Field Trip

Titles
Sync vs Non Sync Audio
Layering Audio
Working with mp3 Tracks
Audio Production (Levels)
Audio Editing (Levels)

10/1 Advanced Editing Techniques and Shortcuts

10/3: Open Lab fo Assignment Completion

10/8: Open Lab for Assignment Completion

10/10: Critique Assignment 1

10/15:
Cindy Sherman Photography
Cindy Sherman
Cindy Sherman Gallery
Cindy Sherman 2
Continued Critique of Assignment 1
Student Screenings

Story Assignment Given: Storytelling is the basis for dramatic narrative film, comedies, and even news reporting. I would like you to use stories, storytelling, or narrative structure as inspiration for your next project. I am not suggesting that you make a traditional narrative film, but that you use elements of story to create something that comments on the form.

or PLACE 30 seconds-3 minutes in length
Make a video that starts with a Place.  This can either be a place as a subject for the video or one that would be an interesting location for an installation.  It is not important that the place has personal significance to you, but it can. 

10/17
La Jetee

10/22
Paranormal Activity 2 (Is this an Experimental Film?)

10/24
Sadie Benning Screening and Discussion
Sign up Sheet will be handed out after discussion and before open lab. 3 Points will be taken off of your final grade if you are not present

Sign up Sheet will be handed out after discussion and before open lab. 3 Points will be taken off of your final grade if you are not present

Open Lab

10/29
LAB PSD
Basic Animation with After Effects
Questions for Quiz 5 on Reading 1: Peter Tscherkassky
Reading 1
Miranda July Screening and Lecture
History and Story the works of Thomas Comerford, Bill Brown and Jim Finn
Motion and Text
Attendance Required for Screening

10/31
Quiz 5
Screening of Peter Tscherkassky's Outer Space
Screening Outer Space (Horror as subject)

Overview of Editing Techniques (Review)
Continuation of Motion Demo

Open Lab

11/1Screening: Place
Electronic Earth by Doug Aitkin Installation View
In Order not to be Here Deborah Stratman

11/5 Open Lab

11/7 Open Lab

11/12 Campus Closed

11/14 Critique Assignment 2 Continued
Advanced Editing and Compositing
Open Lab
Individual Meetings with Instructor

Final Project Assignment

Water: Begin with water, its movement, its rhythm and its imagery.  Make a work that begins there and flows somewhere else.  This could be personal,environmental, historical or political. (or all 3)

or

Make a video that starts with a Place.  This can either be a place as a subject for the video or one that would be an interesting location for an installation.  It is not important that the place has personal significance to you, but it can. 


11/19
Continue Critique
Place/Water Screening
Discussion of final project
Paper on Video Artist Due

11/21
No Class Open Lab from 9-1

11/26
Effects, Sound Mixing and Color Correction

11/28 Place Screening: Effects, Sound Mixing and Color Correction

12/3: Open Lab

12/5: Begin Critiques

Final Critique: Mon., Dec. 10 12:45 pm-2:45 pm