Syllabus

ARTM 3105 – 001
ANIMATION INTERACTIVITY
Fall 2009, MW 8:00-10:50, Macy 106A
Professor Heather D. Freeman
Office Hours: Rowe 253 MW 11:30-12:30
Telephone: 704-687-0184 • hdfreema@uncc.edu
www.EpicAnt.com
www.PersonalDemons.org


COURSE CONTENT
This course will introduce students to 2-D digital animation and interactivity. Students will learn the tools, techniques, and software used in the creation of animation and interactive multimedia, especially media creation for Internet, CD-ROM and DVD distribution. Students will consider the nature of animation and how it relates to other time-based media (film, television, video, the web, CD-ROMS, video games, installation art, performance, etc.) and how animation functions in the plastic art world. Emphasis will be placed on displaying on the integration of traditional media (such as frame-by-frame animation) with digital media to achieve interactivity and automation of simple tasks. The prerequisite course is ARTM 2105. This course must be completed with a grade of C or better before taking this ARTM 3103 – Animation and Interactivity.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Animation and interactivity has a rich history in transforming both high art and popular culture. Students will employ Macromedia Flash and other software to produce their own works of digitally originated animation. Furthermore, students will: • learn how to use the computer as a tool for the creation of technically and creatively refined animations. • transcend preconceived notions of the function and form of animation in order to explore how this medium can be utilized as a tool for creative art-making • understand the use of Flash’s vector-based drawing tools, animation techniques, and interactive symbol functions. • create inventive and original 2-D animation using techniques including pixilation, rotoscoping, tweening and collage among others. • critically analyze artworks in and out of class production that (re) define and/or (de) construct the concept of animation and interactivity. • develop refined interface solutions for interactive navigation and narrative.


COURSE FORMAT
In- and out-of-class assignments, in-class demonstrations and quizzes will be employed to familiarize students with the software and hardware. Following this, specific projects will be assigned which require the application of this software for creative output and animations will be viewed to stir the creative juices. Quizzes will assess students’ acquisition of this information. This is a three-credit studio course that meets six hours per week. You must be prepared at the beginning of each class for work under my supervision. You must also dedicate a significant number of hours outside of class time each week to properly acquire the material and complete project assignments.

CRITIQUES
Critiques, when we meet to look at finished work, are especially important classes. On the day of critique, students are expected to be ready at the start of class to show their work. Students are expected to share their ideas, observations and beliefs in critique and will be graded in part on their participation. Missed critiques will drop the project by a letter grade. A missing project will warrant an automatic failure on that project; it is always better to show something incomplete than nothing at all.

EVALUATION
Your over-all grade will be determined by the four projects, in- and out-of-class exercises, homework and quizzes less missed classes. Projects will be graded on:
• Originality of content and concept
• Execution (clarity of your concept’s delivery)
• Technical presentation
• Overall presentation and craftsmanship
• Effort and Experimentation
All work in this class must be original. Violation of this is considered plagiarism and the university code of student academic integrity will be enforced (please visit http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-105.html for the entire code). Students have the responsibility to be familiar with and observe the requirements of The UNCC Code of Student Academic Integrity. This code forbids cheating, fabrication or falsification of information, multiple submission of academic or artistic work, abuse of facilities and equipment, and complicity in academic dishonesty. The normal penalty is zero credit on the work involving dishonesty and further substantial reduction of the course grade. Appropriation of images, video or sounds will only be permitted when assigned in this course.

GRADE BREAKDOWN
Project 1: 20%
Project 2: 20%
Project 3: 20%
Project 4: 20%
Quizzes/Homeworks: 10%
ActionScript Exam: 10%
less missed/late classes

GRADE SCALE
A 100-90%
B 89-80%
C 79-70%
D 69-60%
F 59-0%
*There will no extensions on projects, no extra credit works, and no resubmissions.

INCOMPLETES
Incompletes are given for documented medical problems and serious situations. If for some reason you find that you cannot complete the requirements of the course, your best option is to withdraw.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Students with disabilities requiring accommodation in this course should contact Disability Services in Fretwell 230 and bring appropriate documentation to the instructor.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance will be taken promptly at 8:00. If you come to class late, please let me know so that I know you attended. You are allowed a total of three absences. For any class you are absent, you will receive a grade of zero for any in-class-assignments, quizzes, homework or projects for that day. Each additional absence after the three will result in a letter grade reduction of your final grade. Two lates equals an absence. Leaving early twice equals an absence. It is your responsibility to keep track of your own attendance. For example, if you are earning a B, but missed three classes and were late twice, that would drop the final grade to a C. This is non-negotiable and there is no extra-credit in this course. Class experience is an important part of the learning process. The course work is demanding and it builds upon every class. I expect you to come to class and to work to the best of your ability with a positive attitude.

REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS
• Lynda.com texts. $38.00 for the semester. Go to http://www.lynda.com/edu-media/studentlogin.asp and enter the class code 08152009C9794.
• USB Flash Drive, 128 MB capacity or greater (an iPod or portable hard drive compatible with Mac OSX is also fine).
• Headphones (when working with sound). Walkman-style headphones are fine.
• Sharpie Permanent Marker (for labeling CDs).
• Sketchbook, no larger than 7” x 10” (you should carry this with you everywhere you go and keep track of your ideas!)

SUGGESTED TEXT AND MATERIALS
• Reinhardt, Robert. Macromedia Flash Bible. Visual, (use the latest edition).
• Galore, Janet. Flash MX Design for TV and Video. Wiley, 2003.
• Digital camera and tripod

LAB MATERIALS CHARGE
There is a $15 lab fee for this class. This covers consumables like CD-ROMS and should be paid during the first week of classes.

BACKING UP AND SAVING
Be sure to always back up your files to a USB Flash Drive, a Fire wire Drive, or a CD-ROM or DVD. If you plan on using a USB drive on a PC, make sure the drive is Mac formatted. Never rely on school computers as your primary backup. Always keep backups on USB drives and CD-ROM. Never work directly off a USB drive. Always copy the data to the workspace first and work from that copy. Then, save the revised version back onto the USB drive or burn another CD. If you lose or mutilate your data, you will have to make up the work. In addition, and I cannot stress this enough, ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR WORK, EVERY DAY. There is nothing quite so frustrating as spending hours on a project, finding out your file is corrupt, and it cannot be opened. Especially when this happens five minutes before the critique. ALWAYS BACK UP. If you lose your work, you are responsible and will not be given any grace period for re-doing your work. AGAIN, ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR WORK, EVERY DAY. DO NOT RELY ON THE COMPUTERS IN THE LAB FOR BACKUP.

KEEPING A SKETCHBOOK
• Some homework assignments will be recorded in your sketchbook.
• Take it with you everywhere; make it your best friend and confidant.
• If you have a spare moment, 30 seconds, noodle in it.
• Bring it with you to every class.
• Sketch out multiple solutions to visual problems before you start the actual project!
• Write in it, draw in it, and collect photos and clippings in it, whatever you can cram in there.

BLOG
We will use this blog as a discussion board and to post works in progress for feedback. Please be sure to check this group often for updates and information.

CONCERNS AND COMMUNICATIONS
If you have any concerns about the class, how you are doing, how I am teaching it, any personal conflicts that are making your life difficult in relation to this course, or if you’d just like to talk about art, feel free to e-mail me, utilize my office hours or to schedule another time to meet! If you’re shy about any given matter, you can always leave me a note in my mailbox in the Art Department main office. I am really excited to work with you all and look forward to a fun, challenging and rock ‘n’ roll semester!