This class is both an appraisal of the latest innovations in digital media recording and a cultural critique of the devices that produce these media. On the phenomenological side we will investigate the sensory experience of digital recorders and the ways in which these new devices have departed from optical film and magnetic tape. We will then investigate how these digital media is linked to surveillance systems, enumerating the ways that algorithms engineered into digital media recorders enforce cultural normalcy. A practical critical framework will result from the discussion of digital media. Students will be asked to create a project using digital media that investigate digital phenomena, oppressive ideologies, and the nature of representation in situ. Note that this is not a course in software production: no programming will be required of students, though it will be encouraged for anyone who wishes to make software.

1. INTRO 1/20/2010 Doug Goodwin
2. week01 1/27/2010 Phenomenology in Architecture Doug Goodwin
3. week02 2/03/2010 Metaphysics vs Phenomenology Marisa Blankier/Thomas East
4. week03 2/10/2010 18th century ideas : Math, Freedom, Romanticism Cameron Hicks
5. week04 2/17/2010 How cameras see, how audio recorders hear Doug Goodwin
6. week05 2/24/2010 the economy of hypermedia Sally Stermko/Alfredo Miranda
7. week06 3/03/2010 symphonies for HiFi Jonny Ashley/Trevor Gabriel
8. week07 3/10/2010 NO CLASS, PROPOSALS DUE
9. week08 3/17/2010 psychophysics and you Julia Srednicki/Jeff Rowe / Julia Stern/Michael McIntyre
10. week09 3/24/2010 NO CLASS
11. week10 3/31/2010 Algorithms: Church-Turing thesis Taylor Brizendine/Warren St. George
12. week11 4/07/2010 Networks, Archives, Databases, and Forgetting Pierre Nguyen/Katherine Liepper
13. week12 4/14/2010 Machismo in engineering culture Zoë M.K.-R.
14. week13 4/21/2010 XML and the tenacity of metadata Andy Hutton/Cynthia Hatfield
15. week14 4/28/2010 Experimental cinema and phenomenology Lahnna Saccone
16. week15 5/05/2010 Conclusion: the phenomenology of digital media Doug Goodwin
17. week16 5/12/2010 PRESENTATIONS (see links below)
18. week17 5/19/2010 PRESENTATIONS (see links below)

revised syllabus

final project proposals final project presentation schedule