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Topics in Interactive Media (376-0-24)

Topic

Interactive Arts

Instructors

Ozge Samanci
847/467-0483
AMS 213

Meeting Info

Louis Hall 118: Thurs 10:00AM - 12:50PM

Overview of class

The Media Arts Studio course is an immersive experience tailored for filmmakers, visual artists, sound designers, installation artists, engineers, media theorists, and students eager to explore unconventional ways of working with media. This hands-on course invites participants to create interactive art, video projects, and products that incorporate sensors to evoke metaphorical meaning, humor, and emotion—offering an alternative to the consumer-driven narratives that dominate much of modern media. Whether you're a beginner or looking to expand your creative toolkit, no prior knowledge of electronics or coding is required.

Throughout the course, students will learn how to take interaction beyond the confines of a computer screen and bring it into the physical world using Physical Computing tools like Arduino and simple sensors. The focus is on the creative process of invention, where participants will design tangible, three-dimensional, interactive projects that challenge the ideologies embedded in the products we consume—such as optimization, efficiency, social norms, productivity, and consumerism.

The course will progress through a series of readings, media arts examples, interactive video, game design, and the DIY movement. Hands-on assignments will guide you through the creation of your own projects. Tutorials on Arduino, sensor integration, custom projection screens, bio art, VR, and sculptural techniques will introduce you to key design concepts such as speculative fiction, prototyping, user scenarios, reverse engineering, hacking, ecofeminist design, biophilic design, inclusive design, and repairability.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, you'll have the tools to create interactive media works that challenge the status quo and engage viewers in new, thought-provoking ways.

Class Materials (Required)

Arduino kits and necessary materials will be supplied by the RTVF department.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for RTVF Majors or Game Design + Media Arts + Animation minor until the end of pre-registration, after which time enrollment will be open to everyone who has taken the prerequisites.