2021 Fall Syllabus

SYLLABUS 
ART 1604: Principles of 4D Art and Design
Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:30 PM - 3:05 

Armory 101 & Virtual Space (as needed). 
Virtual Classroom ID: 849 0911 5138
Password: 4df21

Your instructor: Les Duffield (he/him/his)
Program Chair, BFA in Creative Technologies.
Collegiate Assistant Professor

 

Contact!
duffles@vt.edu
Physical Office: Henderson 350
Virtual office Hours Zoom: 778 884 1509
Office Hours: 9 AM till noon MW. 

  

Catalog Description
This course introduces the foundations of digital art and time-based media creation. Projects cover a variety of concepts and techniques for time, motion, raster, and vector graphics, resolution, frame rate, keyframing, image sequencing, storyboarding, and narrative construction.

course objectives
• gain facility in the creation of time-based media
• understand different graphics applications and the file-types that go with them
• unlearn problematic reflexive thinking inhibiting that stifle the beginners mind
• identify narrative structures in still and moving image
• move from planning, production, to reception of works
• become more familiar with contemporary artists and designers
• find our 'taste-level' issues, blindspots, creative barriers and seek to resolve them
• BUILD COMMUNITY 

materials:
Bring all required materials to class every day, unless otherwise specified. 
Portable storage device (i.e., 15 GB thumb drive or portable external hard drive). 
A laptop computer with SOVA’s minimum requirements. 
A pair of headphones (required for all sound editing)  

required installed software: 
Adobe Creative Cloud subscription (student edition). 

 

optional additional hardware: 
Various camera and sound capture equipment 
digital drawing tablets

 

percentages and numbers to guide your efforts toward unrealistic goals of perfection. 

Pre-Visualization

Storyboarding and animatic
Image sequence
Citing both personal and aesthetic influences
10%

Digital Imaging and Graphics
Layering, juxtaposition
Digital painting
Vectors
File types
Digital color
15%

Video and Sound Capture
Composition and frame
Timing
Performance
Lighting and staging/ Mise En Scene
Documentation
15%

Video and Sound Editing Techniques
Montage
Rhythmic editing
Import and export of Media
Codecs
15%

Keyframing for motion
Frame rate
Concepts of timing and spacing
Linear keyframes vs. eased keyframes
15%

Concept and Context
Principles of storytelling and communication
Narrative and 3 act structure
Time-based presentation
15%

Applied studio ethics and practices
Critique etiquette
Risk and reflection
Objective and subjective analysis
Form and function
Creative visual problem solving 
25%

Total
100%

 

Grading:

In addition to the SOVA foundations rubric, each assignment will have specific criteria where performance expectations are explicitly stated.

I will not discuss grades until 48 hours after the grades have been given and will do so privately.Per FERPA, I will not discuss grades publicly nor via email. 

 

 

ARC Fees 

An Art Resource Charge of $75.00 is required for this course. The Accounts Receivable Office will bill you for this charge and it will appear on your tuition and fees bill.  

No refunds will be issued after the last day to drop.

Presence Policy
I for one, think we’ve all had enough screen time for our next several lifetimes.
In this class, we practice embodied presence and engagement with technology.
This may require unlearning some habits in order to make space for new ones.
Be here. Not in your phone.
Not in your browsers (unless you're working on a project for this class.)
Not in your DM’s.
The same goes for your insta, your finsta, your TikTok, your discord, your Facebook, your Snapchat.

Play the game that is this class, do not play video games while in this class. 

 Absence Policy
Per the SOVA foundations rules, you are allowed no more than two (2) absences without -penalty. On the third (3rd) absence the overall letter grade for the course and will be deducted 20%. On the 4thAbsence 30%. On the 5th the sanction awarded is an F. 
Missing critique days will result in a 50% deduction in the final letter grade on the assignment being critiqued without exception. 


That being said, please communicate with me. If you keep me in the loop on the first two absences and make me aware of any potential ongoing issue or issues, I am in a much better position to advocate for you and get you to the support you need. 

 

Covid Statement

Masks are required indoors at all times. This class is indoors. Therefore, you are required to wear a mask. Should compliance be an issue, and you do not wear a mask, you will be politely reminded of the policy and asked to put on a mask. Further Non-compliance will result in dismissal from class and a referral to the dean of students and an absence awarded for that day.

 

Virginia Tech Principles of Community 
Virginia Tech is a public land-grant university, committed to teaching and learning, research, and outreach to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world community.

Learning from the experiences that shape Virginia Tech as an institution, we acknowledge those aspects of our legacy that reflected bias and exclusion.
Therefore, we adopt and practice the following principles as fundamental to our ongoing efforts to increase access and inclusion and to create a community that nurtures learning and growth for all of its members:

  •       We affirm the inherent dignity and value of every person and strive to maintain a climate for work and learning based on mutual respect and   understanding.

  •       We affirm the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely. We encourage open expression within a climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect.

  •       We affirm the value of human diversity because it enriches our lives and the University. We acknowledge and respect our differences while affirming our common humanity.

  •       We reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including those based on age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status. We take individual and collective responsibility for helping to eliminate bias and discrimination and for increasing our own understanding of these issues through education, training, and interaction with others.

  •       We pledge our collective commitment to these principles in the spirit of the Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

 

 

Cheating & Plagiarism

Attention!!: Our definition of plagiarism includes the appropriation of images (from the Internet or otherwise) unless explicitly stated, and other downloaded digital images, vector, or media assets (including brushes, textures, sounds, demo files, 3D Models, filters, glitch effects, plugins, software extensions, and more) for your projects. 

 Any violation of this policy is considered grounds for Academic Misconduct and will be reported to the office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity. The default result of such actions is a failing grade and a notation of plagiarism on your permanent academic transcript (also known as an F* grade). 

 Please speak to me directly if you have any questions or are uncertain or concerned about whether you may be in danger of a violation. (Cheating/Plagiarism Policies expanded on below.) 

 

Submission of Assignments 

All finished work must be turned in via a shareable link on the Canvas Learning Management System.
Loss of data is not an acceptable excuse for missing work.
Be sure to always back up your assignments on Google Drive, your physical computer, and if possible a portable storage device!

 

THE VIRGINIA TECH HONOR CODE
The Undergraduate Honor Code pledge that each member of the university community agrees to abide by states: 

 

“As a Hokie, I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times.  I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.”

Students enrolled in this course are responsible for abiding by the Honor Code. A student who has doubts about how the Honor Code applies to any assignment is responsible for obtaining specific guidance from the course instructor before submitting the assignment for evaluation. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the University community from the requirements and expectations of the Honor Code.  

Commission of any of the following acts shall constitute academic misconduct. This listing is not, however, exclusive of other acts that may reasonably be said to constitute academic misconduct. Clarification is provided for each definition with some examples of prohibited behaviors in the Undergraduate Honor Code Manual located at https://www.honorsystem.vt.edu/ 

o   CHEATING:  Cheating includes the intentional use of unauthorized materials, information, notes, study aids or other devices or materials in any academic exercise, or attempts thereof. 

o   PLAGIARISM:  Plagiarism includes the copying of the language, structure, programming, computer code, ideas, and/or thoughts of another and passing off the same as one's own original work, or attempts thereof. 

o   FALSIFICATION:  Falsification includes the statement of any untruth, either verbally or in writing, with respect to any element of one's academic work, or attempts thereof. 

o   FABRICATION:  Fabrication includes making up data and results, and recording or reporting them, or submitting fabricated documents, or attempts thereof. 

o   MULTIPLE SUBMISSION:  Multiple submission involves the submission for credit – without authorization from the instructor receiving the work – of substantial portions of any work (including oral reports) previously submitted for credit at any academic institution of attempts thereof.

o   COMPLICITY:  Complicity includes intentionally helping another to engage in an act of academic misconduct, or attempts thereof. 

o   VIOLATION OF UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENTAL, PROGRAM, COURSE, OR FACULTY RULES:  The violation of any University, College, Departmental, Program, Course, or Faculty Rules relating to academic matters that may lead to an unfair academic advantage by the student violating the rule(s). 

 

Understanding the Code sessions: The Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity will be hosting educational sessions on the Honor Code for all students. In these sessions, Honor Council Delegates working with the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity discuss what constitutes a violation of the Honor Code and ways in which students can avoid violations of the Honor Code. Specific examples will be utilized to assist students in better understanding the University’s expectations. 

 You are HEREBY encouraged to complete the Academic Integrity Success Module.  It may be found at this link:  https://canvas.vt.edu/enroll/CE7YK9.  It will open at 8am on August 20th and will remain open all year.

 

 

Modality/Remote Learning Policy

This class is held in-person in the SOVA Armory room 101. Our modality is stated as in-person. Pending any changes to the university policy on in-person classes. In-person classes will not be streamed. There will be a few occasions where we will be online. 

On those days, you may come to the armory and I will remote in, but you may also work remotely. On those days when we are remote, class will be held in the Zoom learning environment. A link will be provided. I expect cameras to be turned on. Microphones to be on and full attention to be paid to the class proceedings.

 

WELLBEING

I care about each and every one of you. Supporting the mental health and well-being of students in my class is of high priority to me and Virginia Tech. If you are feeling overwhelmed academically, having trouble functioning, or are worried about a friend, please reach out to any of the following offices: 

 

Cook Counseling: 

 540-231-6557 to schedule an appointment and/or 24/7 crisis support 

 ucc.vt.edu for more information 

 

Dean of Students Office:  

540 231-3787 for general advice 

540-231-6411 for after-hours crisis 

dos.vt.edu for more information  

 

Hokie Wellness:  

hokiewellness.vt.edu  for more information about health and wellness workshops and consultations 

 

Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) 

540-231-3788 or ssd.vt.edu  for more information about accommodations and other disability-related supports For a full listing of campus resources check out well-being.vt.edu .