Syllabus: Performance, Art and New Technologies in Society (THTR 3895)

THTR 3895:0001 Cross References: DANC 3895 | INTM 3895
Spring, 2020 || M & W: 3:30p – 5:20p

Instructor: Daniel Fine, Assistant Professor of Digital Media in Performance

Course Description: Survey of major technological innovations that have deeply impacted society and live performance in the late 20th and early 21st century, and the future of the rapidly evolving technological world; students examine theoretical texts and performances that address the impact of technology on the human condition, as well as create original applied live performances and installations; a variety of technologies are explored and adapted for live performance as they relate to the following categories of original human experience—telepresence, liveness, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, big data, and transhumanism.

Course Objectives and Goals:

  • Understand the basic concepts, theories, history and the practical artistic applications of telepresence, liveness, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, transhumanism, and big data.
  • Develop applied knowledge by creating, designing and realizing projects with various analog, digital and new media technologies for a variety of student generated artistic/technological experiences.
  • Be able to rapidly prototype ideas using Isadora, Max and/or other softwares and use and manipulate various hardware technologies.
  • Work collaboratively across disciplines to investigate multimedia approaches to contemporary live experiences and new modes of storytelling.
  • Cite and discuss prior and related work.
  • Expand upon organizational, artistic, and technical skills necessary to successfully design and implement projects.
  • Improve teamwork and communication skills.
  • Critique and evaluate work.

Course Topics:

  • Liveness, telepresence
  • Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality, Extended Reality (AR, VR, XR)
  • Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Post-Humanism
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Syllabus: Producing and Directing Digital Video (THTR 3890)

THTR 3890:0001 Cross Reference: DANC 3890:0001 | INTM 3890:001
Fall, 2019 || T&TH: 3:30p-5:20p

Instructor: Daniel Fine, Assistant Professor of Digital Media in Performance

Course Description: An introduction to the basic concepts, theories and practical applications of digital video production for multiple distribution streams, with a focus on aesthetic and technical principles, that is open to students from any department. The primary focus of the course is for students to develop proficiency in contemporary approaches to digital media production, by understanding the production pipeline, from Ideation to Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production and through to Distribution. Emphasis will be placed on developing skills in writing, producing, directing, shot composition, lighting, location sound recording, non-linear editing and other skills necessary to create a compelling and engaging digital video. Working in groups, students will be assigned practical projects using professional grade media software and hardware.

Course Objectives and Goals:

  • Understand the basic concepts, theories and practical applications of digital video production for multiple distribution streams.
  • Understand the production pipeline of digital video production.
  • Develop skills in writing, producing, directing, shot composition, lighting, location sound recording, editing and other skills necessary to create a compelling and engaging digital video.
  • Operate digital video production gear, including a DSLR camera package, sound package, lighting gear, and grip packages.
  • Be able to perform basic video editing, compositing and fundamental sound editing.
  • Develop the organizational skills necessary to successfully produce digital video projects.
  • Learn how to make digital videos on a small or non-existent budget using guile, guts and problem-solving techniques.
  • Improve teamwork and communication skills.
  • Collaborate across disciplines.
  • Critique and evaluate work.

Course Topics:

  • Intro, check-outs, studio, reservations
  • Camera, A+B, Vimeo
  • Workflow & pipeline
  • Copyright, fair use, creative commons
  • Who does what
  • Audio gear
  • Audio editing with Audition
  • Lighting gear, grip
  • Style, design
  • Animation, keyframes
  • Inclusion and casting
  • Script, budgeting, scheduling
  • Pitches, ideation, visualizing
  • Shooting & editing greenscreen

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Syllabus: Video for Performance (THTR 3876)

THTR 3876:0001 Cross References: DANC 3876 | CINE 3876 | INTM 3876 | DIGA 3876
Spring, 2020 || T & TH: 3:30p – 5:20p Studio: ABW250 || Computer Lab: ABW360

Instructor: Daniel Fine, Assistant Professor of Digital Media in Performance

Course Description: An introduction to the aesthetics and practical applications of digital media design for live performance, including content creation, system design and content optimization for media servers. Open to students from any department with an interest in designing, creating, and displaying digital media for theatre, dance, concerts, corporate events, gallery installations, VJ sets, and architectural projections. Working with professional software (Adobe Creative Cloud including Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Audition, and After Effects) students learn how to create digital art work and integrate it into live performance and entertainment events via projections, media servers and digital displays.

Course Objectives and Goals:

  • Understand the basic concepts, theories and practical applications of incorporating video into live performance.
  • Develop applied knowledge of creating video by designing and realizing projects with various analog, digital and new media technologies for a variety of live experiences.
  • Understand the meaning making, workflow, process, technology and creative process for implanting video into live performance.
  • Work collaboratively across disciplines to investigate multimedia approaches to contemporary live experiences and new modes of storytelling with video.
  • Develop skills in manipulating digital assets such as photos, videos, text, and live video streams.
  • Operate computer, video, projection, sensor, and camera equipment.
  • Be able to perform basic-intermediate, media server skills in QLab and basic-intermediate content creation in After Effects CC.
  • Develop the organizational and artistic skills necessary to successfully design and implement video into live performance.
  • Improve teamwork and communication skills.
  • Critique and evaluate work.

Course Topics:

  • Intro, gear, space
  • Content creation, research, design concept, cueing
  • After Effects (Compositing)
  • After Effects (Shapes, Animate On)
  • After Effects (Perfect loops)
  • QLab
  • Projectors & Media Servers
  • Process, workflow, integrating into the team
  • Masks
  • Surfaces
  • Projection Mapping
  • Cameras & Displays
  • Systems & Lensing
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Syllabus: Installations and Interactive Performance (THTR 3880)

THTR 3880:0001 Cross Reference: DANC 3880:0001
Spring, 2021 || M&W: 3:30p-5:20p

Instructor: Daniel Fine, Assistant Professor of Digital Media in Performance

Course Description: An introduction to the aesthetics, techniques and practical possibilities of fusing together theatre, dance, music/sound, art, design, cinema, gaming, human computer interaction, and engineering. Students will learn the foundations of creating interactive experiences that use digital photos, video, text, real-world objects, sensor data, live bodies moving in space, Kinect 2 sensors, cameras, and multiple video outputs such as projectors and LED displays. The interactive, node-based programming software Isadora, will be used to create immersive mediated performances, interactive installations, embodied user based experiences and user manipulated virtual environments.

Course Objectives and Goals:

  • Understand the basic concepts, theories and practical applications of incorporating interactive digital media into installations, live performance and user based experiences.
  • Develop applied knowledge of creating interactive media installations and live performance by designing and realizing projects in various analog, digital and new media.
  • Cite and discuss historical and contemporary artists and companies.
  • Work collaboratively across disciplines to investigate multimedia approaches to contemporary live experiences and new modes of storytelling.
  • Develop skills in manipulating digital assets such as photos, videos, text, live video streams and data.
  • Operate computer, video, projection, sensor, and camera equipment.
  • Be able to perform basic-intermediate, node-based programming skills in Isadora.
  • Develop the organizational and artistic skills necessary to successfully produce installations, interactive performance and user based experiences.
  • Improve teamwork and communication skills.
  • Critique and evaluate work.

Course Topics:

  • Intro, gear, check-out, studio, system, in-class assignments
  • Isadora (Networks, Video)
  • Isadora (Sound)
  • Isadora (Camera, Displays)
  • Isadora (NDI, Syphon, Zoom integration)
  • Isadora (Control)
  • Isadora (Generative Art)
  • Isadora (Projection Mapping)
  • Isadora (Data Visualization)
  • Isadora (Kinect)
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Syllabus: Performing with Technology (THTR 3875)

Topics in Digital Performing Arts: Performing with Technology: THTR 3875:0001 Cross Reference: DANC 3875:0001
Spring, 2021 || T&TH: 3:30p-5:20p

Instructor: Daniel Fine, Assistant Professor of Digital Media in Performance

Course Description: Advanced techniques in virtual/online performance with established and new technologies including live cameras, audio, greenscreen, special effects, and controlling digital avatars.

Course Objectives and Goals:

  1. Understand the basic concepts, theories and practical applications of performing in virtual/online platforms.
  2. Develop applied knowledge of creating virtual/online performance.
  3. Cite and discuss historical and contemporary artists and companies working in virtual performance.
  4. Work collaboratively across disciplines to investigate performance approaches to virtual/online and new modes of storytelling.
  5. Develop skills in manipulating digital assets and operating virtual platforms.
  6. Operate computer, camera, and sound equipment and virtual platforms.
  7. Improve teamwork and communication skills.
  8. Critique and evaluate work.

Course Topics:

  • Intro, gear, check-out, studio, system, in-class assignments
  • Zoom interface
  • Sound
  • Camera
  • Greenscreen
  • Special Effects
  • Avatars
  • Pitches
  • Virtual Performance Technology
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