TDS-435A: Reading Form As Research

We look and look at ??endless streams of media, but beyond the surface, do we really take the time to understand a work we 'like'? Like reading a book, this course introduces students to the practice of reading form - deeply examining works by other artists and designers as an important research methodology. Together, we will develop our media literacy skills exploring how cultural histories, communication strategies, technological shifts, and theoretical viewpoints are translated and captured in what artists and designers make and compose. We will utilize ArtCenter's Library, Archives, and Research Resources, inviting visiting designers, researchers, and artists to share their formal decision making process: how and why a form was made, for whom, and in response to what? By understanding anothers' choices, we will learn to make better creative decisions and justify what we make. Guided by faculty, students will 1. examine a collection of existing work, 2. document their formal reading and analysis through video interviews, and 3. create a media project and visual language based on their findings. The work produced will be exhibited, sharing the value of ArtCenter's Research Resources to a wider audience.