Visual and Digital Arts

This course traces world cultural development through the arts of architecture, sculpture and painting. The emphasis is on the social, economic, political, and geographic influences on the stylistic characteristics, subject matter and art forms of various world sites from the earliest prehistoric through the Modernist eras. The cultures of Africa, Australia, Oceania, the Near East, Greece, Rome, India, China, Japan, Europe (England, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy) and the Americas will be considered. Field Trip and fee required.

Description pending.

Students will study theories of mass communication and the role that mass communicators play in modern society. The rise of print and electronic media will be discussed in detail. Special attention will be given to the rights, responsibilities and practices of mass media and merging trends.

Fundamental visual art principles constitute the basis of effective visual communication. This hands-on course explores these fundamentals while applying the creative approaches unique to digital photography. Students will learn how to use advanced digital cameras (DSLR) to create an on-line portfolio, as well techniques to manage and archive media. In addition, students will develop a framework to analyze and evaluate photographs, whether created by themselves or others. PREREQUISITE: None

This course is a survey of photojournalism, tracing the development from Civil War origins to contemporary practice. Changes in photographic technology and the resulting impact on the craft will be examined. Students will discuss the role of photojournalists who record history in a society built on images.

Students will learn the principles and elements of art through various media, such as drawing, painting and sculpture. They will learn techniques and processes to capably and inventively translate ideas into form. Students will also employ the stages of the artistic process to develop creative problem solving skills. A vocabulary for participating in critiques will be introduced. Topics include: color, form, space, line, pattern, rhythm, balance, perspective and abstraction.

Students will learn how to communicate multilevel stories of a place, moment, person or time by creating multimedia projects. Working with text, still photography, video, music and audio, students will create digital stories and post them online. Students will combine timeless art principles (including viewpoint, composition, light, angle and setting) with literary fundamentals (such plot diagramming and character development) to create modern video projects.

In this introductory class, students with learn graphic design production skills. A focus will be on developing proficiency with the industry standard software tools of InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. Students will learn the fundamentals of designing communication materials, including: how to effectively convey a message whether with typography, images or symbols. Logo design and branding will be covered. Students will create communications pieces that benefit the AIC community.

This class builds on and adds to the concepts introduced in Graphic Design 1. Dreamweaver software will be introduced so students can create projects for the Internet. Students will create mock projects for fictional clients to gain understanding how communications materials affect consumers. Students will also create communications pieces that benefit the community surrounding AIC.

Across the globe and throughout time, humans have shared a common interest in creating art. By studying the art, past and present, from a variety of cultures, students will develop a multicultural perspective as they answer such questions as: What is the role of art? What is beauty? Why do I value the images that I value? What is the value of art? What is culture? What are my biases? This is a study-and-create class, as students will produce art projects inspired by art from the cultures they study. The course combines research, museum visits and hands-on art creation.

In this course, Visual and Digital Arts Majors spend time working on projects that tailor their portfolios toward career paths that come into sharper focus as they approach graduation. The semester culminates with a gallery exhibition.

This course is a supervised work experience for visual and digital arts students. Students have the opportunity to relate concepts and use skills acquired through coursework to practical applications in a professional setting.