The Sound of the Future: Sonic Fiction, Science Fiction and Creative Coding (Honors Course)

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

An interdisciplinary exploration of sound in new media art. The course will be based on Kodwo Eshun’s concept of sonic fiction (the point where sound and science fiction intersect), in order to provide a framework for discussion of the cultural and aesthetic dimensions of new media art. In parallel, students will have a hands-on experience of creative computer coding, with the aim of implementing technology to give creative expression to their experience of selected science fiction texts. The course does not assume prior knowledge or experience of artistic creation or computer coding. Emphasis is placed on experiential learning, and for this reason class meetings take place in a computer lab.

RATIONALE:

There is a rich tradition of innovation within new media art that has brought together musicians, artists, scientists and engineers. One of the richest areas of current practice in the field focuses on the activity of creative coding – the writing of code that generates art. Alongside this practical approach, Eshun’s sonic fiction represents an engaging cross-disciplinary attempt to provide context to these activities. This course aims to equip students with a theoretical and practical familiarity with these ideas and artistic genres, in order to better enable them to make sense of current and future developments in cross-disciplinary artistic practice. The main focus of the course will be on developing closely integrated creative and technical skills in the context of a general understanding of the creative approaches within the field.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Appraise the key creative ideas and stylistic contexts of a range of sound-based new media art works, assessing them through analytical listening and analysis of relevant ideas and stylistic contexts, both orally and in writing;

2. Demonstrate understanding of the transcultural artistic and social contexts of new media art;

3. Apply practical coding skills in the creation and manipulation of sound material via the creation of original computer code;

4. Compose a piece of sound-based new media art by making effective use of technical tools to achieve artistic aims;

5. Examine the intersections of music, literature, and creative technologies.

METHOD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING:

In congruence with the teaching and learning strategy of the college, the following tools are used:

• Close informed listening, class discussion, workshop-style pair work and group work during class meetings;
• Active student-centered teaching approach in the presentation of course material to engage learners;
• Critical-thinking exercises and learning activities designed to help students acquire confidence and benefit from independent study;
• Student presentations of learning material to encourage involvement in the learning process;
• Co-curricular activities, ranging from collaboration with student clubs and societies to debates and event organizing, in order to encourage students’ creative engagement with the material;
• Extensive instructor feedback on assignments and activities;
• Individualized assistance during office hours for further discussion of lecture material, additional reading, and assignments; Additional print and audio-visual educational material posted on the Blackboard course template.