Arts

Interactive Arts Workshop I and II The theme for the workshop varies each time it is offered. In 2006-07 the focus was on developing content, modes of participation, and cultural implications for interactive 3D environments delivered originally through disc-based computer and video games or expensive virtual reality equipment, and increasingly being found in online multi-player settings. One of the most compelling online experiences is an environment called Second Life, which has been described as “The Matrix meets MySpace.” In this and similar forms of media, the arts are playing a role in new forms of social interactions, as the Self is projected and expressed through an “avatar,” often a selfdesigned 3D model. Students will have the chance to gain experience as creators of characters and environments (including music, sound and visual elements), and will also share experiences as participants in various environments through writing, class demonstrations, and discussions. Collaborative projects can combine the skills and interests of students with backgrounds in various arts and computer-related disciplines. Open to all levels.

Imagining the Self: Autobiography and Biography in Creative Expression What is the self and how to describe it? In the postmodern age, the self is said to be nonexistent—elusive at best. Yet the current popularity of memoirs and “tell-all” biographies attests to an interest and belief in real selves that can be documented and explained. This course examines works by predominantly 20th-century Western visual artists, photographers, film makers, musicians, choreographers, and writers of drama, poetry, and fiction in order to explore how artists have attempted to portray either their own identities or those of others. Students will also compose their own works using a variety of art forms to explore how creative expression can capture personality and how each art form offers its own avenue to portraiture.

The Creative Process in the Arts This course will explore how Western artists of all genres describe their own creative process and will provide ample opportunities for students in the class to observe their own making of art. A rtists’ statements and works of art will be the primary texts. A brief overview of the definitions and measurements of creativity in psychology and philosophy will be included as well. Assignments will also include creative projects done in and outside of class in a range of media. Some issues focused on in the readings and experimentation include the degree to which choice, chaos, and intuition enter into art making; personal and social impediments to creativity; sources of inspiration, and creative collaboration.