Overview

For the next two weeks, we survey the genesis and development of motion picture technology. First, we'll read part of Rebecca Solnit's exploration of the history of photography and technology: River of Shadows: Eadweard Muybridge and the Technological Wild West. In this unit, we will also view video materials in support of our readings.

The invention and widespread use of photography is an especially important shift in the history of art and technology, but also in the history of knowledge itself. It has had incredibly important consequences for every aspect of human life from policing and surveillance to warfare, cultural visualization, the internet, and contemporary consumerism. We saw this evidenced in examples from Practices of Looking. Now we closely consider how the art, technology, and history of photography, motion images, and animation is essential to understanding the hypersaturated media landscape of today, and the possibilities of future technologies.

Module Objectives

In this module, our activities, content, and assignments will help you do the following:

Develop technological literacy by becoming familiar with the history of various media.
Identify core theoretical principles involving art & technology.
Consider ethical, inclusive, accessible, and universal approaches to art and design problems involving technology.
Examine the visual meanings and the ideas presented in the text in relation to your own artistic/design practice.

Module To-Do List

Here's everything you need to do and remember for this module:

Complete readings
Participate in discussions
Respond to your classmates' posts
Attend the Live Session