Art in the Digital Age explores the various ways artists and designers use or develop emerging computational technologies to articulate conceptual ideas or transform cultural production of objects. This course examines the changing social dimensions of the digital age and the impact of networked connectivity on contemporary creative practices. It deals with some of the key debates and issues of the body, space and time, and outlines a range of outcomes through a hybridity and cross-disciplinarity; interactivity, cybernetics, robotics, physical augmentation, artificial intelligence, information and social networks, virtual reality, data visualisation, 2D and 3D digital and additive printing, programming and coding. It also touches on how hybrid art practices explore frontier sciences such as bio-art and genetic engineering. Framing creative works within broader historical and social contexts, art history and theory, this course also considers some of the ethical concerns that artists and designers address through an interdisciplinary practice. Students will develop a critical knowledge of the impact of digital and computational technologies on contemporary art and life, and learn to discuss and analyse the new kinds aesthetics that are created in an increasingly networked society. The course is complimented with relevant guest lectures and excursions.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- critically examine creative practices that address computational technologies;
- research and interrogate conceptual ideas and key concerns that drive contemporary artists and designers in the digital age;
- present and speak with confidence about the new kinds of aesthetics that are created in an increasingly networked society; and
- apply art historical and theoretical methodologies to researching and writing at an advanced level about art and design in the digital age.
Indicative Assessment
- Wattle forum and quiz participation, 600 words (10) [LO 1,2,4]
- Research essay, 4000 words (50) [LO 1,2,4]
- Tutorial presentation, 15 minutes (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Participation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: lectures, seminars and tutorials; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing. Contact hours may include visits to major art institutions in Canberra.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Donna J. Haraway, Simians, cyborgs, and women : the reinvention of nature Routledge, New York, 1991. 304.5 Har
Charlie Gere, Digital Culture, Reaktion Press, 2008. 303.4834 GER
Darren Tofts and Murray McKeich, Memory Trade : A Prehistory of Cyberculture, Interface, North Ryde, 1998, 303.483 TOF
Preliminary Reading
Charlie Gere, Digital Culture, (Reaktion Press, 2008), 303.4834 GER
Darren Tofts, Annemarie Jonson, and Alessio Cavallaro, Prefiguring cyberculture : an intellectual history (Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press ; Sydney : Power Publications, 2002 ), T173.8 .P688 2002
Darren Tofts and Murray McKeich, Memory Trade : A Prehistory of Cyberculture, (Interface, North Ryde, 1998), 303.483 TOF
Darren Tofts, Interzone: Media Arts in Australia, (Craftsman House, Vic, 2005), N7433.84.A8T66 2006
David Bell and Barbara M. Kennedy, The Cybercultures Reader, (Routledge, New York, 2000), 303.4833 CYB
Geert Lovink, Networks Without a Cause: A Critique of Social Media, (Polity Press, Cambridge, 2011), HM851 .L687 2011
Donna J. Haraway, Simians, cyborgs, and women : the reinvention of nature Routledge, New York, 1991. 304.5 Har
Geert Lovink, Zero Comments: Blogging and Critical Internet Culture, (Routledge, New York, 2008), HM851 .L689 2008
Margaret Wertheim,, The Pearly Gates of Cyberspace: a History of Space from Dante to the Internet, (Doubleday, Sydney and Auckland, 1999), 303.4834 WER
Mathieu O’Neill,, Cyberchiefs: Autonomy and Authority in Online Tribes, (Pluto Press, London and New York, 2009), HM1017 .O54 2009
Rebecca MacKinnon,, Consent of the Networked: the Worldwide Struggle for Internet Freedom, (Basic Books, New York, 2012), HM851 .M3327 2012
Stephen Jones, Synthetics: Aspects of Art and Technology in Australia, 1956-75, (MIT Press Cambridge, Mass., 2011) , 700.105 JON
Stephen Wilson, Art + Science Now, (Thames & Hudson, London, 2010), 701.05 WIL Ede Siân, Art and science (Palgrave, McMillan, 2005), 701.05 EDE
William S. Haney, Cyberculture, cyborgs and science fiction : consciousness and the posthuman (Amsterdam ; New York : Rodopi, 2006), T173.8 .H36 2006
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 12
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $3180 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $4890 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7484 | 25 Jul 2022 | 01 Aug 2022 | 31 Aug 2022 | 28 Oct 2022 | In Person | View |