| Intermedia Arts: From Experimental Origins to the Next Wave Imda 340 Fall, 2001 David Means. Associate Professor Metropolitan State University Office: 805 Minneapolis Campus Phone: (612)341-7262 (651)793-3967 (Nobles) [email protected] http://www.geocities.com/davismenas/ The mixture of traditional art forms into combined, Intermedia presentations has a rich tradition in the twentieth century, beginning with the collaborative works of the Italian Futurists and extending through the Dada, Surrealist and Bauhaus groups in Europe, to Fluxus, the "Happenings" and pop art events of the American avant garde. With the development of technology, experimental forms have evolved into a variety of intermedia art forms such as electronic music, video opera, performance art and music video. Today a confident new generation of artists is emerging from the experimental tradition to present challenging intermedia art works that examine postmodern culture with a "new wave" of creative vision. This course will trace the origins of intermedia arts activities in Europe, examine early American experiments in collaborative works, and explore some of the recent developments of emerging artists who work in mass media art forms such as film and video. By examining documents such as writings, manifestos, photographs, scores, recordings, films and videotapes, we will: Trace the development of intermedia art forms in the twentieth century; Explore the relationship of artists, technology and society using selected intermedia art works; Determine what intermedia artists seek to accomplish in terms of cultural, aesthetic, social and political goals; and Analyze intermedia art works and performances historically, aesthetically and culturally. Suggested Competence Statement: "Knows the history, traditions, applications, and creative context of intermedia arts activities in the twentieth century and can apply this knowledge to an analysis or creation of an intermedia project which demonstrates this understanding." Evaluation: Evaluation of competence will be based 1/3 on mid-term study questions, 1/3 on an analysis project and 1 /3 on a final project. Videotape Materials: "The Shock of the New: The Mechanical Paradise (1979), written and nar. by Robert Hughes, 1 hr. "The Shock of the New: The Powers That Be (1979). written and narrated by Robert Hughes, 1 hr. "Dada (1968), German documentary film - 3V "Ballet Machanique (1925), by Fernand Leger, music by George Antheil -15' "Entr'acte (1925). by Rene Claire, music by Erik Satie -15' "Bauhaus (1973), slide-tape on the Bauhaus course of instruction. - 20' "The Shock of the New: The Future That Was (1979). written and nar. by Robert Hughes. 1 hr. "Ellis Island" (1983), by Meredith Monk - 30' "The Bar" (1980), from Perfect Lives (Private Parts), by Robert Ashley - 30* "The Last Supper at Undo Tom's Cabin, by Bill T. Jones - 60' "John Cage" from 4 American Composers "Night Vision (1991), by the Electric Arts Duo -12' "The Cabinet of Dr. Rameriz (1995), by Peter Sellars Intermedia Arts - 2 Required Text: Performance Art: From Futurism to the Present, by Roselee Goldberg. Abrams, 1988. Articles: "Futurism" in Documents of Modernity, ed. By Robert Motherwell, 1975. "Dada, Surrealism and Scuola Metafisica" in Documents of Modernity, ed. By Robert Motherwell, 1975. "The Search for Tradition: Avant-Garde and Postmodernism in the 1970s", by Andreas Huyssen, 1992. "The Radical Shift: Technology as Creative Force", in Art and the Future, by Douglas Davis, 1975. "The Establishment of the Avant-Garde: The Fugitive and the Real", by Jose Agueles, 1975. Syllabus: I. 8/28 Introduction and Overview Syllabus and Assignments Community Events and Intermedia Activities Meanings of Modernity and the Experimental Tradition View: Hughes - "The Mechanical Paradise" Read: Goldberg - Chapter 1 "Futurism" in Documents of Modernity, ed. By Robert Motherwell, 1975. Part I: European Origins of Intermedia Arts II. 9/4 Italian Futurists Futurism/Manifestos/Noise Music/Simultaneity View: Hughes - "The Powers That Be" Read: Goldberg - Chapter 2 III. 9/11 Russian Futurism and Constructivism The Stray Dog Cafe/"Victory Over the Sun"/Circus/Revolutionary Performances View: Leger - "Ballet Machanique" Read: Goldberg - Chapter 3 "Dada, Surrealism and Scuola Metafisica" in Documents of Modernity, ed. By Robert Motherwell. ASSIGNMENT: Begin Final Project Outline - due by Week VII; final project due Week XV IV. 9/18 Dada Cabaret Voltaire/Vienna/Zurich/Berlin/Paris/New York View: "Dada" Read: Goldberg - Chapter 4 V. 9/25 Surrealism Paris/Tzara/Picabia/Apottinaire and Cocteau View: "Entr'acte" from Relache Read: Goldberg - Chapter 5 VI.10/2 Bauhaus Stage Workshop/Bauhaus Curriculum/Festivals/Theories/Touring Company View: Bauhaus - Film Strip Read: Goldberg - Chapter 6 ASSIGNMENT: Mid-term Study Questions - due by Week XIII VII. 10/9 Discussion Summary of Part I ASSIGNMENT: Analysis Project - due by Week XIII Part II: American Intermedia Activities Vlll.10/16 John Cage and Merce Cunnlngham Black Mountain College/The New School View: "John Cage" from 4 American Composers Intermedia Arts - 3 IX. 10/22 Happenings and Fluxus Allen Kaprow / Dick Higgins / Joseph Beuys / Jim Dine / E.A.T. / George Maciunas View: Hughes - "The Future That Was" X. 10/30 The New Dance Dancers Workshop, San Francisco / Judson Dance Group NYC / Minnesota Dance Alliance View: Bill T. Jones: The Last Supper at Uncle Tom's Cabin Read: Goldberg - Chapter 7 Part III: Pop Art, Postmodernism and New Media Technologies XI. 11/6 Mass Media Art Forms Film / Video / lntermedia / lnstallations View: "The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez" XII. 11/13 Deconstructing the Past Postmodernism and the Art of Ideas View: Meredith Monk - "Ellis Island" (1983) XlIl. 11/20 The Computer and Virtual Reality The Art of Ideas and the Media Generation View: Ashley - "The Bar" The Electric Arts Duo: "Night Vision" Due: Mid-term Study Questions and Analysis Project XIV. 11/27 Final Aural and Performance Projects XV. 12/4 Final Aural, Written and Creative Projects Evaluation: Evaluation of competence will be based 1/3 on mid-term study questions, 1/3 on an intermedia analysis project and 1/3 on a final project. Outcomes and Assessment (rating scale: excellent, good, adequate, partially adequate, inadequate) Knowledge and understanding of the history and stylistic development of the intermedia arts through readings of artists' manifestos and course textbook; (Mid-term study questions) Ability to analyze, interpret and critique the intermedia arts In the context of public performances, exhibitions and presentations; (Intermedia analysis project) Ability to integrate the creative elements of the intermedia arts into a coherent, comprehensive exploration of a specific intermedia topic or project; (Final intermedia prefect) Return to Nobles Classes Page |