IML: 300 Reading and Writing the Web
Fall 2018
USC Media Arts + Practice
Tuesday and Thursday, 2pm–4:50pm
Instructor: Eric Fanghanel
(Office Hour: Thursday, 2pm or by appointment)
TA: Sandria Tran
Course Description
Reading and Writing the Web takes a critical view on the internet, exploring its material and technical applications as well as its historical and theoretical implications. The course is meant to introduce students to the basics of creating, designing and conceptualizing online projects through hands on practice while thinking critically about networks and identity in and around the internet.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course students will be familiar with the basic languages (HTML, CSS and Javascript) required to design and create interactive web experiences.
Students will be aware of some of the most foundational discourse surrounding the internet and its impact and implications.
Students will have a good understanding of the state of the internet today and some of the most pervasive future speculative scenarios.
Students will better understand their own relationship with networks and how this impacts meaning and identity generation.
Expectations
Grading
Grades will be determined with the following % breakdown:
- Participation: 15%
- Weeklies: 20%
- Project 1: 20%
- Project 2: 25%
- Project 3: 25%
- Extra Credit: 25%
All written work should be submitted as both an email to myself as well as as a linked page onto your main website.
All projects will be uploaded onto websites and linked in the wiki. Students may choose their own hosting and domains. A free option will be discussed in class.
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Participation
Participation is critical to passing and enjoying this class. Do the work, share your thoughts, ask questions, offer feedback during critiques. This class is meant to be a safe space in which you feel encouraged and supported in learning and taking creative risks. This means being aware and considerate of different backgrounds, perspectives, and identities. Respect each other and this space we are building together. Don’t assume, ask. Remain open, be willing to take responsibility, apologize, and learn. Help each other in this. If there are concerns please let me or Sandria know as soon as possible.
Attendance
More than two absences will lower your final grade by one whole unit (for example, A- to B-). Each additional absence will lower your grade by another unit. If there is an emergency and you must miss class, please email Sandria before class. Absences will not be excused after the fact.
Class starts at 2:00pm. If you are more than 10 minutes late for class, you will be marked tardy. Three tardies become equivalent to one unexcused absence. Your attendance can be viewed here and any disputes should be discussed with the TA within two weeks.
Weekly Assignments
Each week there will be a couple assigned readings/viewings and a short activity or question. Create an html file containing your response, and link to it clearly from your index page. These should be posted before the start of class each Thursday. Each one is graded solely on completion and represents 2% of your grade. They will always be posted at least a week in advance, on this page. Any disputes should be discussed with the TA within two weeks.
Projects
There will be 3 projects during the semester. Each project will be evaluated on (1) demonstrated understanding of the material, (2) conceptually creativity, (3) aesthetic quality, (4) technical skill. Outstanding or exceptional work will receive As, good work will receive Bs, sufficient work that does nothing more than meet requirements will receive Cs.
Late work. If you turn in a project late you miss the opportunity to share during the review and receive feedback, an essential part of this process. If you don’t have a project done at the deadline, we will discuss an alternative deadline and one letter grade will be subtracted from that project. If you miss this second deadline, you forfeit credit for that project. Weeklies are graded P/F based on completion on the day they are due, these cannot be turned in late. If you are absent from class you are still responsible for posting the work due on your index page. Any work not posted in absence will be considered late, unless prior arrangements are made with me.
Extra Credit
Extra credit can be used to make up for missed weeklys and low grades on projects.Extra credit can make up up to 10% of your final grade, effectively a letter grade. The following is a list of extra credit exercise you can do, alternatively you can also come up with your own extra credit exercise:
- Style your index.html page. 2.5%
- Write a 1000 word essay on any of the topics of this class. 5%
- Present on any of the weekly topics at the beginning of class on thursday. 5%
Commitment to diversity and plurality
We understand the classroom as a space for practicing freedom; where one may challenge psychic, social, and cultural borders and create meaningful artistic expressions. To do so we must acknowledge and embrace the different identities and backgrounds we inhabit. This means that we will use preferred pronouns, respect self-identifications, and be mindful of special needs. Disagreement is encouraged and supported, however our differences affect our conceptualization and experience of reality, and it is extremely important to remember that certain gender, race, sex, and class identities are more privileged while others are undermined and marginalized. Consequently, this makes some people feel more protected or vulnerable during debates and discussions. A collaborative effort between the students, TA, and instructor is needed to create a supportive learning environment. While everyone should feel free to experiment creatively and conceptually, if a class member points out that something you have said or shared with the group is offensive, avoid being defensive; instead approach the discussion as a valuable opportunity for us to grow and learn from one another. Alternatively if you feel that something said in discussion or included in a piece of work is harmful, you are encouraged to speak with the instructor or TA.
Statement on Fair Use
Fair use is a legal principle that defines certain limitations on the exclusive rights of copyright holders. MA+P projects are produced with fair use doctrines in mind using its four pillars: (1) the purpose and character of use, (2) the nature of the copyrighted work, (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole, and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. Generally speaking, this means you must only use as much of a copyrighted work as is necessary to make your point, and you must cite your sources accordingly.
Citation Guidelines
We assert that work produced in our classes is covered under the Doctrine of Fair Use. In order to make this claim, however, all projects must include academically appropriate citations in the form of a References section, which covers all sources, in order to receive a passing grade. The References section is either included in the project itself or as a separate document, as appropriate. We follow the Kairos Journal of Rhetoric, Technology and Pedagogy style guide for citation purposes; Kairos uses a modified APA format, whose general guidelines and specific examples may be found here.