Intermediate Studio: Video Art

Catalog description

Video Art is a studio course examining the distinct territory of artworks created specifically for and with video. The course traces video art's emergence in the 1960s as artists gained access to portable recording equipment, through its evolution with digital technologies to contemporary practices that turn towards the cinematic. Through readings, screenings, and discussions, students will understand how video art has consistently pushed the boundaries of artistic expression while engaging with broader cultural and technological changes. Through hands-on projects, students will engage with video art's core concepts: Real-time capabilities and immediate playback; the relationship between performer, camera, and viewer, time as a malleable material, media critique, the screen as both window and mirror, the integration of video with space in installation contexts, the role of sound in video art, tools for video synthesis and visual effects. Students will learn the fundamentals of video production including camera operation, lighting, sound recording, editing and visual effects. By the end of the course, students will have produced several original video works and developed a deeper understanding of video's potential as an expressive medium. The class combines screenings and discussions, technical instruction, artwork analysis, group critiques, and independent projects to foster both practical skills and artistic vision.