This interdisciplinary course invites Purdue students to reflect on global culture, location and society, while simultaneously learning practical knowledge in programming, interactive visualization, locative media, 3D modeling and animation. The class integrates field trips, brainstorming sessions and technical training to create context-based interactive art.
Learning Objectives
- Design and create interactive and multimedia works for display
- Reflect and investigate cultural differences in a globalized context
- Identify properties of teamwork as a tool for the creation of new multimedia projects
- Demonstrate technical knowledge through the development of 3D models and animations (using the SL Blender)
- Understand and synthetize graphics programming fundamentals
Justification
This course proposes an experience of interdisciplinary work between students and professors from Purdue University and University of Antioquia (UdeA), connecting art and technology. In particular, the course aims to develop a process of investigation, reflection and creation of interactive art in the city of Medellin. For conceptual and methodological developments, the theme of the course is “mapping the city.”
The course introduces 3D animation and programming graphics tools to develop interactive and context-based projects.
2467 miles / 3970 km separate West Lafayette and Medellín. Although this distance marks geographical, cultural and social differences, we use it to describe a bridge of creative possibilities and to connect two cities in an intercultural dialogue around new media. In this sense, the course aims to materialize the possibility of an academic exchange between Computer Graphics at Purdue University (USA) and the Hipertrópico research group at Universidad de Antioquia (Colombia).
Methodology
Following the idea of an open studio and pedagogy proposed by the artist Luis Camnitzer, students and faculty conform a learning community in which all participants are co-researchers. A multicultural group of students and faculty from both universities collaborate, explore and reflect on the theme the city of Medellin. In particular, incorporating field trips to the city and surrounding areas, conducting sessions to develop creative brainstorming, technical training, conceptualization and dialogue. As a result of the course experience, the group will host a public exhibit at the Centro Cultural of UdeA displaying the student’s final projects.Each student’s personal reflections are documented through a travel log or journals using a variety of media (sketches, writings, digital photos, video, audio) At the end of the course, students self-assess their work and reflect on the impact of having an intercultural experience. These reflections are shared through a final group session that includes all participants of the learning community.
