Networked Media Spring 2017

Description

The network has become a fundamental medium for interactivity. It makes possible our interaction with machines, data, and, most importantly, other people. Though the base interaction it supports is simple, a client sends a request to a server, which replies; an incredible variety of systems can be and have been built on top of it. An equally impressive body of media theory has also arisen around it's use.

This hybrid theory and technology course will be 50% project driven technical work and 50% theory and discussion. The technical work will will utilize JavaScript as both a client and server side programming language to build creative systems on the web. Technical topics will include server and client web frameworks, such as Express and Angular, HTML, CSS, templating, and databases. The theory portion of the course will include reading and discussion of past and current media theory texts that relate to the networks of today; included in this will be works by Marshal Mcluhan, Wendy Chun, Lev Manovich, Philip Agre, Tiziana Terranova, and more.

In short, this course will be about developing full-stack web applications (such as anything from the beginnings of Google, YouTube, and Twitter to class registration systems and other purpose built system) as well as thinking, reading, and discussing the implications with a culture and media theory perspective.

Grades

• Regular Assignments 20%
• Presentations 20%
• Participation and Attendance 20%
• Midterm Project 20%
• Final Project 20%

Weblog

It is expected that everyone in the class will create and maintain a blog for their assignments.

Be sure to enter your name, preferred email address and the URL to your blog (you can always edit this later) on the class wiki.

Listserv

This class is very participatory in nature and discussions will certainly take place outside of the classroom. Along with the blog, one of the primary vehicles for these discussions (as well as administrative issues) will be the listserv.

Laptops and WiFi

Laptops and WiFi available are valuable tools for use in the classroom. Unfortunately, they can very easily be a distraction as well. Since this class is technical in nature and we'll likely be trying code and looking at online resources laptops use will likely be very useful. We should though be courteous to one another and when we have outside guests, during discussion or student presentations laptops use should be curtailed.

Weekly Technical Assignments

We will have weekly assignments that are relevant to material from the previous class. These assignments are required and you should be prepared to show/talk about them in class. This is 25% of your grade.

Presentations

Each week, staring the 3rd week we'll have student lead presentations on the readings assigned the previous week. The format should be a short summary presentation (10-15 minutes) on the reading and then to lead the class in a discussion around the reading and the topics introduced/presented (15-20 minutes).

Here is the current list of chapters/articles that you'll choose from. (This list is still evolving and will be complete by the end of the week for you to choose): https://itp.nyu.edu/~sve204/cgi-bin/pwiki/wiki.pl?Networked_Media_Spring_2017_Reading_Schedule

Weekly Reading

Each week, there will be assigned reading and student lead presentations and discussion. You are expected to do the reading and write a short (300 word) response on your blog in preparation for the discussion.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory. Please inform your teacher via email if you are going to miss a class. Habitually showing up late for class or an excessive number of absences will adversely affect your grade.

Class Participation

This class will be participatory, you are expected to participate in discussions and give feedback to other students both in class and participate with their projects. This (along with attendance) is 40% of your grade.

Midterm Projects

Half way through the course we'll have midterm projects. These will be 1 week projects, essentially the same effort as a weekly homework assignment but one of your own choosing that you This will comprise 20% of your grade.

Final Projects

Class will culminate final projects. You are expected to push your abilities to produce something that utilizes what you have learned in the class that is useful in some manner to yourself or the world. This will comprise 20% of your grade.

Books/Websites

Reading assignments will be given out on a weekly basis and in general will be handouts and/or online articles. No books are required for this course but here is a list of other resources that might come in handy:

Weekly Schedule

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14