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Art + Technology

Graduate Seminar:
Full Luxury AI

Learning about each other, what we value, and how that might be embodied in art practice.


sample from Grandmother by Holly Herndon

Years taught: 2021

  • UF Catalog

    Readings, discussions, and/or studio exploration of various art issues.

  • Course Description

    ART 6933 Art + Technology Graduate Seminar is a revolving topics graduate-level course. Topics in the past have focused on Interface (2006), Relational Aesthetics (2007), Embodiment (2008), Subjectivity (2009), Politics (2010), Critical Utopia (2011), Nothing (2012), Technogenesis (2013), Sociation (2014), Disaster (2015), Whatever (2016), Privilege (2017), Power Failure (2018), and Art and Class (2020).

    For Fall 2021 we will consider artificial intelligence from a “pharmakological” perspective. In simple terms: what poison does AI portend and what cure might it propose? We will discuss modes with which cultural practitioners might engage the advance of artificial intelligence, empowering us to make meaningful, material, social change (or not). The seminar will include visiting speakers and field trips along with reading, reflecting, arguing and discussing a broad range of historical, theoretical, and creative works in an individual and small group format. For the “makers", the course is conceived as a companion to the hands-on, workshop-oriented, ART6925C Experiments in ARTificial Intelligence.

  • Course Details

    Credits: 3; Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and graduate program adviser.

     Jack Stenner, Ph.D
     Associate Professor
     Office: FAC 304
     Office Hours: Th 11:30am-12:30pm
     352.213.0997
     stenner@ufl.edu
    
     Graduate: ART 6933 Area Methods: Rotating Topics
     Class: PHYSICAL - Fine Arts Bldg C Room 302
     Time: T 11:45 AM - 2:45 PM
     Website: http://jackstenner.com/teaching/grad-seminar-21
     Listserv: Class contact will be made UF email and via Discord (evite to be provided).
    

Objectives

Over the course of the semester, the goal is to help you develop your art practice in the following ways:

1.

Analysis

Analyze and evaluate works from an informed point-of-view.

2.

Materiality

Recognize the role of tools and their impact on meaning.

3.

Criticality

Engage in meaningful discussion, develop a sense of criticality.

4.

Research

Investigate new techniques and methodologies.

5.

Praxis

Successfully link concepts, expression, and medium.

6.

Growth

Learn to integrate useful suggestions by others.

  • Attendance

    Requirements for class attendance and make-up exams, assignments, and other work in this course are consistent with university policies that can be found at:
    https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx.

  • Grades

    A graduate seminar is a group activity that depends on member participation. You are expected to constructively criticize your peers. Constructive criticism is considered a part of your class participation. You are also expected to show and discuss your work, whether it is complete or not. This too, is part of participation. Over the course of the semester, depending on how it develops, there will likely be assigned readings to which you will be expected to post a written reflection. These will be evaluated for the care with which they approach the subject, but will not be treated as "English" papers.

    Detailed, specific info on grades and grading can be found at:
    https://catalog.ufl.edu/UGRD/academic-regulations/grades-grading-policies/

    Instructor’s evaluation of student’s interest, motivation, attendance, proficiency and overall development or improvement during the semester will be taken into consideration in determining the final course grade. This syllabus is subject to refinement and development throughout the semester based on feedback and class interaction. Policies and grading criteria are absolute and will not change. Any substantial changes will be discussed with the class prior to implementation.

    Grading breakdown:

       Presentation of your work =  25%
       Contribution to critique =  25%
       Writing response(s) to assigned readings =  30%
       Attendance =  20%
       
  • Evaluation

    Students are encouraged to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing online evaluations at https://evaluations.ufl.edu. Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three weeks of the semester, but students will be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students at https://evaluations.ufl.edu/results/.

  • COVID-19

    POLICY LANGUAGE PROVIDED BY UF: In response to COVID-19, the following practices are in place to maintain your learning environment, to enhance the safety of our in-classroom interactions, and to further the health and safety of ourselves, our neighbors, and our loved ones.

    If you are not vaccinated, get vaccinated. Vaccines are readily available at no cost and have been demonstrated to be safe and effective against the COVID-19 virus. Visit this link for details on where to get your shot, including options that do not require an appointment: https://coronavirus.ufhealth.org/vaccinations/vaccine-availability/. Students who receive the first dose of the vaccine somewhere off-campus and/or outside of Gainesville can still receive their second dose on campus.

    You are expected to wear approved face coverings at all times during class and within buildings even if you are vaccinated. Please continue to follow healthy habits, including best practices like frequent hand washing. Following these practices is our responsibility as Gators.

    Sanitizing supplies are available in the classroom if you wish to wipe down your desks prior to sitting down and at the end of the class.

    Hand sanitizing stations will be located in every classroom.

    If you are sick, stay home and self-quarantine. Please visit the UF Health Screen, Test & Protect website about next steps, retake the questionnaire and schedule your test for no sooner than 24 hours after your symptoms began. Please call your primary care provider if you are ill and need immediate care or the UF Student Health Care Center at 352-392-1161 (or email covid@shcc.ufl.edu) to be evaluated for testing and to receive further instructions about returning to campus. UF Health Screen, Test & Protect offers guidance when you are sick, have been exposed to someone who has tested positive or have tested positive yourself. Visit the UF Health Screen, Test & Protect website for more information.

    Course materials will be provided to you with an excused absence, and you will be given a reasonable amount of time to make up work. If you are withheld from campus by the Department of Health through Screen, Test & Protect you are not permitted to use any on campus facilities. Students attempting to attend campus activities when withheld from campus will be referred to the Dean of Students Office. Continue to regularly visit coronavirus.UFHealth.org and coronavirus.ufl.edu for up-to-date information about COVID-19 and vaccination.

    FROM ME: Please refer to the Center for Disease Control Section 3: Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) Where not Everyone is Fully Vaccinated for minimal precautions.

     

  • Materials/Fees

    Required materials will depend on the proposed projects submitted by students. Students will design projects and set budgets based on the goals of the work. See the Schedule of Courses for any attendant fees related to this course.

  • Readings

    Readings will consist of .pdfs and URLs available on the class website. While not required, I highly recommend Atlas of AI by Kate Crawford.

  • Policies

    Be sure to read the University of Florida Policies regarding academic honesty, the honor code, accomodations for students with disabilities, wellness, computer use and acceptable use policy, disruptive behavior, health and safety, email and communications, and late work policy.

  • H.B. 233

    On July 1, 2021 faculty were provided guidance from United Faculty of Florida as to how to respond to Governor Ron DeSantis' "Viewpoint Discrimination" Bill, otherwise known as H.B. 233. Among other things, I will be following their recommendation to reserve the right to record classes I teach. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to ask and we can discuss it further.