Antoinette LaFarge: Interactive Narrative 07

INTERACTIVE NARRATIVE: Studio Art 100

Instructor: Antoinette LaFarge
Fall 2007
M-W 12-1:20 in AITR 190

DESCRIPTION

This course is structured like an intensive workshop, during which students will complete several interactive, nonlinear narrative projects. Coursework will focus on understanding and exploiting a wide range of narrative and structuring techniques, including multiple points of view, modularity, seriality, repetition, fragmentation, navigational metaphors, forking storylines, genre, language choices, plot and character development, and closure. Although the projects will include a substantial amount of writing, an important goal of the class is to learn how to work with narrative using primary visual materials. Student projects will be presented several times during the quarter, and students will be expected to productively critique each other's work during presentations. The course will also analyze interactive, nonlinear, collaborative, and multimodal narrative in a range of media, including the web, role-playing games, print, oral storytelling, and installation art. Students are expected to be already able to work in HTML or in programs that afford interactivity (e.g. Flash, Director).
Prerequsites: 65A and either 65B or 65C.

REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for this class include all of the following:

Use your @uci.edu email account for all communications
Do all assigned projects and readings. Only one assignment may be turned in late without penalty; otherwise late assignments will be automatically dropped 1 grade.
Participate in class discussions of readings and related issues.
Participate in class experiments and critiques.
Attend all classes. Repeatedly being late for class will drop your grade for the quarter. More than 3 absences will result in a failing grade.
If you are absent due to illness, make sure to let the TA know as soon as possible and talk to the TA about what you may need to do catch up. More than 2 absences due to illness will require a doctor's note.
If you must miss a class for an exceptional reason other than illness, discuss it with the TA beforehand or it will be considered an unexcused absence. Appointments that could be made at other times are not a valid reason for missing class.
Regardless of the reason for any absences, you are responsible for making up all missed work. Since in practice the class will very likely depart from the syllabus, be sure to check with your TA or your classmates about any material that was covered in your absence.
Web surfing, emailing, and online chatting are not acceptable during class time.

Grading will be based on the creativity, thoughtfulness, complexity, and maturity of your work. Grades will be weighted as follows:

First two projects (10%, 20%)
Final project (in two stages: 20%, 30%)
Class participation and discussion (13%)
Attendance (7%).

Readings for the course will be available in two forms:

online through links on this page
through xeroxed handouts.
Assignments

You are expected to complete all assigned readings and projects on time.
You will develop several interactive narrative projects during the quarter.
Since class time will be devoted primarily to presentations, exercises, critiques, and discussions, be prepared to spend considerable time working on your projects outside of class.
Resources

Check here for open hours of all labs,including AITR 190 (aka the ArtsTEC lab).
The UCI Disability Services Center provides and coordinates support services for students with disabilities.

SCHEDULE-- subject to sudden changes

DATE TOPICS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS

WEEK 1

Oct. 1 Course introduction. Nonlinear and interactive narrative: definitions and types.
Hypertext Terms
(reference site)

(none)

Oct. 3 Setting up project infrastructure. Discussion of reading.

Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn, "The Tale of Tales: Eight".

Work on Project 1 (due Week 2).

WEEK 2

Oct. 8 HTML review: narrative control in hypermedia ( links, frames, etc.)
The Manual of Lost Ideas

Turn in Project 1.

Oct. 10 Class critique: Project 1 (selected). Discussion of reading.
Milorad Pavic, "The Glass Snail: A Pre-Christmas Tale"

Begin work on Project 2.

WEEK 3

Oct. 15 Methods for developing material. HTML Review. Discussion of reading.
"Learning to Love You More"

Work on Project 2.

Oct. 17 Scripting for aleatory narrative.
(none)

Turn in Project 2.

WEEK 4

Oct. 22 Discussion of Project 2. Discussion of reading.

Make Your Own Conspiracy Theory

Turn in 1 paragraph proposal for Project 3.

Oct. 24 Group 1: Guest artist lecture: Sue Costabile, Gassmann Series, Music & Media Building, room 216. Group 2: In-class work on HTML.
(none)

Work on Project 2 revisions. Begin work on Project 3a.

WEEK 5

Oct. 29 Issues in revision and rewriting.
(none)

Work on Project 2 revisions. Begin work on Project 3a.

Oct. 31 Individual project conferences.

"The Book of Roofs"
Addventure
"Fiction Factory"

Turn in revised Project 2.

WEEK 6

Nov. 5 Building background and back story.

A Plague of Cities
Another Person
Vertical Blanking Interval

Bring in one key visual image from your Project 3a (printed, 2 copies)

Nov. 7 Varieties of collaborative writing.

"Tag You're It"
Micronations

Bring in one textual selection from your Project 3a, printed, one page in length (2 copies).

WEEK 7

Nov. 12 HOLIDAY (no class)
(none)

(none)

Nov 14 Visual and narrative strategies in nonlinear media.
The Company Therapist

Turn in site map for Project 3a.

WEEK 8

Nov. 19 Structural issues in nonlinear narrative.

Mark Bernstein, "Patterns of Hypertext"

Turn in Project 3a.

Nov. 21 Class visit: "Grand Text Auto," Beall Gallery

Work on Project 3b

WEEK 9

Nov. 26 Individual project consultations.
(none)

(none)

Nov. 28 Final Presentations 1
Analysts for Group 1 should be prepared to discuss the sites in detail.

Presenters must provide a one-page guide to their project.

WEEK 10

Dec 3 Final Presentations 2
Analysts for Group 2 should be prepared to discuss the sites in detail.

Presenters must provide a one-page guide to their project.

Dec 5 Final Presentations 3
Analysts for Group 3 should be prepared to discuss the sites in detail.

Presenters must provide a one-page guide to their project.

WEEK 11: FINALS WEEK

Monday, Dec. 10, 1:30 - 3:30 Individual project consultations.
(none)

(none)

	INTERACTIVE NARRATIVE: Studio Art 100 Instructor: Antoinette LaFarge Fall 2007 M-W 12-1:20 in AITR 190
	DESCRIPTION
	This course is structured like an intensive workshop, during which students will complete several interactive, nonlinear narrative projects. Coursework will focus on understanding and exploiting a wide range of narrative and structuring techniques, including multiple points of view, modularity, seriality, repetition, fragmentation, navigational metaphors, forking storylines, genre, language choices, plot and character development, and closure. Although the projects will include a substantial amount of writing, an important goal of the class is to learn how to work with narrative using primary visual materials. Student projects will be presented several times during the quarter, and students will be expected to productively critique each other's work during presentations. The course will also analyze interactive, nonlinear, collaborative, and multimodal narrative in a range of media, including the web, role-playing games, print, oral storytelling, and installation art. Students are expected to be already able to work in HTML or in programs that afford interactivity (e.g. Flash, Director). Prerequsites: 65A and either 65B or 65C.
	REQUIREMENTS
	Requirements for this class include all of the following: Use your @uci.edu email account for all communications Do all assigned projects and readings. Only one assignment may be turned in late without penalty; otherwise late assignments will be automatically dropped 1 grade. Participate in class discussions of readings and related issues. Participate in class experiments and critiques. Attend all classes. Repeatedly being late for class will drop your grade for the quarter. More than 3 absences will result in a failing grade. If you are absent due to illness, make sure to let the TA know as soon as possible and talk to the TA about what you may need to do catch up. More than 2 absences due to illness will require a doctor's note. If you must miss a class for an exceptional reason other than illness, discuss it with the TA beforehand or it will be considered an unexcused absence. Appointments that could be made at other times are not a valid reason for missing class. Regardless of the reason for any absences, you are responsible for making up all missed work. Since in practice the class will very likely depart from the syllabus, be sure to check with your TA or your classmates about any material that was covered in your absence. Web surfing, emailing, and online chatting are not acceptable during class time. Grading will be based on the creativity, thoughtfulness, complexity, and maturity of your work. Grades will be weighted as follows: First two projects (10%, 20%) Final project (in two stages: 20%, 30%) Class participation and discussion (13%) Attendance (7%).		Readings for the course will be available in two forms: online through links on this page through xeroxed handouts. Assignments You are expected to complete all assigned readings and projects on time. You will develop several interactive narrative projects during the quarter. Since class time will be devoted primarily to presentations, exercises, critiques, and discussions, be prepared to spend considerable time working on your projects outside of class. Resources Check here for open hours of all labs,including AITR 190 (aka the ArtsTEC lab). The UCI Disability Services Center provides and coordinates support services for students with disabilities.
SCHEDULE-- subject to sudden changes
DATE	TOPICS	READINGS	ASSIGNMENTS
WEEK 1
Oct. 1	Course introduction. Nonlinear and interactive narrative: definitions and types.	Hypertext Terms (reference site)	(none)
Oct. 3	Setting up project infrastructure. Discussion of reading.	Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn, "The Tale of Tales: Eight".	Work on Project 1 (due Week 2).
WEEK 2
Oct. 8	HTML review: narrative control in hypermedia ( links, frames, etc.)	The Manual of Lost Ideas	Turn in Project 1.
Oct. 10	Class critique: Project 1 (selected). Discussion of reading.	Milorad Pavic, "The Glass Snail: A Pre-Christmas Tale"	Begin work on Project 2.
WEEK 3
Oct. 15	Methods for developing material. HTML Review. Discussion of reading.	"Learning to Love You More"	Work on Project 2.
Oct. 17	Scripting for aleatory narrative.	(none)	Turn in Project 2.
WEEK 4
Oct. 22	Discussion of Project 2. Discussion of reading.	Make Your Own Conspiracy Theory	Turn in 1 paragraph proposal for Project 3.
Oct. 24	Group 1: Guest artist lecture: Sue Costabile, Gassmann Series, Music & Media Building, room 216. Group 2: In-class work on HTML.	(none)	Work on Project 2 revisions. Begin work on Project 3a.
WEEK 5
Oct. 29	Issues in revision and rewriting.	(none)	Work on Project 2 revisions. Begin work on Project 3a.
Oct. 31	Individual project conferences.	"The Book of Roofs" Addventure "Fiction Factory"	Turn in revised Project 2.
WEEK 6
Nov. 5	Building background and back story.	A Plague of Cities Another Person Vertical Blanking Interval	Bring in one key visual image from your Project 3a (printed, 2 copies)
Nov. 7	Varieties of collaborative writing.	"Tag You're It" Micronations	Bring in one textual selection from your Project 3a, printed, one page in length (2 copies).
WEEK 7
Nov. 12	HOLIDAY (no class)	(none)	(none)
Nov 14	Visual and narrative strategies in nonlinear media.	The Company Therapist	Turn in site map for Project 3a.
WEEK 8
Nov. 19	Structural issues in nonlinear narrative.	Mark Bernstein, "Patterns of Hypertext"	Turn in Project 3a.
Nov. 21	Class visit: "Grand Text Auto," Beall Gallery		Work on Project 3b
WEEK 9
Nov. 26	Individual project consultations.	(none)	(none)
Nov. 28	Final Presentations 1	Analysts for Group 1 should be prepared to discuss the sites in detail.	Presenters must provide a one-page guide to their project.
WEEK 10
Dec 3	Final Presentations 2	Analysts for Group 2 should be prepared to discuss the sites in detail.	Presenters must provide a one-page guide to their project.
Dec 5	Final Presentations 3	Analysts for Group 3 should be prepared to discuss the sites in detail.	Presenters must provide a one-page guide to their project.
WEEK 11: FINALS WEEK
Monday, Dec. 10, 1:30 - 3:30	Individual project consultations.	(none)	(none)