Fusion: English Literature and Computer Art

Instructors: Ms. B. Wu & Ms. S. Ashley

Course Syllabus

| Course Description/Objectives | Course Policies | Grading Policy |Course Final Project|

Course Description

This course will explore the interdisciplinary field of literature, art and computer technology. As art and literature are two inseparable entities, computer technology is the adhesive of integrating two subjects seamlessly. Works covered in this course range from classical literature to post-modern literary works in various genres. Each work selected has its unique style and importance in the history of humanity; each work also has its unique visual effect on readers. The focus of the literature study will be on its meaning, structure and language especially its visual ,emotional and inspirational effects on a reader. Students will present their understanding of those literary aspects in accordance to the works studied using reading logs, literary analysis, original writing, visual interpretation of the text( illustration) and book cover design. Students are required to use image-editing software, i.e. Paint, Photo Editor, Fireworks & Flash to create and edit computer graphics. Team work in a small group is also an integral part of the course. The end product required for this course is a group website that demonstrates and integrates individual member's efforts and final work.

Objectives:

Students will learn the skills of-

• Interpreting and analyzing literary works critically and visually
• Finding online image resources to design and illustrate
• Brainstorming techniques to arrive at visual interpretations of literature
• Appreciating and understanding all forms of art and design
• Applying basic skills of art and design to compose digital images
• Selecting a type face to express specific meanings in literature when designing book covers, playbills or brochures
• Using computer graphics and film editing software such as Adobe Premiere to design sets

Students will produce-

• Book cover design for novels or plays
• Illustrations for short stories, poetry or fairytales
• Brochures
• Playbills
• Small group online portfolio (a website)
• Online gallery of Elizabethan costumes, characters, scenes

Course Policies and Requirements

• Attendance, Lateness(15%)
• Class/Group Participation(25%)
  • Cooperative efforts
  • Final project reflects each member's talents
• Oral Presentation (10%)
• Assignments or tests(25%)
• Final Group Project (25%)

Academic Dishonesty

• Plagiarism attacks the freedom and integrity of thought. Especially in a class that will depend to some extent on online research, you must know what constitutes plagiarism and avoid it.
• Students who plagiarize will receive 0 in the subject.
• Full acknowledgement for all information obtained from sources outside the classroom must be clearly stated in all written work submitted.
• All ideas, arguments, and direct phrasings taken from someone else's work must be identified and properly footnoted.
• Quotations from other sources must be clearly marked as distinct from your own work.

Grading Policies

• Originality in contents and forms
• Accuracy of the understanding of literary texts
• Quality of work
• Punctuality of work completion and submission

Course Final Project

• Group Message Board (Discussion Forum) that shows group members' discussion of listed reading materials on a consistent  basis plus other visitors' input.
• Web-Blog that demonstrates group members' intimate collaboration efforts such as raising questions about how to work as a team, what a part of reading materials mean, etc.( not shared by visitors; exclusively for group members).
• A group website based on the literature studied.