Why?

To culminate your thinking and work, the final project is a way to show what you have learned, the depth of your thinking, and the new skills you have honed.

Brief

Your final is a self-directed project that fits within the constraints of this class and its subject matter. You will submit a proposal (worth 3% of your final grade) in the form of a Film and Digital Media Fund (FDMF) application through the department for possible funding. If you want to pursue a more analog and undocumented final project, talk to the instructor. Your grade is not tied to the funding—i.e., a good grade does not mean funding, and funding does not mean a good grade on your proposal.

Your final project should be appropriately ambitious to make full use of the time given, showcase what you have learned in this class over the semester, have a strong underlying concept that is articulated in your proposal, and be time-based. The result can be an object, a performance, an event, a sound file, a video, or a hybrid.

For more information on the FDMF, click here.>

Submission Checklist

Make arrangements to have the artwork experienced at the final. If it is a performance, figure out the space and conditions for the performance. If it is a sound installation, get the hardware set up for people to experience it. You get the idea. Come early to set up as necessary. If you are submitting a recording, watch back the entirety of your recording after you export it to make sure it exported correctly. If your work is object-based, bring it to the final critique and set it up in an exhibition-worthy way. Come early if you need to set up. Be sure to submit your self evaluation on Learning Suite.

Tips and Considerations

• Have a central concept that is grounding and informing your work.
• Decisions should be made in the interest of the work and not just out of convenience. For example, if you are creating an immersive sound piece, a multi-channel audio installation might make more sense than just stereo headphones.
• Consider the amount of time you are given to work on the final. It is expected that you make full use of that time to realize a complex and deeply involved project.
• Budget 5–10% of your time as slush in case of emergencies, technological glitches, etc.
• Consider what equipment you may need to check out from the stockroom in advance. Remember tech checkout is first-come-first-served, so you may want to reserve equipment in advance and do not wait until the last minute when everyone else is checking out equipment for final exhibitions and final projects.
• Will you want to document this for your portfolio and/or as part of the project? How will you do that? What equipment will you need? What lighting conditions will you require?

Equipment

Be mindful of the equipment you use, the requisite storage cards, and types of inputs to accommodate different microphones or devices.

Late Policy

No late work is accepted after the final critique. If you are late to the final critique, you will lose 5 points.

Grading

Assignment grades will be based on the following:

Conceptual Concerns (40%)

Student demonstrates evidence that they understand and inventively integrate conceptual concerns. The student’s research is evident and ample given the allotted time.

• Excellent: Student demonstrates conversational familiarity with the material—making interesting connections between material.
• Average: Student is able to relate material, but not do much interesting with it.
• Below Average: Student struggles to demonstrate a grasp of the material and shows no facility in connecting ideas or new thinking.

Execution (40%)

When selecting a thesis or POV, the student is able to succinctly and plainly build a case using good storytelling techniques.

This includes proper spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, grammar and formatting for written assignments; and annunciation, confidence and focused arguments for oral assignments.

• Excellent: Student understands modes of writing and presentation including style guides and is able to nimbly employ these tools in their writing and speaking.
• Average: Student makes some stylistic and formatting mistakes by ignoring provided guidance.
• Below Average: Student repeatedly makes the same mistakes and ignores instructor input and suggestions.

Assessment/Critique (10%)

The student will produce a self-evaluation for each art project including the strengths and weaknesses of a given work and plans for future improvement. This will also include an accounting of time taken. The student will also be present for and participate in group critiques of projects.

• Excellent: The student thoughtfully and honestly engages in the self-reflective process of critiquing their own work and efforts. The student enthusiastically engages with group critiques, seeking ways to offer constructive feedback to other students.
• Average: The student performs a cursory and surface-level assessment of their work and efforts. They make neutral comments during the group critiques and do not fully engage.
• Below Average: The student demonstrates an inability to honestly engage with their work as it exists in the world, and does not adequately participate in group critiques, or is absent/tardy.

Following Instructions (10%)

The student adheres to the guidelines provided for the course and the assignment. If the paper has a particular framework, the student adheres to that framework. If an assignment is to be submitted as a Word doc on Learning Suite, the student does not email the instructor a PDF.

• Excellent: A detail-oriented student who takes instruction and fastidiously executes it within their work.
• Average: A student who misses some details because they didn't read instructions thoroughly or take proper notes when instructions were given.
• Below Average: Student ignores basic instructions and guidance given for assignments.

Learning Outcomes Addressed

Digital Art History and Practices

Students will develop a working knowledge of digital art practices, including an understanding of the theoretical implications of art in a digital age.

Skills

Students will develop the skills and resources necessary to realize a wide variety of digitally-based projects.

Project

Students will produce a body of work demonstrating a comprehension and engagement with the themes and concepts explored in class.

Development

Students will develop the skills and resources necessary to realize a wide variety of digitally-based projects.

General Practices

Students will develop a working knowledge of digital art practices, including an understanding of the theoretical implications of art in a digital age.

Production

Students will produce a body of work demonstrating a comprehension and engagement with the themes and concepts explored in class.