TIM_M_016 Software Art

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Adam Franc, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Jana Horáková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Monika Szűcsová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Jana Horáková, Ph.D.
Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Ing. Alena Albíniová
Supplier department: Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 12:00–13:40 N42, except Tue 14. 11.
Prerequisites
1) Ability to read texts in English
2) Student´s own laptop
3) Basic knowledge of working with PC
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 4/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course introduces students to the subject of software art through theoretically oriented lectures as well as more practical seminars. Software art is a new artistic genre that was born at the end of the second millenium. It represents an attempt to grasp the software as an artistic means of expression, which may not be merely a tool for producing classical artistic artifacts (image, music, video), but can become an artistic work itself. Artists devoted to this artistic genre reveal the creative potential of software, develop innovative ways to use it, and create alternative software models.

Course objectives: 1) during the course the students acquaint themselves with the definition of software art in terms of its historical development, aesthetic preferences, prominent artists and artistic groups
2) acquaint students with the genealogy of software art
3) students will get acquainted with the key texts of the subject of software art
4) provide an insight into creative practice used by SW artists in the form of practical tasks
5) understand the position of software art within the wider context of digital art
Learning outcomes
1) ability to discuss the historical aspects of software art and its relation to other artistic tendencies on a specialistic level
2) identify and summarize the basic features of software art
3) ability to analyze a work of software art from different methodological perspectives
4) familiarize students with programming as creative practice (programming as discovery)
5) familiarize students with the anatomy of software art works
Syllabus
  • 1) Introduction: Course content, course completion requirements
  • 2) The formation of software art from net.art (lecture and discussion)
  • 3) Seminar - Creative programming
  • 4) Conceptual shift of software art - conceptual art, art and technology, net.art (lecture and discussion)
  • 5) Seminar - Creative programming
  • 6) Invited guest – artist
  • 7) Seminar - Creative programming
  • 8) Demonstration and interpretation of work of software art (lecture and discussion)
  • 9) Seminar - Creative Programming
  • 10) Destructive creativity (lecture and discussion)
  • 11) Seminar - Creative Programming
  • 12) Credit Week: presentations of created works and discussion
Literature
    recommended literature
  • BROECKMANN, Andreas. Software Art Aesthetics. Mono, No. 1, July 2007, Porto: FBAUP, s. 158-167
  • CRAMER, Florian – GABRIEL, Ulrike. Software Art. in Andreas Broeckmann, Susanne Jaschko (eds.), DIY Media - Kunst und digitale Medien: Software - Partizipation - Distribution. [online]. 2001. Transmediale.01, Berlin, 2001, s. 29-33. [cit. 3. 1. 2015]. Do
  • COX, Geoff – McLEAN, Alex – WARD, Adrian. The Aesthetics of Generative Code. [online]. Paper delivered at the Generative Art 00 conference, Milan, 2000. [cit. 23. 10. 2015]. Dostupné z: .
  • GORIUNOVA, Olga – SHULGIN, Alexei. Glitch. In FULLER, Matthew (ed.). Software Studies/ A Lexicon. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2008, 334 s. ISBN 978-0-262-06274-9. s. 111–114
  • ARNS, Inke. Read_me, run_me, execute_me. Code as Executable Text: Software Art and its Focus on Program Code as Performative Text. in: Rudolf Frieling / Dieter Daniels (Hg.), Medien Kunst Netz 2: Thematische Schwerpunkte, Springer Wien/New York 2005, ISB
    not specified
  • CRAMER, Florian. Words Made Flash. Code, Culture, Imagination. Media Design Research, Rotterdam: Piet Zwart Institute, 2005, 140. s.
  • CRAMER, Florian. Concepts, Notations, Software, Art. [online]. 2002. [cit. 3. 1. 2015]. Dostupné z: .
  • FULLER, Matthew (ed.). Software Studies/ A Lexicon. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2008, 334 s. ISBN 978-0-262-06274-9
  • BOOKCHIN, Natalie – SHULGIN, Alexei. Introduction to net.art (1994-1999). [online]. 1999. [cit. 23. 11. 2015]. Dostupné z: .
  • BROECKMANN, Andreas. Net.Art, Machines, and Parasites. [online]. 1997. [cit. 22. 11. 2015]. Dostupné z: < http://www.nettime.org/Lists-Archives/nettime-l-9703/msg00038.html>.
  • GORIUNOVA, Olga. Art Platforms and Cultural Production on the Internet. New York: Routledge, 2012, 112 s. ISBN 978-0-415-89310-7
  • BURNHAM, Jack. Software - Information Technology: Its New Meaning for Art. Exhibition Catalogue. New York: The Jewish Museum, 1970. Catalog Card No.: 70-130192.
  • CRAMER, Florian. Entering the Machine and Leaving It Again: Poetics of Software in Contemporary Art. Essay/Lecture, Milano, 2006.
  • YOUNG, La Monte – LOW, Jackson Mac. An Anthology of Chance Operations. New York: Published by La Monte Young and Jackson Mac Low, 1963, 120 s.
Teaching methods
lectures, discussions and practical exercises
Assessment methods
1) Creation of an artwork supplemented by its critical interpretation (a theoretical text with a minimum of 1800 characters including spaces) 2) Creation of a plan of imaginary program. The plan has to include functions of the imaginary software, its visual design, and author intent (1800 characters including spaces)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2023/TIM_M_016