The University of Texas at Dallas

School of Arts and Humanities

FALL 2005

ATEC 5349.501 INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO ARTS AND

TECHNOLOGY R 7:00 - 9:45 PM HRA Conference Room
The course will focus on current and historical developments in the arts and technology.
Professor:
Dr. Thomas E. Linehan, Professor, Aesthetic Studies. http://iiae.utdallas.edu/tlinehan.html
Director of the Institute for Interactive Arts and Engineering. http://iiae.utdallas.edu
thomas.linehan@utdallas.edu 972/883-4379
Office HRA 1.502, Building #18 on UTD Campus Map. http://www.utdallas.edu/campusmap.html
Appointments scheduled through my assistant, Becky Gozolla 972/883-4376
Required Reading :
The Civilization of Illiteracy
Mihai Nadin 1997,884.5 pages
http://manybooks.net/titles/nadinmihetext01cvilt10.html

Select Read Online

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Download to your computer
Readings will be assigned for each class session. All readings will be available on-line. No
required Text.

Course Description
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Arts and Technology is designed for graduate students in Arts and
Technology as well as for students from the humanities, sciences and information technologies. The
course investigates the interdisciplinary sources of the converging research that has an impact on the arts
and technology. This particular section of the course will investigate the use of metaphors from one
field as applied to the new and immerging area of art and technology.

Course Requirements
The following are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

• Attendance with focused attention on the lectures, presentations and active participation in
classroom discussions. (Excused absences are to be requested and will be granted in writing.
Attendance is taken at each class session.)
• Timely completion of the required assigned readings and participation in the discussions relating
to those readings.
• Submission of all assignments as directed during the class session in which they are due.
• Oral report on a selected Master’s thesis (10 minute + Q&A.) The oral report and a two-page
written summary should detail the following:
- Statement of the research problem and methods employed for the study
- Placement of the study in an historical and cultural context. (date, computer, etc.)
- Statement of the solution/conclusion/summary/problem resolution, etc.
 - Project alternative solutions possible under current conditions. (Any change to the
problem as viewed in 2005 as compared to the date of the original study?)
• An analytical paper (12 pages minimum) that identifies a researchable problem relevant to Arts
and Technology.
(Proposed topic to be submitted to professor no latter than October 6, 2005.)
Drafts of the paper will be accepted anytime and returned with comments one week later.
Final Paper due no later than 7:00 PM, November 10, 2005. The final paper should include the
following:

1. Describe the problem with its confounding characteristics and qualities.

2. Identify prospective metaphors from other fields that might elucidate the problem
under consideration.
3. Apply the metaphor to the problem and provide an analysis of its “fit” to selected
aspects and/or the problem as a whole. ( e.g. areas of coverage – areas of non-
coverage, partial fit, etc.)
4. Accept or reject the metaphor as useful in either problem understanding, problem
resolution or problem contextualization.

Grading Scale:

100 – 90 A
89 – 80 B
79 – 70 C
69 – 60 D
59 - 0 F

Calendar

August 18 Course Introduction

August 25
September 1 Dr. Midori Kitagawa (7-8) Animation
September 8
September 15 Scott Swearingen
September 22 Monica Evans
September 29 David Hanson
October 6 Submit proposed topic for Final Paper
October 13 Thomas Riccio
October 20 Dr. David Channell
October 27 Oral Presentation on Master theses begin in class.
November 3
November 10 Final papers due in class
November 17 Last Class
November 24 Thanksgiving University Closed
December 9 Grades Available On-Line