Instructor: Rachelle Beaudoin
Office Hours: Monday Wed 1-2pm and by appointment
Contact: rbeaudoin@chestercollege.edu or rachelle.beaudoin@gmail.com
CONSTRUCTED REALITIES
PHO 386
Course BLOG:
Course Description:
Do you live in your own world? Standing in a room filled with neon cats, sewing the sky back together, and floating in a lotus among stalactites is possible, if you construct your own realities. Using Photoshop as well as performance and staging techniques, students will create environments and constructed situations for the camera and computer. Emphasis will be placed on conceptual development and effective use of digital tools to supplement ideas. Class discussions and critiques are an essential part of the course and contribute to an overall understanding of digital technologies. Students will keep a sketchbook to develop ideas and scenes. Experimentation is highly encouraged. We will use the text, Constructed Realities: The Art of Staged Photography edited by Michael Kohler published by Edition Stemmle.
Objectives: After taking this course students will be able to:
Lab Rules:
• No Food
• Respect the machines
• Don’t panic
• Back up, back up, back up!
• Ask the instructor, ask a buddy, ask the web
Critiques:
Although this is a technical course, critique is an essential component of the class. You will be expected to participate and throughout the semester will become more comfortable and used to talking about each others work. We will critique the projects in class when they are due. The in-
use a several different styles of critique for the outside of class assignments including:
The Work Stands Alone: Occasionally, we will discuss the project as a group without the artist/designer speaking first. The class will get a “cold read” and speak about what they see. The artist will then explain the project or ask questions.
One Question-In-Progress: Critique is valuable and allows us to see places to improve our work. We will often critique drawings, plans or sketches of the project before it is completed or even begun on the computer. For this critique, the artist must explain the work but must also pose a question about the in-progress project.
Old-School Traditional: The artist presents their work and ideas and then we discuss as a class.
Evaluation:
Project 1: Self-Portrait as something you’re not 15%
Project 2: Group Narrative 15%
Project 3: Do Not Be Original Artist Presentation 15%
Project 4: Diorama-Rama 15%
Project 5: FINAL 20%
Attendance/Participation 20%
Each assignment sheet will include a detailed description of how the project will be evaluated. Most will include sections on technical, formal, and conceptual aspects of the project.
If a project is late you will lose one letter grade on the project.
Attendance is mandatory—especially on lab days! All college attendance policies apply.
Please note that I do take attendance each day and will not allow more than one unexcused absence. Your attendance grade will drop with every unexcused absence. Three or more unexcused absences will result in failure of the class regardless of academic standing as per college policy.
In order to have an absence excused, you must email me in order to notify me prior to class and must then present a doctor’s note, a note from another professor, or the dean.
Required Text:
Constructed Realities: The Art of Staged Photography by Michael Kohler (Ed), Edition Stemmle, July 1995. ISBN: 3905514540
Available online at Amazon, Borders and BN.
Additional readings will be handing out throughout the semester and may include:
Performance: RoseLee Goldberg
Identity (in the making)
Matthew Barney vs Donkey Kong
Videos: We will screen selections from the following videos:
Matthew Barney
Through the Spore –Jurrasic Technology
The Brothers Quay
Surrealist films
Materials: Epson papers (for proofs) Epson Inkjet Paper (for final prints) USB Drive, CDRs, DVDs
Optional: External Hard Drive, specialty printing papers i.e. vellum, clear film etc.
Extra Extra Optional: Waicom tablet
Disability Statement: Anyone in this class who has a special need which may be the result of a disability should see me after class as soon as possible. I am sure we can work out whatever arrangement may be necessary to accommodate you.
Schedule:
Part 1- Putting Yourself There
Jan 23-Intro to class
What is staged photography?
Intro Project 1 due: Feb 4
Jan 28-Artist Examples
Video: Surrealist Films
Lab Time
Jan 30-Photoshop Review-Selecting
Photoshop Review- Printing/Color Management
Surrealist Games
Lab Time
Feb 4-Critique Project 1
Feb 6-Intro Project 2 due: Feb 25
Feb 11-Jerry Uslemann and Narrative presentation
Feb 13-Photoshop Review-Droplets and Automation
Lab time
Feb 18- Lab time-
Video: Matthew Barney
Feb 20 –No Class- Rachelle away at conference
Part 2- Building the Scene
Feb 25-Critique Project 2
Feb 27-Intro Project 3 due Mar 24
Mid term eval
Mar 3-Library Review-JStor, ArtStor,
Research time
Mar 5-Research Time/Lab Time
Mar 10-Do Not Be Original Presentations
Mar 12-Do Not Be Original Presentations
Mar 17-Spring Break
Mar 19-Spring Break
Mar 24-Critique project 3
Mar 26-Intro Project 4 due
Mar 31-Lab Time-
April 2-Lab Time
April 7-Lab Time
April 9-Discussion of final
Lab Time
Part 3-Your Grand Vision
April 14–Critique project 4
April 16-Final sketches due
Video- Brother Quay
April 21-Lab Time-
Video: Through the Spore
April 23-Lab Time-
April 28-Lab Time
April 30-Lab Time
Video:Jeremy Deller –Battle of Eugrave
May 5-Lab Time
May 7-Lab Time
May 8-14 Finals
Final project due
NOTES:
