Course Outcomes

 The student will:

  • Learn about the key figures who have shaped animation as a global phenomenon 
  • Research and analyze key movements in animation
  • Synthesize an understanding of a variety of diverse artists and techniques, and ideas toward executing a written paper on a subject of the students choice

INTRODUCTION

We will not be approaching history as linear. History has been flatlined and has become horizontal with the ability to access so much cultural material at this moment. This gives us the capability to see history as ‘now’ rather than as the past. Our focus will be on how cultural ideas, material, and creators influence and inspire one another and impact our understanding of animation. Students should be prepared to explore and pull on the threads of modern culture and its history to gain insight into style, trends, and the relationships we have to animated media.

COURSE FORMAT

This course will be conducted in a lecture/seminar format; lectures will provide an overview of some aspect of animation history including historic facts, animation examples, relevant historic cultural influences, and the impact that history has on current animation. The seminar format will require students to participate in weekly discussions/presentations based upon the materials covered.

Students will be responsible for weekly readings and should come prepared to exercise and sharpen argumentative/expository/research skills. Students will be graded upon class participation/preparedness. 

RESEARCH REPORTING 

Each week students will be read the required material and write 400-500 words getting at the central questions and concerns in the texts such as: How does the text impact our ideas of the world, do you agree or disagree with the author? Provide examples and reflections from your own life and from culture, science and history. We will be using the power of blogs to build a collection of research, musings and cultural artifacts in our exploration of the concepts surrounding the class. Videos, images and other reference materials are welcome.  We will be using the blog system to organize your writing and additional material. Site all material and link to sources. Weekly writing is required before class meets to discuss the topic. Late weekly writings will be worth half credit.

RESEARCH PAPER

Finally, one comprehensive research project and presentation will be required. Students will present their research and well-supported opinions to the class.  Additional information about the requirements for the paper can be found on our website. 

REQUIRED TEXTS

No required texts will be necessary.

EVALUATION

One-third of the student’s grade will come from weekly discussions on assigned readings, and participation. One-third of the student’s grade will be derived from class research duties. The final one-third will come from the successful completion of a comprehensive research project, which will be presented to the class.

GRADING POLICY

A=Student is responsible for all assigned reading and invests time in further research. Student always participates actively and constructively in class discussions, student’s research project and presentation are exemplary. Class is attended regularly and student exhibits an invested and engaged attitude.

B=Work is complete, well done, class is attended regularly, student is responsible for required readings and participates in class discussions on most days, student exhibits a decent attitude.

C=Student meets the minimum requirements but demonstrates a great need for improvement.

D=Work is incomplete or never completed on time and only meets the minimum requirements of the course.

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY

Late weekly writings will be worth half credit.

Life sometimes gets in our way.  If you come to me in advance of the due date with a solution, versus coming to class with an excuse, I will work with you.  Printing problems are the biggest excuse, as well as internet problems, and while they may be valid they can still cause you to lose points.  Be proactive and come to me in person, phone, or email at the first sign of a problem.  

ACADEMIC AND ARTISTIC INTEGRITY

Maintaining scholastic, artistic and personal integrity is important and expected. Incidents of academic, artistic and personal dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, deception, lying, incomplete truths) will not be tolerated and will result in consequences laid out in the Student Handbook.

Attendance/Participation

Good attendance is key to educational success. Students are required to attend all classes and class-related activities, arriving on time and prepared. When attendance issues arise, parental notification will be given. Parents should also monitor their student’s grades and attendance through the Education Community throughout the year. Excessive or chronic absences or tardiness will be considered a form of truancy and may result in disciplinary actions including and up to suspension, re-enrollment hold, expulsion, or required withdrawal.

It’s important to note that attendance and tardiness can only be excused by Health Services, Counseling, the Education Office, or Academic and College Counseling. Faculty cannot excuse students in attendance. 

The full attendance policy can be viewed in here in the student handbook. 

Students that miss a class, excused or unexcused, are required to make an appointment during office hours or another time during the day that works within one week of missed class.

Email Communication

  • Students are expected to check their Interlochen email, Canvas Class Page, and FNM Google Calendar frequently throughout the semester for course announcements and information.
  • Please note emails sent to instructor will be answered within regular hours of the school day. Any emails sent after 6pm may not be answered until the next regular school day. Please respect the personal time of your instructors, and we will have the same courtesy for you.

Civility, Safety, and Joy

  • “A note on civility in our classroom: Please address all class members and the instructor in a supportive and respectful manner, work to adapt your behavior so as to make the class environment comfortable to all parties, and refrain from using derogatory language. Do not use your art to talk trash about Interlochen students or employees. Do not share your peers’ creative work with people outside of our class unless invited to do so by the artist.” 
  • “A note on subject matter in your work: you should know that I am a mandated reporter and would need to seek other resources on campus should your work threaten others or suggest abuse or self-harm. You can create work about depression and anxiety, political subject matter and societal ills like racism and homophobia; you can’t create work about suicidal ideation, cutting, unsafe living conditions at home, eating disorders, or the like—without expecting follow-up. Please understand that presenting something as fiction or telling us that the difficulty in the past does not necessarily free the work from these characterizations. If you worry that your work could be misinterpreted in this direction, feel free to speak with me before handing it in, but know that may be the first of several conversations, some of which may involve other authority figures.

Though I want you to turn in work that interests you, I may ask you to explore other topics if your submitted assignments continually return to intense subject matter. We try very hard to make sure our students receive notification and consideration when we discuss traumatic subject matter in class. Please remember your instructors are also human beings with our own sensitivities.

All that being said, please do consider me a resource for discussing personal difficulties and a liaison to the proper campus resources for ones that exceed my areas of training or expertise.”

  • Pronouns and preferred names: On the first day of class I will be calling out your last name and requesting that you share your preferred name and pronouns.  This includes myself. Please respect one-another by using the name that each of us prefers and the pronouns. We are all human and make mistakes, but please understand that using the wrong name or misgendering someone is painful.  If you make a mistake provide a brief apology and do better next time. It is not the responsibility of the person being mis named or gendered to correct you. It can frankly be tiring to have to correct people. Let’s all help one another and if someone inadvertently misgenders or misnames someone please pitch in as a community to gently remind them of their error.  This includes me if I accidentally misgender someone. On the reverse, if you correctly name and gender someone it can bring a little spark of joy to their lives. 

Lets spread sparks of joy!

CONTACT ME

My primary communication will be through email. Students are expected to check their Interlochen email and the course website frequently throughout the semester for course announcements and information.

This Syllabus and the dates, projects, and outcomes are subject to change. I will notify you of any adjustments.