FILM.003-WI25 - Introduction to Digital Arts and Culture - Course Syllabus

Aug 25, 2026

Uploaded by Putri

Course syllabus for “Introduction to Digital Arts and Culture (WI25)” outlines how digital technology shapes culture through the study of popular media, science fiction, computer games, and artists’ projects. The curriculum traces histories of computing as a medium, interactivity, film and design, extended reality, hypermedia, artificial realities, and future visions of identity and the body. Learning outcomes emphasize critical reading and analysis, systems-based understanding of digital artwork, evidence-driven theories from pre-computing to today, and responsible community-building in digital participation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Course Information

Instructor and Logistics

Course Description

Course Learning Outcomes

Teaching Methods & Philosophy

Classroom Research and Discussion

Revision and Resubmission

Adapting to Technology Failures

Reuse, Remix, and Plagiarism Rules

Expectations & Norms

Meatspace Participation

Syllabus for Introduction to Digital Arts and Culture (WI25) [https://canvas.dartmouth.edu/courses/70252/assignments/syllabus](https://canvas.dartmouth.edu/courses/70252/assignments/syllabus) Course Syllabus Jump to Today Edit Introducঞon to Digital Arts and Culture FILM.003-WI25 Instructor: John Bell ([j](john.p.bell@dartmouth.edu)[ohn.p.bell](john.p.bell@dartmouth.edu)[@](john.p.bell@dartmouth.edu)[dartmouth.edu](john.p.bell@dartmouth.edu) ([mailto:john.p.bell](mailto:john.p.bell@dartmouth.edu)[@](mailto:john.p.bell@dartmouth.edu)[dartmouth.edu](mailto:john.p.bell@dartmouth.edu)) ) Office Location: 305 Bartlett (office hours by appt, just ask!) Class Meetings: 2A-Tu/Th 2:25-4:15PM in 007 Dartmouth Hall Zoom link (when necessary): [http://dart](http://dartgo.org/fi)[g](http://dartgo.org/fi)[o.or](http://dartgo.org/fi)[g](http://dartgo.org/fi)[/fi](http://dartgo.org/fi)lm3-zoom (http://dartgo.org/film3-zoom) Course Descripঞon Digital technology is a key component of culture. Looking at popular media, science fiction, computer games, and artists' projects, students will learn important approaches to digital culture including: the history of the computer as a medium; the conceptual history of interactivity; the development of film, design, extended reality, and hypermedia; the history of artificial realities; and how visions of the future may change our sense of identity and what constitutes our physical bodies. This course will explore what it means for something to be digital beyond the reductive definition that it comes from a computer. The spine of the course will test the early promise of the Internet era–that"information wants to be free"–and examine how that idea has been reflected in the art and culture we have produced, where the notion has succeeded and failed, and how the tension between open and closed communities has become a key framework for participating in the digital world. Course Learning Outcomes In this course, students will: Read, watch, and play classic and modern critical discussion on digital art and culture Explore the characteristics and boundaries of 'digital' as opposed to other expressions of arts and culture throughout media history Analyze how digital artwork functions as a system that includes technology, individual creatorsand consumers, and broader social context Develop evidence-based theories on how digital culture has developed from the pre-computing era to today and project today's practices into the future Practice crafting public media and presentations that present compelling arguments to general 1 of 14 1/8/2025, 6:41 PM Syllabus for Introduction to Digital Arts and Culture (WI25) [https://canvas.dartmouth.edu/courses/70252/assignments/syllabus](https://canvas.dartmouth.edu/courses/70252/assignments/syllabus) audiences Hone skills for responsible community-building, including openness, respectful social scaffolding, and collaborative work toward common goals ([https:/](https://github.com/novomancy/film3/blob/covid/)[/g](https://github.com/novomancy/film3/blob/covid/)[ithub.com/novomancy/film3/blob/covid/](https://github.com/novomancy/film3/blob/covid/) [README.md\#teachin](README.md#teaching-methods--philosophy)[g](README.md#teaching-methods--philosophy)[-methods--philosophy](README.md#teaching-methods--philosophy)) Teaching Methods & Philosophy This course explores digital cultures and its methods embody the practices that make up those cultures. As such, it may function a bit differently than other courses you have taken. Some examples include: "I know Google-Fu" – classroom discussions are expected to be supported by open laptops and real-time research. I fully expect you to make use of the ability to multitask and dig up information as we talk though. Just make sure you're still paying attention to the discussion! Beyond discussion, when we're watching videos or presentations together, I expect your computer use tobe

FAQs

What topics does the course cover under digital arts and culture?

The course examines how digital technology functions within culture, including histories of computers as media, interactivity, film and design, extended reality and hypermedia, and artificial realities, plus how future visions affect identity and the body.

What are the main learning outcomes students should achieve?

Students learn to read, watch, and discuss critical work on digital art, analyze what makes “digital” distinct across media history, evaluate digital artwork as a technological-social system, and develop evidence-based theories connecting past practices to future ones.

How does the course handle discussion participation and responsible community-building?

Students are expected to contribute actively to shared class understanding through questions and comments, and to practice responsible community-building through openness, respectful social scaffolding, and collaboration toward shared goals.

Aug 25, 2026

Uploaded by Putri