DIGITAL ART

The course explores specific aspects of the relationship between art and digital technologies, providing tools for understanding the cultural evolution that has led to the convergence of social and electronic spaces. The broader context of 20th and 21st century art history serves as a framework for selected case studies within the culture of so-called new media, as well as for examining the impact of artificial intelligence and the Internet. The analysis of specific forms of digital art will be grounded in historical precedents and the ongoing transformation of contemporary media.

- Analysis and comprehension. Understanding the historical-artistic context and cultural guidelines that contribute to the emergence of trends. Being able to elucidate the implications of artworks in an increasingly present public and technological dimension.
- Analytic and critical skills. The student will be able to recognize artworks of a visual, performative or conceptual nature, learning how to place them within trends and contexts. Formulate evaluations not only through formal analysis but also by operating within a historical-artistic perspective that is not immediately obvious, in which social processes are involved.
- Communication skills. Use of appropriate terminology, able to qualify topics and aesthetic expressions through the specific language of art history; descriptive skills able to synthesize the complexity of sociocultural and technological phenomena.

No specific prerequisites, though a basic knowledge of 20th-century art is preferable.

Within the broader context of 20th and 21st century art history, the course aims to explore how art has engaged with digital media. This exploration begins with the identification of key precedents and then focuses on the creative and networked possibilities that have emerged. Case studies will primarily examine efforts to translate spaces of social interaction through the lens of telecommunications, the Internet, and artificial intelligence.

The topics discussed in class, along with supporting materials, will be progressively updated on the course's Moodle page.

The following texts should be considered indicative of an overview of the context. Further details regarding the bibliography will be provided during class.

Audry, S. (2021). Art in the Age of Machine Learning. Cambridge: The MIT Press.
Bazzichelli, T. (2008). Networking: The Net as Artwork. Aarhus: Digital Aesthetics Research Center.
Paul, C. (2015). Digital Art. London: Thames & Hudson.
Quaranta, D. (2013). Beyond New Media Art. Brescia: LINK Editions.

On the Moodle page, links will be provided for accessing the texts in the faculty library or, where applicable, for download.

The final exam will be individual. Students will be required to prepare a short paper on a topic to be agreed among the course content or the recommended bibliography, which will then be discussed during the oral exam. Methodological, formal, and subject-matter adherence aspects will be taken into account.
A general understanding of the themes will also be assessed.

A FAQ section will be made available on the Moodle page before the start of classes to address the most relevant questions.

The course includes lectures on digital and media art, using slides to present artworks and for a more precise mode of exposition and discussion. Attendance is strongly recommended.

English

Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments:
Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development