Spaces of (New) Media

Information
Course coordinator: Sybille Lammes
ECTS: 7,5

Description
Initially, new media were credited with a redefinition of spatial systems, leaving traditional concepts like embodiment and materiality behind in favour of a disembodied cyberspace. This space seemed to transgress all kinds of socio-political, artistic and physical boudaries. However, from recent developments in new media culture one can discern a critical reconsideration of this virtual concept, manifesting itsself in new, remediated forms of material and embodied spaces.

This course will look at the use of spatiality in the digital arts and new media. It will analyze how specific audiovisual products (e.g. pervasive games, virtual architecture, locative art, net.art, gps drawings, the digital earth, satellite images) deal with space and its materialities and/or virtualities. By looking at spatial concepts such as mapping, exploration, urbanism, networks, virtual reality, cyberspace, travelling, boundaries, mediation and mobility, more knowledge will be gained about spacial theory. The course will entail a general part in which the most important theoretical and historical framework for understanding new media and space will be discussed, but it will also pay attention to case-studies that can be viewed as pertaining particular views on the relationship between space and digital culture.

Goal
The aim of the course is to enhance the student's theoretical understanding of space and digital culture. The students should be able to frame theoretical discussions pertaining to the subject, as well as contributing to these discussions themselves. Furthermore, the methodological aim of the course is to teach the student how to work on a thick description and analysis of a case-study in which a further intellectual development of ideas on space and digital culture is pivotal.