An introduction to the fundamental concepts, concerns, genres and technologies of digital media. Students produce introductory digital projects (Web, photography, video and audio) exploring contemporary concerns and genres in the new media field. Students from other fields are invited to explore interdisciplinary applications of Digital Media to their chosen discipline.
All Courses
DIGI Courses
An introduction to the fundamental concepts, technologies and practices involved in contemporary Internet markup languages. Students will be exposed to the complete range of concepts and issues involved in this field with a focus on current professional authoring practices. Students will complete their own projects using industry standard authoring languages.
An interdisciplinary exploration of digital media from a variety of perspectives including social, cultural, economic, and artistic. Topics include the impact of digital technologies on culture and communication, sociological effects of technology on the individual, and emerging philosophies of technology. Principles of media theory, human factors, and usability are introduced.
Using the Internet as a focus, students investigate the concepts and practices of interactive motion media by mastering industry standard software through a series of labs, assignments and a major project. Storytelling, character development, animation, game development and rich media interfaces are introduced.
An introduction to digital audio concepts, practices, and technologies including software and production techniques, elements of field recording, interviewing, microphone use, and editing. Students will complete projects based on topics of their own choosing that build technical proficiencies and creative expression. Students from all disciplines are welcome.
An introduction to digital video production utilizing current concepts, practices, and technologies. Students will be exposed to all aspects of digital video production with a focus on essential equipment and skills. Students will complete projects that build solid technical proficiencies while developing creative expression. Students from all disciplines welcome!
This course is a continuation of DIGI 280 focusing on the application of the concepts and skills mastered in that class. Students will work on individual productions relevant to their fields of study and will have the opportunity to experience the complete production cycle from project conception through to distribution.
An introduction to important concepts in understanding digital media and technologies, their audiences, and their impact on society. This course will examine the myths and metaphors informing the discourse on digital technologies. Students will develop digital media projects reflecting themes developed in the course.
A continuation of DIGI 220, this course is an examination of the theory and techniques involved in semantic Web presentation and accessibility technologies (i.e. CSS and WCAG). Students will research and develop best practices for substantial Web projects that they may be completing for another course.
A continuation of DIGI 230, this course is an in-depth examination of the theory and techniques used to design rich user experiences. Students will design and create the user interface for a substantial digital project.
An exploration of the theories, practices and technologies used to create and participate in contemporary digital social narratives—for example listserves, blogs, games, discussion groups, wikis and other developing electronic narrative environments. Students will actively research and create virtual narrative spaces based on subjects of their own interest.
Balances theory and practice in an exploration of the advanced aspects of images in contemporary interactive digital contexts. Students will explore the processes of acquisition, manipulation and output using industry standard imaging software. Digital imagery created may be used to support projects completed in other courses.
Building on skills learned in Graphic Design courses, and using the Internet as a focus, students investigate the concepts and practices of interactive motion media by mastering industry standard software through a series of labs, assignments and a major project.
An introduction to videogame design. Students will explore high-level game design principles (reward systems, balance, motivation, immersion, and pacing) as well as genre specific design principles (puzzle design, resource management, and economic systems). Students will critique specific games of their choice using the design concepts discussed in class.
An examination of emerging digital media technologies and trends. Students will research and utilize emerging technologies of interest to them and will collaborate in teams to design, create and prototype projects utilizing these technologies.
An examination of the theories, practices and technologies used by individuals and groups to create, manipulate and interact with contemporary digital identities — or example blogs, game personas, organizational websites, online interpersonal forums and other developing electronic environments. Students will actively research and create virtual identities based on subjects of their own interest.
A continuation of DIGI 260, this course focuses on the scripting capabilities of contemporary interactive motion media (i.e. Adobe Flash). Students will develop and demonstrate professional scripting practices through projects of their own choosing.
This course requires students to demonstrate mastery of one or more digital media technologies though the completion of a senior level project. Topics will include technical planning, testing and evaluation, and project maintenance. Students will choose their own projects, which may include elements completed for credit in another class.
MEDI Courses
Explores academic writing and popular culture. Readings, assignments, and assessment will be shared in an interdisciplinary environment. (6 credits) Note: Students will receive course credit for ENGL 115 and MEDI 112 upon completion.
An introduction to the multi-disciplinary nature of media studies including an exploration of the definitions of society, culture, the self, as well as an historical approach to human communications. Explores the impact of technological change on culture, and the latest developments in information technologies (Internet, newsgroups, on-line publishing, e-mail).
(Runs Online and regular classes -- consult timetable)
Explores the interdependence of contemporary popular culture and mass media, and develops critical thinking skills for assessing the impact of media on culture. May focus on a particular medium or special topic. Assignments may include media other than print. This course is offered as a special collaboration with ENGL 115 F10N20 and S11N01.
An exploration of emerging digital technologies and their impact on culture, education, commerce, politics and society. Development of hands-on skills in the use of e-mail, newsgroups, web-site authoring, and multimedia. Familiarity with computing applications is an asset. Note: Some sections of this course may be offered on-line.
This course examines how selected media--mainly newspapers, magazines, television, and film--identify and address their audiences to represent significant social constructions: gender, ethnicity, and class. Participants will be challenged to distinguish between the representations of social issues in the media and their social realities.
An examination of the strategies and ideologies in promotional communications: advertising, public relations, political and public service announcements, billboards, news reporting, infomercials, popular performance art, and propaganda. Note: Some sections of this course may be offered on-line.
An examination of television as a medium of communication and an element of culture. In a given year, the focus of the course may be on television production and management in addition to an analysis of television's impact on culture.
An introduction to the interdisciplinary study of videogames, examining their cultural, educational, and social functions within contemporary settings. By playing, analyzing, and theorizing about videogames, we will examine debates surrounding how they function within contemporary social contexts. Readings will include contemporary videogame theory and interaction with contemporary commercial videogames.
Past Class Work:
Minecraft world building competition
An exploration of the media, its control and ownership, from a global perspective. Topics include globalization; the public sphere; international trade agreements and regulatory bodies (WTO, IMF, etc.); internet culture; patterns of ownership, control and monopolization; alternative media; cultural imperialism; racism, assimilation and creolization.
An exploration of the history of journalism with an emphasis on the evolution of print, photography, radio, film, television, and the internet as media for the mass dissemination of news, information, and opinion. Students also consider questions of journalistic style and ethics.
A focus on film as medium. Through an examination of films about film-making, students explore the narrative, documentary, and propagandistic powers of film.
An examination of the remarkable contribution of Canadian communications theorists who have established a rich tradition of inquiry into the political, social, economic, and artistic significance of communication technology, especially as related to Canadian society. Theorists include Harold Adams Innis, Marshall McLuhan, George Grant, Edmund Carpenter, Wilson Duff, Joyce Nelson, Arthur and Marilouise Kroker among others.
Lecture/discussion.
Beginning with a survey of the powerful role public relations and promotion play in contemporary society, this upper-level course explores how different media may be used for advocacy and social activism. As a major assignment, students will analyze accessible media, and design a campaign to promote an issue of concern to them.
Explores the complex relationship between technology and changing notions of identity. Taking as a starting point McLuhan's contention that media act as extensions of the human sensorium, including consciousness, students will consider how media and other technologies influence how we define ourselves, our social relations, and our cultural institutions.
In a course that balances theory and practice, participants will explore how new media / multimedia communicate in unique ways. Topics include: an overview of new media and an introduction to relevant media theory; hypertext markup language for the creation of webpages and websites; the creation and critique of the digital image; designing for digital sound; streaming video; multimedia presentation skills. The design and realization of a multimedia website, cd-rom, or installation will form a core component of the course.
In consultation with the Chair, students will articulate a media-related project that demonstrates a strong correlation between theory and practice. Students will be asked to submit a proposal in writing, outlining their project and reviewing the theory informing it, for a project which makes use of at least one non-print medium.
This course allows students to develop skills required for the completion of a senior-level project involving digital media. Topics include project proposals, management and design, teamwork and collaboration, technical skill development, audience analysis, promotion and presentation, and research.
