In a 3-5 pages, typed and double-spaced paper, discuss and compare at least two of the events you attended in this class thus far. Please focus on analysis rather than reportage, and support your first-hand observations with additional research in historical and theoretical areas. The readings are a good place to start, and you are encouraged to also look at secondary sources. Ideas from class discussions can also be incorporated into your paper.

For the first paper, use examples from class events to define contemporary media art practices: What is being produced in the name of "media art" today? What are the formats used? (Film? Video? Installation? Digital?) What issues do media artists address in their work, and how are they dealing with these issues? A good approach is to compare different artists and their works, and in pointing out their differences and similarities, you can begin to come up with a working definition of the scope of the field. Also, consider the material conditions in addition to the form and content of these works: What are the strategies employed by media artists to produce their work? And where are these works shown - in museums? Galleries? Theatres? On the web? At demonstrations and protests? Who is the audience for media arts?

Your grade will be based on your understanding of both the premises and the context of these events and the media works in them, your ability to support your arguments and observations with research in historical facts and theoretical discussions, as well as your writing and analytical skills. You are, of course, encouraged to incorporate your own opinions into the discussion. Explain how your views correspond to and differ from the ideas expressed in the films, videos, digital art projects, and by the artists themselves.

Please turn the paper in on time, and please follow the format I outlined: papers that are too long or too short, late papers, hand-written papers, etc. will lower your grade.

Include a bibliography (required) and footnotes (if appropriate) as well as the title, date, and name of director/artist for the works you cite in your paper.

Be specific cite reading sources, use footnotes, and use actual examples to support your argument.

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