.syllabus – Sound Installation Art

FALL 2021
IS-345 – Sound InstallationArt
Maryland Institute College of Art – Brown 206
Tuesday 9am-3pm (w/ 1 lunch break)
PROFESSOR: JASON SLOAN
ELECTRONIC MAIL – jsloan@mica.edu
OFFICE HOURS: Via Zoom – Thursdays 1-2pm and by appointment.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL SYLLABUS & WEEKLY SCHEDULE HERE

SUPPLEMENTAL TEXTS [NOT REQUIRED]:
Bey, Thomas, Bailey, William MicroBionic: Radical Electronic Music & Sound Art in the 21st Century, Creation, 2009.
Cage, John Silence: Lectures and Writings Wesleyan, 1961.
Toop, David Ocean of Sound Serpant’s Tail 1995.

SUPPLIES / MATERIALS:

• USB flash drive (at least 4GB) or external hard drive

• Sketchbook/ Notebook
• Headphones (closed back, over-ear studio monitor type)
• Access to a basic DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) such as Adobe Audition
• Students must have a working e.mail account that you check daily.

ESTIMATED COURSE COST: $50-$100

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS:
Sound Installation Art is a studio introduction to the possibilities of sound in three dimensional space while also considering sound as an independent sculptural and visual medium. Concepts of interactivity, site specificity, net-worked sound installation, transmission and ephemeral sound installations, sound walks and kinetic sound sculpture will also be covered. Studio work will be supplemented by lecture/presentations, video, critiques, readings and class discussion.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES/ OUTCOMES/ CONCEPTS
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Define, understand and create a sucessful sound installation art work.
• Build and use contact microphones.
• Understand the various types of microphones: ie: binaural, hydro, etc…
• Work with surface amplification (ie: Vitello, Fontana, etc.)
• Understanding the concept of and application of sound displacement.
• Work with sound sculpture (tactile).
• Create a dialogue with a space through sound (transformation of a space/ aural).
• Work with networked based sound installations and transmission art.
• Create a mobile sound installation.
• Work with the sonic possibilities of physical objects.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS:

I. PROJECTS:
There will be multiple projects and a in class assignments throughout the semester. Each assignment will have a due date and is to be completed and turned in on that assigned date. No exceptions.

II. ARTIST PRESENTATION (Pre-Recorded Video)
Choose any artist working in the field of sound art who works in sound installation or sound sculpture.

1. 5-10 minute video presentation.
2. Add on time for playing audio example(s): 2 to 5 additional minutes (audio examples are necessary).
3. Mention what types of technology [if any] your chosen artist uses and how this may affect the sound of their work.
4. Describe the aesthetic of this artist’s work: what types of sounds are most valued? How would you describe the form? etc.
5. Describe how the artist’s work been received by critics and the public.
6. Trace and discuss their influences and inspirations.

III. READINGS:
There will be various readings distributed via the course web site throughout the semester that will supplement the course content. These readings will be discussed in class. Students are expected to have any assigned readings completed before the next class meeting.

IV. ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION:
Students are expected to attend all meetings of each class in which they are enrolled and engage in the work of the course in its entirety. They are expected to be ready to start work at the opening of class and to remain for the entire class session. Students who miss more than 20% of the semester’s engagements (or the equivalent 3 out of the 15 standard class meetings) will earn a failing grade.

FINAL GRADES:
Projects: 70%
Artist Presentation: 15%
Class Participation* 15%

*Class Participation includes: full & timely attendance, being prepared to work, working during class, participating in class discussions, critiques, asking questions.

GRADING GUIDELINE:

A 93-100%
A- 90-92.9%
B+ 87-89.9%
B 83-86.9%
B- 80-82.9%
C+ 77-79.9%
C 73-86.9%
C- 70-72.9%
D+ 67-69.9%
D 63-66.9%
D- 60-62.9%
F 0-59.9%

CONTACTING YOUR PROFESSOR & SOCIAL MEDIA
I will be available for real-time questions on Thursdays 1pm – 2pm EST [-5GMT] via Zoom. I will email the class the Meeting ID and Password. All other questions or communication can be directed to jsloan@mica.edu

30-hour window for e-mail: Monday through Friday, I will respond to emails/messages within 24–30 hours (usually much faster, but understand that the window is up to 30 hours). You will know what is due well in advance; it’s your responsibility to stay on schedule and prioritize your time. Don’t wait until the last minute to message me about something that’s due in a few hours or the next day because I may not get back to you in time.

Do not contact me through Facebook, IG, Twitter or other social networking plaform for things relating to MICA. All communication through social networks relating to class will be ignored.

CELL PHONES
It’s simple. Make sure your phone is on silent or vibrate before entering the classroom. Do not answer calls in class. If you must take a call, please excuse yourself quietly and step outside the classroom.

INSTALLATIONS IN PUBLIC SPACE ON MICA CAMPUS:
All installation art that is designed to be installed on the MICA campus in public space, for even one class session or an extended period requires the written authorization from the MICA Office of Events. Proposals must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the installation date to the Office of Events. Forms are available at MyMICA Portal in the Office of Events page. Director of Office Events in Ann South and she can be contacted at 410.225.2516 or electronically at asouth@mica.edu

ACADEMIC POLICY STATEMENTS:
Faculty are expected to use the following language for these standard policies; feel free to simply copy and paste them into your syllabus, or provide them as a separate sheet, if you prefer, if you had already completed your syllabus prior to receiving these updated guidelines. You may also consult MICA’s website for current language, expanded explanations of MICA policies, and other pertinent information on student and instructor responsibilities. Please direct further questions regarding MICA policies to your chairperson, director, associate dean or vice provost.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT:
MICA makes reasonable academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. All academic accommodations must be approved through the Learning Resource Center (LRC). Students requesting accommodation should schedule an appointment at the LRC (call 410-225-2416 or e-mail LRC@mica.edu), located in Bunting 110. It is the student’s responsibility to make an accommodation request in a timely manner. Academic accommodations are not retroactive.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (EHS):
Students are responsible to follow health and safety guidelines relevant to their individual activities, processes, and to review MICA’s Emergency Operations Plan and attend EHS training. Students are required to purchase personal protection equipment (PPE) appropriate for their major or class. Those students who do not have the proper personal protection equipment will not be permitted to attend class until safe measures and personal protection are in place.

PLAGIARISM:
Each discipline within the arts has specific and appropriate means for students to cite or acknowledge sources and the ideas and material of others used in their own work. Students have the responsibility to become familiar with such processes and to carefully follow their use in developing original work.

POLICY:
MICA will not tolerate plagiarism, which is defined as claiming authorship of, or using someone else’s ideas or work without proper acknowledgement. Without proper attribution, a student may NOT replicate another’s work, paraphrase another’s ideas, or appropriate images in a manner that violates the specific rules against plagiarism in the student’s department. In addition, students may not submit the same work for credit in more than one course without the explicit approval of all of the instructors of the courses involved.

CONSEQUENCES:
When an instructor has evidence that a student has plagiarized work submitted for course credit, the instructor will confront the student and impose penalties that may include failing the course. In the case of a serious violation or repeated infractions from the same student, the instructor will report the infractions to the department chair or program director. Depending on the circumstances of the case, the department chair or program director may then report the student to the appropriate dean or provost, who may choose to impose further penalties, including expulsion.

APPEAL PROCESS:
Students who are penalized by an instructor or department for committing plagiarism have the right to appeal the charge and penalties that ensue. Within three weeks of institutional action, the student must submit a letter of appeal to the department chairperson or program director, or relevant dean or provost related to the course for which actions were taken. The academic officer will assign three members of the relevant department/division to serve on a review panel. The panel will meet with the student and the instructor of record and will review all relevant and available materials. The panel will determine whether or not to confirm the charge and penalties. The findings of the panel are final. The panel will notify the instructor, the chairperson, division, the student, and the Office of Academic Affairs of their findings and any recommendations for change in penalties.

TITLE IX NOTIFICATION:
Maryland Institute College of Art seeks to provide an educational environment based on mutual respect that is free from discrimination and harassment. Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender (which includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression) is a civil rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, color, religion, age, status as a person with a disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you are encouraged to report it through the Incident Report Form. The MICA Incident Reporting Flowchart indicates the process by which reports are addressed.

Students requiring academic adjustments due to an incident involving sexual harassment or discrimination should contact Student Affairs at 410-225-2422 or Human Resources at 410-225-2363. Keeping with institutional commitments to equity and to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and guidance from the Office for Civil Rights, faculty and staff members are required to report disclosures of gender based discrimination made to them by students. However, nothing in this policy shall abridge academic freedom or MICA’s educational mission. Prohibitions against discrimination and discriminatory harassment do not extend to actions, statements, or written materials that are relevant and appropriately related to course subject matter or academic discussion.

STUDENTS WITH EXTENDED ILLNESS OR CAUSE FOR LEGITIMATE ABSENCE:
In the case of extended illness or other absences that may keep the student from attending a class for more than three meetings, undergraduate students must contact the Student Development Specialist in the Division of Student Affairs or have an official disability accommodation letter issued by the Learning Resource Center that specifically addresses class absences. For students who have not been approved for academic disability accommodations, the Student Development Specialist will work with the student to determine the cause and appropriateness of the absences and subsequently notify instructors as necessary.

Graduate students must contact the instructor, director, and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. Students in professional studies programs must contact the Associate Dean for Open Studies. The appropriate administrator will facilitate a conversation with relevant faculty to determine whether the student can achieve satisfactory academic progress, which is ultimately at the sole discretion of the faculty member.