Immersive Environments : Art in Virtual Reality

Course Schedule

1. (9/4) Introduction

Histories of immersion and virtuality. A few example CAVE pieces; overview of the VR Lab.. Maya Basics

2. (9/11) Virtual Objects

Reading:
Peter Lunenfeld, "VR: Camera Rasa"
Ray Bradburdy, "The Veldt"
Polygon modeling in Maya

3. (9/18) Programming in Panda

Introduction to Python; the Panda engine; loading and displaying 3d models Reading:
Jean Baudrillard, The Precession of Simulacra
Michael Taussig, Mimesis and Alterity, Ch. 2: Physiognomic Aspects of Visual Worlds

4. (9/25) Immersion: Using the CAVE

Project 1 Critique

5. (10/2) Space: Navigation and Environmet

Reading:
Grau, Virtual Art, Ch. 5: "The Suggestive Potential of the Interface"
Screening: Char Davies, Osmose and Ephemere;

6. (10/9) Labyrinths and Reactive Spaces

Reading:
Borges, "The Garden of Forking Paths"

7. (10/16) Sound in Virtual Environments

Reading: Dyson, When is the Ear Pierced

8. (10/23) Project 2 Critique

9. (10/30) Animation in Maya

10. (11/6) Interactivity

Reading: Murray, Hamlet on the Holodeck Ch. 5: "Agency".

11. (11/13) Scripting Behavior

Reading: Markley, Metaphysics of Cyberspace

12. (11/20) Virtual Characters

13. (12/4) Physics, Advanced Topics as Needed

12/11: No Class, Graduate Crit Week

14. (12/18) Final Critique