Final ITP Thesis Seminar
Spring 2009
Monday 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Instructor: Dana Karwas
Email: dlk253@nyu.edu
Thesis Website: http://www.dk22.com/thesis09
NYU thesis guidelines
http://itp.nyu.edu/help/pmwiki.php/Shows/ThesisGuidelines/
ITP Thesis Projects Database
https://itp.nyu.edu/projects/thesisList.php
Description > The Thesis Seminar: A Think Tank Habitat
The thesis seminar is designed to help students create, develop, and execute their final thesis project. Group and individual feedback will structure the weekly thesis think tank meetings. The environment will allow students to discuss and present their work in progress with one another and to the instructor. Critique sessions will combine in class discussions and various reviews by external guest critics. Individual project development will be reflected by group discussion, critique, and feedback. Good projects are contagious so the standards for this class are set very high and each student is expected to bring constructive criticism to class and be able to articulate ideas that will not waste anyone’s time. Some classes will be incredible and students will leave feeling enlightened about certain ideas and concepts, however other classes will be frustrating, complex and difficult leaving the mind battling with ideas, reason and logic. Students will be expected to speak up during class, question their fellow peers, and share opinions and ideas.
Description > The Thesis Project: Your Commitment
The thesis project needs to be the most difficult and complex project encountered by each student thus far. Each student will build up to the level of virtuoso on their thesis topic in which they will then leverage their own areas of expertise to come up with an intelligent and unique thesis. The thesis project is developed entirely outside of class. The thesis itself should pose a question or hypothesis that is expressed and explored through a written argument and accompanying prototype /expression. The goal is for each student to demonstrate their proficiency in the field of Interactive Telecommunications by expressing their personal perspective through their unique thesis project. By the end of the class students will be able to take their idea beyond ITP and continue to explore its possibilities.
Process > The process is structured into a series of critique and presentation sessions in which various aspects of individual projects are discussed: the project concept, the elaboration, the presentation, the process and time-table, the resources needed to accomplish it, and the documentation. The process can be broken down into three phases
Phase I. Concept Development and Research
Phase II. Prototype Design and Production
Phase III. Papers and Presentation
Research > is an extremely important part of the thesis process. Enough research needs to be done in order to make insightful decisions on the thesis topic. A combination of physical (events, shows, museums, books) and virtual (online journals, archived projects, databases) research will distribute the driving concepts socially and culturally.
Documentation > All students will be expected to keep online documentation of their thesis. This can be in the format of a blog/ wiki/ or website. All research and assignments need to be documented. The online documentation can be extremely basic and will be used as a place to access everything.
Note*** In addition to posting online, all written assignments need to be printed as handed to the instructor before class.
In Class Presentations > Be prepared to present and talk about your thesis every week in class. Be prepared to listen and review the thesis projects of your classmates.
Final Thesis Document > The thesis document should include:
-Thesis abstract - Brief description of your Thesis
-Description - Approach to the problem, key details
-Conclusions - What happened, next steps based on your observations.
-Sources - A list of key readings and resources
The thesis document will be finished at midterm. At this time I will send the document out for review to different artist's and professionals. They will comment, edit, and critique the document.
Final Presentation > 20 minutes Thesis Week
Role > The Thesis Instructor: a.k.a. “Thesis Shrink”
The instructor is there to provide advice, insight, and references to relevant work, and to help each student shape and synthesize their project. The instructor will help students conceptually develop and push the projects into a robust and complete state while at the same time maintain a level of academic rigor to make good ideas great.
Office Hours
Available at ITP by appointment any weeknight after 8pm.
Available at C-Lab 10am –7pm Tuesday – Friday.
Please book office hours 2 days in advance.
Grades
Grades are determined by the quality, development, and execution of the following:
-Concept Development and Research
-Assignments
-Thesis Presentation
-Thesis Paper
-Attendance
-Class Participation
Good Students Will:
1.arrive on time.
2. communicate frequently.
3.Acquire perfectionist ways when presenting and writing. Please use the Chicago Manual of Style,
4. Be prepared for every class
5. Speak up
Bad Students Will:
Arrive late
Sleep in Class
Have Reckless Absent Streaks
Miss Assignments
Class 1: January 26 First Class: Introductions, Class Overview, Syllabus, Student Project Presentations, Important Dates, Dana Presentation,
Due: Presentation > Thesis proposal
Assignment:
(1) The Future: Research
Develop a list of events, exhibitions, performances, art shows that relate to your topic. This is the future part of your research. Make a calendar of events for you thesis. The list needs to include events in the area, but can also include events in other cities. (lectures, speakers, installations, performances, films, round tables, book launches, etc. ) surf artforum , archinect, art log, BAM, the kitchen, eyebeam, the urban center, film forum, WNYC, MOMA, HERE arts center, LEMUR plex, harvestworks, FIT, SVA, Columbia, Met,-- just to name a few. This can be considered the beginning of your community in which ideas are floating around in. You may not be able to go to all of these, but you need to be aware of them. Post the list in chronological order.
(2) The Past: Research – find examples of projects that relate to your idea, or can be influential or inspirational. Look at recent projects, events, news, technologies, policies, images, philosophers, predictions, headlines, historical trends, and communities (just to name a few) that support or pose questions about your proposal.
(3) Write your thesis statement – one super articulate paragraph.
(4) Prepare a presentation for class. Context and approach
-Topic of presentation: Thesis support group
-Present your support group. Include two recent projects that relate to your thesis. Explain what you like / dislike about these projects.
Class 2: February 2 Research and Development / Timeline / List of Resources
Due: Presentation >Context and Approach
Due: Print > Resources List Events Calendar
Due: Print > Thesis Statement. One Paragraph
Assignment:
(1) Create a timeline for your project. The timeline can look simlar to this example of a compute science timeline. - post online
(2) Come up with 5 resources for your project (books) - post online and find these books at the library or through online journals, google books, etc.
(3) Write an overview of your research 1-2 pages print for me and post online. This can be written in an outline format with notes.
(4) Send your online documentation link to me
(5)Create your own unique maslow's hierarchy of needs for you project in the form of a triangular diagram. Learn more about maslow's hierarchy of needs here: maslow -- post online
Class 3: February 9 > Research and Development / The Thesis Document / Style and Language of your project
Due: Timeline and Maslow document
Due: List of 5 Resources
Due: Research overview document
Due: A link to your online presenation
Announcement:
(1) Write Draft One of your thesis Document. This will be a synthesis of all the components. This will be your first stab at trying to connect concept and content to medium/technology. The writing in this draft can be scientific and straightforward. The Draft will include:
- the thesis statement
- the approach (how are you going to make / do/ execute)
- a complete description of all the mediums you are using and a description of all the technology you are using
-images that support the document - at least two
**post this to your online documentation. Note the thesis document is due at the midterm-- more details in class.
NO CLASS: FEB 16 President's Day Holiday
Class 4: February 23 > Research and Development / Production / Focus /Media Tsotchke / Analysis /
Due: Draft One of your Thesis Document
Class 5: March 2 >Research and Development / Clarity !!
Due: Nothing - Work on project development
ASSIGNMENT: MOCK GRANT PROPOSAL
Class 6: March 9 > Research and Development / The public face of you idea
Due: Mock Grant Proposal
ASSIGNMENT: PREPARE YOUR MIDTERM PRESENTATION!
A very strong 10 minute presentation on your thesis topic.
Class 7: March 23 > Midterm Presentations Feedback from Guest Critics
Due: Presentation >Midterm Presentation
Class 8: March 30 > Prototype Development
Due: Thesis Paper (instructor edit)
Class 9: April 6 > Prototype Development
Due: Thesis Paper (guest editors)
Class 10: April 13 > Prototype Development / Draft of Paper Due
FRIDAY April 17: Special Class Trip -- Merce Cunningham at 90, BAM, 7pm.
Class 11: April 20th In Class Final Presentations with guest critics
Due: Presentation >20 minutes (6 presentations)
Class 12: April 27th In Class Final Presentations with guest critics
Due: Presentation >20 minutes(5 presentations)
Thesis Week May 4-7
20 Minute Thesis Presenation and Paper Due
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