Michael R. Murphy, Director
The Media Arts program offers instruction in the integration
of the study of narrative theory and structure and its application
with new technology. The technologies include digital video
and audio, photo manipulation, multimedia and web-based tools,
as well as 2 and 3-D animation and MIDI/music technology.
The minor in Media Arts is offered to supplement the work of
undergraduate students whose major area of study can be enhanced
through the application of Media Arts principles and technologies.
A three-year Master of Fine Arts program is offered, also.
Requirements for a Minor
To earn a minor in Media Arts a student must complete 21 credits
as follows: MAR 101L, 111A, 210, 311, 316; and six credits from
FA 365L, ART 151L, ART 389L.
Courses
U=for undergraduate credit only, UG=for undergraduate or graduate
credit, G=for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates
the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated
after the R.
U 101L Introduction to Media Arts 3 cr. Offered intermittently.
Overview of the media arts and their interaction, integration
and development in the creation of story beginning with early
year of photography and movie-making through the introduction
of radio and television up to the digital revolution.
U 111A Fundamentals of Media Arts Production 3 cr. Offered
autumn and spring. Basic training and use of digital computing
tools employed in media arts production (photo manipulation,
video/audio editing), for the purposes of artistic expression
and story. Basic theories, aesthetic elements and principles
employed in developing narrative, making creative selections
and judgments in audio/visual design, and composition. Students
create projects using digital technologies using these principles
and theories.
U 195 Special Topics 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.
Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental
offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 210 Creation of Media Story 3 cr. Offered autumn and
spring. Prereq., MAR 101L, 111A. Introduction to writing for
audio/visual media. Creation of short works addressing basic
principles (visualization, conflict, tempo, plot structuring,
etc.) and application of them to writing for various media,
including: screenplay, television commercial, web page, radio
and other interactive formats.
U 295 Special Topics 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.
Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental
offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
U 296 Independent Study 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.
Prereq., consent of instr.
U 311 Integrated Media Production 3 cr. Offered autumn
and spring. Prereq., MAR 101L, 111A; prereq. or coreq., MAR
210. Project-oriented application of narrative structures used
in the creation of complex story through multimedia technology.
Use of the technological tool sets introduced in MAR 111A and
integrates them with multimedia software in the creation of
interactive and layered presentations.
U 316 Final Media Project 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring.
Prereq., completion of MAR 111A, 210 and 311 with a 3.0 grade
average. Creation of a project which integrates principles of
narrative structure and media writing learned in MAR 101L and
210 with the technological software presented in MAR 111A and
311. Students are encouraged to work with faculty in the area
of their major in choice of topic for this project. A paper
proposal, subject to Media Arts faculty approval, and cumulative
grade average in Media Arts classes of 3.0, is prerequisite
for this class.
U 396 Independent Study 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.
Prereq., consent of instr.
UG 495 Special Topics 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.
Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental
offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.
UG 496 Independent Study 1-12 cr. (R-12) Offered intermittently.
Prereq., consent of instr.
G 508 Media Production 3 cr. (R-12) Offered autumn and
spring. Application of narrative work to specific technology
tool sets through exercises and projects, including work in
multimedia, photographic capture and manipulation, soundscape
design, digital effects work and motion graphic design.
G 577 Media Directing I 3 cr. Offered autumn. Study of
dramatic action, human psychology, and the patterns of story
as applied to script analysis and directing for stage and video.
Analysis and staging of scenes from existing dramatic works
in preparation for work in video and film formats.
G 578 Media Directing II 3 cr. Offered spring. Continuation
of study in the directing of narrative, with emphasis on production
process, directing for one camera video/film and the principles
of non-linear editing. Staging and shooting several scenes in
the studio and on location.
G 579 Media Directing III 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq.,
MAR 577 and 578. Continued study in directing narrative, with
emphasis on the creation of layering and density in staging
and shooting scenes for one camera video work. Also emphasis
on the implementation of a full production team and understanding
the duties involved. Staging and shooting a short movie of a
screenplay developed in Media Writing II.
G 586 Media Writing I 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq.,
MAR 577. Narrative structures and their application in writing
for media, with an emphasis on screenplay and the artistic expression
of personal story. Creation of short written works that explore
story construction, visualization and narrative as a cultural
tool for the negotiation of meaning.
G 587 Media Writing II 3 cr. Offered autumn. Prereq.,
MAR 577, 578, 586. Layering and narrative. Creating density
in media writing and direction through understanding and use
of semiotic coding, symbol systems and archetypes.
G 595 Special Topics 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently.
Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental
offerings of new courses, and one-time offerings of current
topics.
G 596 Independent Study 1-6 cr. (R-6) Offered autumn
and spring. Prereq., consent of instr.
G 609 Media Arts Seminar 1 cr. (R-6) Offered autumn and
spring. Discussion of issues including ethics, group and personal
creative process, production theory, articulation and development
of project proposals. Seminar also includes workshops, presentations
by visiting professionals in pertinent fields.
G 680 Media Directing IV 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq.,
MAR 577, 578, 579. In depth analysis of significant works in
film and media story with emphasis on genre and question of
narrative voice. Students analyze works in narrative deconstruction,
performance art, installation work and theoretical literature
dealing with media in other art forms.
G 686 Final Portfolio Development 3 cr. Offered spring.
Prereq., MAR 508 (9 credits), 587, 680. Research and preparation
for the final portfolio project(s). Includes paper presentations
of all stages of development in both content and technical production
aspects.
G 687 Final Portfolio Production 3 cr. Offered autumn.
Prereq., MAR 508 (9 credits), 587, 680, 686. Scheduling, shooting,
casting, location scouting and capture of all raw materials
for use in final portfolio post-production.
G 688 Media Production Lab 2 cr. (R-4) Offered spring.
Collaborative work on another student's final portfolio work.
Can be in areas of director of photography, sound design, production
management, editing, storyboarding, writing, or effects/graphic
design/title work.
G 699 Final Portfolio Post-Production 6 cr. Offered spring.
Completion of post-production work for final portfolio. Includes
editing, effects work, sound design and scoring as well as output
to various media for purposes of presentation.
Faculty
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Richard Paul Hughes, M.F.A., The University of Montana, 1999
James D. Kriley, Ph.D., University of Utah, 1971
Michael R. Murphy, M.F.A., The University of Montana, 1994 (Director)