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, digital 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 and other pre-production work, including storyboarding.
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 digital technology. Use of the technological tool sets introduced in MAR 111A and integrates them with compositing 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 I.
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.
G 686 Final Portfolio Development 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., MAR 508 (3 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 (3 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

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)