Week 1

1. We Are Humans
     - so we: dream, imagine, question, wonder, think, puzzle, search for answers
     - part of the puzzling is art
     - images are language

2. The Hierarchy of Art Making
     a. fine art
     b. commercial art (graphic design)
     c. popular culture
     - these operate as codes within a culture and are easy yo decode if you live in that culture
     - but there are “sub cultures” and “special interest groups.” Codes change and we never stop           learning them

3. Semiotics (the study of meaning)
     - interpreting the meaning
     - we use a three part method that includes:
           a. materiality
           b. formalism
           c. content
                i. denotation
                ii. connotation

4. Materiality
     - each culture ahas different materials available to it
     - the artistic or designer chooses from them
     - ex. the material (aka technology) for an iPod was not availab;e to your grandparents’      culture

5. Formalism
     - line, color, form/shape, composition

6. Content

     - Denotation
           - we denote swords, men, women
     - Connotation
           - sending a man to his death
           - political statement
           - willing to die for beliefs

7. Cultural Critique
     - social conditions
     - many ways we communicate non-verbally, personally
           - clothes, hair, car, arranging items in our house or room, facial expressions, body           language, tattoos, makeup, amount of skin revealed in clothing, gifts we give, greeting           cards, etc.
     - the culture we live in
           - has produced many media forms for visual communication to be “transmitted”
           - TV, magazines, films, photography, advertising, music videos, internet, video games,           road & traffic signs

8. Medium: Cinema
     - the value of cinema in the digital age with David Puttman