Machine Mediated Vision

These introductory lectures will cover basic concepts, history and examples of various approaches towards machine mediated vision. Several types basic image technologies will be discussed, elucidated with examples from art history, media history, and the history of science. An overview will be attempted of the various ways vision can be mediated by technology, and the various ways artists have explored the sensory possibillities opened up by these machines. Experimental film was perhaps the first art form to explicitly reflect on the human and cultural significance of machine mediated vision, but the subject is much wider than film alone, going back to the history of perspective and optics and forward towards new media yet to be invented.

Examination will be in the form of an assignment for which students are encouraged to use the Max/Msp/Jitter environment.