Final Research Hyperessay – IM

By: Wen Lei |

Each student will choose a historic or contemporary media artist not discussed in class to carry out independent research that draws from our study of interactive media history, theory and its concepts and forms.

The artist can come from any country and culture so long as their work is tied to new media practices. The artist and their work should be relevant to our study of multimedia concepts and paradigms (i.e. interactivity, hypermedia, immersion etc.) and the Hyperessay should explore in detail how their work demonstrates interdisciplinarity through the integration of art and technology.

Students will create a weekly process post in OSS that incorporates techniques of online research and documentation we have explored and discussed this semester.

Research will result in a Final Research Hyperessay of a minimum of 750 words with the additional of illustrative material and references in the form of images, video, hyperlinks, etc.

The goal of the assignment is to utilise techniques of independent research we have addressed in the previous Student Presentations, and to demonstrate the ability to use OSS as a platform for collecting, organising, documenting, and presenting research and writing.

Here is a summary of what is required in the Final Research Hyperessay:

  • Minimum 750 words.
  • Overview of the selected artist and artwork.
  • Contextualise the artist and artwork using topics, readings, artworks, and artists discussed throughout the semester.
  • The Final Research Hyperessay should demonstrate a summary understanding of the evolution of new media history, placing your selected artist and work into the continuum of this history.
  • The Final Research Hyperessay should also incorporate an expanded vocabulary of terms and concepts discussed this semester, demonstrating that you have assimilated these ideas for the purpose of critical analysis of your artist and artwork.
  • The Final Research Hyperessay and the Process posts demonstrate that you have learned techniques of OSS for purposes of research and documentation by incorporating relevant images, video, links etc. to illustrate your writing.
  • Incorporate relevant video, images and hyperlinks
  • Be sure your writing is clear, grammar and spelling is checked, and the formatting of text and media is carefully done.
  • The Final Research Hyperessay should begin with an introduction that states the main topic and the essence of your analysis of artist and artwork, as well as a concluding paragraph that convincingly ties together your ideas.
  • Be sure all media is used to support your argument, not just as illustration or visual effect.
  • Media should include captions with a description and reference to where it was obtained.
  • All photographs and screenshots should clearly illustrate your points and it is advisable to crop them if you need to provide closer detail.
  • Be sure and check all your hyperlinks and make sure they open in a new window if referencing another Website
  • Use the category “Hyperessay – IM
  • Include a Featured Image for your post.
    • The Featured Image should include (see sample below)
      • Year of creation of your selected artwork
      • Name of selected artist
      • Title of selected artwork

The Final Research Hyperessay will be created in the following steps:

  1. Artist Selection: Each student will select an artist and provide a rationale for their choice. This will be discussed in class including an OSS post that provides a brief overview and image of the artist.
    1. Assign category: “Process – IM
    2. Due: Week 3/7/11
  2. Key Work Selection: Each student will select and post OSS a description of one key work of the artist. It is important to include any concepts, readings, and artworks that are relevant to the work you have selected.
    1. Assign Category: “Process – IM
    2. Due: Week 4/8/12
  3. Final Submission: Students will submit their Final Research Hyperessay onto OSS.
    1. Assign Category: “Hyperessay – IM
    2. Due: Week 5/9/13