Text in Visual Art

Text in Visual Art examines the role of text in visual arts in a historical perspective. The course is separated into four blocks. The first, Old and New Media, provides a theoretical introduction and terminology for new media art critique and curating, as well as discussion on the possibilities of integration of new media art into contemporary art institutions. The second block, Material Textual Practices, illustrates text as functioning within the boundaries of contemporary art. The last two blocks, Time-based Text and Interactive and Performative Art and Text, reveal new behavioral practices in media art. The course primarily relies on online materials as illustrations of possible practical implementations of the curatorial modes discussed. A unique feature of the course is a series of class visits by acknowledged practitioners such as Alexander Gornon, Factory of Found Clothes, Laboratory of Poetic Actionism, as well as online discussions with Nick Montfort, Amaranth Borsuk, Samantha Gorman, John Cayley, JR Carpenter and Roberto Simanowski. There will also be field trips to the Russian Museum, the Erarta Museum, NCCA Cyland Media Art Laboratory, and Mikhail Karasik's workshop.