FILM 194CNew Media Theory Seminar

Study of theories of emerging genres of electronic culture, with emphasis on the discourse about computer-assisted and computer-generated forms of art and mass culture such as digital imagery, virtual environments, telematics, hyper- and multimedia, and electronic networks.

• COURSE TOPIC: "Technoshamanism: Digital Art and Healing" This course defines Technoshamanism as the combination of traditional shamanic technologies with emerging post-industrial technologies based in silicon (dry), biology (wet) and hybrid (moist) media, all in the service of expanding insight and healing. The term technoshamanism has been used to refer to a range of manifestations, including healing modalities and spiritual rituals, rave culture and electronic dance music, various digital arts practices involving installation, performance, and screen-based works, and large festivals, such as Burning Man. Part of our work will be to identify key theories and monuments that demarcate this amorphous, emerging field. This course will address parallels between the technologies of ancient shamanic practices and contemporary new media practices in the realm of visual culture. A primary goal is to define technoshamanism by coming to terms with these fields of praxis, comparing and contrasting their key features, and applying our growing understanding to the critical analysis of works of art, film, and digital culture, as well as to your own creative practices. FILM 194C will be lead as a joint theory/practice seminar. We will begin with some lectures and prescribed foundational readings, then follow the flow of participants’ particular interests, with members identifying research areas, recommending shared readings, and driving discussion. Interim and final projects may be purely theoretical or combine theory and practice.

Find a section and add it to your scheduleLive seat counts, time-conflict checks and the walk from your previous class.

When it runs

Who teaches it

SlugAtlas is a student project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by UC Santa Cruz. Course data is a snapshot of the public class search; myUCSC is authoritative for enrolment.