Art and Technology Studies

Overview

Art and Technology Studies students create and manipulate objects, images, sound, text music, voice, light and movement with custom-written software, newly fabricated materials, unconventional processes, and new methods of integrating other technologies—in addition to traditional fabrication techniques. They may study virtual reality, mixed and augmented reality, mobile applications, kinetics and robotics, networked objects, wearables, and soft computing, bioart, data-driven live performance, digital sound, neon, holography, light arts, light performance, performative sculptural objects, and game spaces and environments. Students also have the opportunity to study the history and theory of art and technology.

Learning outcomes

In the Art and Technology Studies department at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, new technologies are invented, subverted, hacked, questioned, co-opted, demystified, hybridized, and shared. In addition to selecting and working closely with graduate advisors in Graduate Projects, students in the Art and Technology Studies department may take graduate courses on topics relevant to the discipline. Recent examples include: Art and Biotechnology, Performing Interactivity, Experimental Media, Creative Coding, Grad Critique Seminar, and Philosophy of Technology. Department courses provide opportunities for the study of virtual reality, mixed and augmented reality, games, bio art, kinetics, pneumatics, electronics, olfactory art, wearables, soft computing, data-driven live performance, digital sound, neon, coding, holography, and retro media.

The department offers a number of jobs for graduate students which include the following:

• Departmental Assistants

• Lab Technicians

• Techroom Technicians

• Teaching Assistants (TAs)

• Special Project Positions