Digital Bodies Performed

Appropriating standardized digital bodies, students learn the basics of character animation to choreograph virtual performances using Maya, the 3D animation software. The class explores the virtual performance in terms of the visual possibilities of cinematic language and also to exploit the potential of digital bodies to move in both natural and unnatural ways, beyond imitating of reality. References include avant-garde dance and performance films, from Maya Deren to Yvonne Rainer and Charles Atlas.

We'll be using the Human IK toolset in Maya, the brand new Mecanim character animation system in Unity 4, using found/archived motion capture data, and generating motion capture data using the Kinect.

The course will close with a group exhibition of performance (and other performative work) at Tritriangle in May. Planning the content, framing, and logistics of this event will be a core part of the course.

Resources

Assignments

Please read Don Delillo's "The Body Artist" by Week 6, so we can discuss it in class. Any edition will do; you should be able to find it pretty cheap on Amazon.

Assignment #1 -- Experimental rig. Find or create a body. Rig, bind and animate it in an unnatural or experimental way.

Assignment #2 -- Populated space. Create a space in Maya (or your modeling tool of choice) and Unity, populated with animated (optionally, interactive) bodies.

Assignment #3 -- Performance. Prepare a performance to be executed in class. This can be a sketch or work-in-progress of your final project, or something unrelated.

Final project -- Group event of performance (and performative installation, etc.) at Tritriangle.

Schedule

Week 1 -- 01/29

Week 2 -- 02/05

Week 3 -- 02/12

Week 4 -- 02/19

Week 5 -- 02/26

Week 6 -- 03/05

Week 7 -- 03/12

Week 8 -- 03/19

Week 9 -- 03/26

Week 10 -- 04/02

Week 11 -- 04/09

Week 12 -- 04/16

Week 13 -- 04/23

Week 14 -- 04/30

Week 15 -- 05/07