🦜 About the Course: Humor Makes Us Better Storytellers

Hello!

To begin with: "Two fish are sitting in a tank. One looks over at the other and says: 'Hey, do you know how to drive this thing?'"

FOV (Fish Operated Vehicle) "Goldfish Drive an Aquarium on Wheels" The fish's movements, orientation, & location in the tank were translated into instructions for the wheels of the vehicle. The fish moves the car forward, backward, left and right. Read more here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166432821005994

But seriously, welcome! This course is designed to engage students critically in exploring humor and the absurd in the production of moving image works built with game engines and video editing software, including (but not limited too) Unity, Unreal and After Effects. This is an experimental course, if you end up doing a live performance, becoming a TikTok comedy celeb, or creating an Instagram project with hilarious AR filters instead, as long as we're all in on the jokes, FANTASTIC!

Taking a speculative design approach, students can address pressing societal issues, autobiography, the art of puns and more through thoughtful and imaginative implementations of comedic storytelling.

There will be lectures; class visits from scholars on the absurd, comedy writers and stand up comedians, artists, and technologists; along with hands-on introductions to working in game engines and video editing platforms to produce comedic moving image stories. There are no prerequisites for this course, however key assets to success are tapping into your sense of humor. The course will culminate in a screening of student work at locations both in New York and the University of Texas at Austin.

Regarding the challenges we continue to face this semester, in adhering to protocols to keep each other safe, well, things may feel overwhelming at some points in the semester. Please know that you can always talk with me if you are having difficulties in class or with assignments, due to the circumstances of these unpredictable times. Also, if you feel that you may need professional counseling, please contact the NYU Virtual Counseling By Appointment here: https://www.nyu.edu/students/health-and-wellness/services/counseling-services/counseling/counseling-by-appointment.html

I look forward to working with all of you this semester!

Take care, Carla

CONTENT WARNING (you can also find this in the syllabus section) Our classroom provides an open and safe space for the critical and civil exchange of ideas. Some readings and other content in this course will include topics that some students may find offensive and/or traumatizing. I will aim to forewarn students about any potentially disturbing content, and I ask all students to help to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and sensitivity.