E-literature and Media Art

The course deals with the acquisition of theoretical and historical knowledge as well as acquiring analytical understanding about e-literature and media art. It delves into the vibrant realm of e-literature and media art, increasingly situated at the forefront of digital culture and literary practice. Students will immerse themselves in critical discussions, hands-on activities, and in-depth analyses to develop essential skills and knowledge for navigating and contributing to this dynamic landscape.

Competencies and attitudes:

● A broad awareness of the digital society's influence on literary practices and cultural expression.
● Understanding of the fundamental concepts and theories underpinning e-literature and media art within the context of digital culture.
● Interest in exploring innovative approaches to literary creation and artistic expression through digital mediums.
● Ability to critically analyze and evaluate e-literature and media art, considering their societal, cultural, and technological implications.
● Appreciation for the historical development and contemporary significance of e-literature and media art in shaping literary and artistic discourse.
● Recognition of ethical considerations inherent in digital literary practice and media art, and the basic ability to navigate complex issues of authorship, representation, and access, including ecological and (post)colonial aspects.
● A positive attitude toward collaborative and interdisciplinary teamwork, fostering a creative and inclusive approach to digital creative endeavors.

There are no enrolment or degree requirements for the course.

In the context if digital cultures, electronic literature and media art represent very important intersections of technology, creativity, and culture, with significant artistic, cultural, and social implications. Through innovative and often critical use of digital platforms and tools, e-literature transcends traditional literary boundaries, fostering interactive narratives, multimedia experiences, and collaborative storytelling. Similarly, media art challenges conventional artistic practices, embracing digital mediums to explore new forms of expression, perception, and engagement. Both democratize artistic creation, often inviting diverse voices and perspectives into the creative process. As catalysts for critical reflection and cultural discourse, e-literature and media art not only reflect contemporary society but also shape its evolution enriching our understanding of technology, humanity, and the world around.

This course is intended for mainly Humanities students, but also students from other fields (such as art, computing etc.) who would like to gain familiarity with artistic forms and formats in both specific literary field as well as the more broader media artistic practice, that are based on and/or topically treat computer techniques and technologies, mobile technologies, as well as robotics or algorithmic technologies, machine learning or artificial intelligence, big data, cryptotechnologie etc., also critically treating topics such as surveillance economy, algorithmic society, new gaming cultures, the augmented body etc.

In terms of content, the course shall cover 10 topical items:

1 Basic concepts of artistic creation in the digital society
2 Overview of the most important forms, genres, and production models
3 Concepts and theories of e-literature
4 Analysis and discussion of selected works of e-literature
5 Co-authorship and intermediality in e-literature
6 Networks and platform
7 Specific concepts and theories of media art
8 Analysis and discussion of selected works of media ar
9 Media and research art in technological society
10 Media art as social and aesthetic avant-garde

Skills:
● Digital Literacy: Students will cultivate a broader understanding of some digital tools, platforms, and practices integral to creating and engaging with e-literature and media art within the context of the digital society.
● Innovative Literary Practice: Through experimentation and exploration, students will develop innovative approaches to literary practice and expressive media art formats..
● Cultural Critique: Students will sharpen their ability to critically analyze e-literature and media art within the broader framework of digital culture, exploring how these forms reflect, shape, and challenge societal norms and values.

Knowledge:
● Digital Society and Literary Praxis: Students will gain a nuanced understanding of the intersection between digital technology, literary practice, and society, examining how digital advancements have transformed the creation, distribution, and reception of literature and art.
● Historical and Contemporary Context: By studying the historical evolution and contemporary manifestations of e-literature and media art, students will grasp the significance of these forms within the broader narrative of literary and artistic innovation.
● Production Models and Platforms: Students will be inclined to explore a variety of production models and digital platforms used in e-literature and media art, analyzing their impact on the creation process and audience engagement.
● Cultural Dynamics: Through critical inquiry students will delve into the cultural dynamics shaping e-literature and media art, investigating issues of representation, diversity, and power within digital creative practices.
● Ethical Engagement: Students will examine ethical considerations inherent in digital literary practice and media art, grappling with questions of authorship, access, and equity in the digital age.

literary sources:

• Chapman, Jenny in Nigel Chapman. Digital Multimedia. Chichester: Wiley & Sons. 2004. Catalogue E-version
• Espen J. J. Aarseth: Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature, JHU Press, 1997. Catalogue
• FloresS, Leonardo. Third-Generation Electronic Literature. James O’Sullivan (ur.): Electronic Literature as Digital Humanities: Contexts, Forms, & Practices. New York: Bloomsbury Academic. 26–43. 2021. E-version
• Hayles, Katherine. Writing Machines, The MIT Press, 2003. E-version
• Manovich, Lev. The Language of New Media. The MIT Press, 2002. Catalogue E-version
• Miller, Vincent. Understanding Digital Culture,London: Sage. 2020.
• Poniž, Denis, Avanzo, Miha. Antologija konkretne in vizualne poezije, Mladinska knjiga, 1978 Catalogue
• Purg, Peter: Literatura in digitalna kultura, 2005. Catalogue
• Purg, Peter in Pranjić Kristina: Kako danes razumeti slovensko e-pesništvo: od tehnološke igrivosti do družbene kritike. Obdobja, 2023. E-version
• Rettberg, Scott. Electronic Literature. Wiley, 2019.
• Strehovec, Janez. Besedilo in novi mediji. Ljubljana: LUD Literatura. 2007.
• Wands, Bruce. Art of the Digital Age. Thames & Hudson, 2007. Catalogue
• Funkhouser. C. T.: Prehistoric Digital Poetry: An Archaeology of Forms, 1959–1995, University of Alabama Press, 2007

web sources:

• ASCII art E-version
• Mark Tribe, Reena Jana: New Media Art, Introduction E-version
• Rama Hoetzlein: What is New Media Art? E-version
• Diskurzor (Moderna Galerija, Ljubljana), E-version

case study sources:

• Raymond Queneau, "A Fairytale As You Like It" in "100,000,000,000,000 Poems"
• Tristan Tzara, “Dadaist Poem” (1920)
• Brion Gysin, Cut-Ups Self-Explained; The Cut-up Technique (Burroughs)
• Franci Zagoričnik,TAPETE I., c. 1978 http://zbirke.mg-lj.si/artwork/?id=174

e-literature:

Avtorji_ice:
* Afrah Shafiq: Enter Sultanas Reality, https://www.entersultanasreality.com/
* Jaka Železnikar: Interaktivalija, https://www.jaka.org/1997/int/int.htm
* Jim Andrews, https://vispo.com/
* Mez Breeze: Mezangelle, https://anthology.rhizome.org/mez-breeze
* Olia Lialina,My Boyfriend Came Back From the War, http://myboyfriendcamebackfromth.ewar.ru/
* Vuk Ćosić: Nacija-kultura, https://nacija-kultura.si/
* Young-hae Chang Heavy Industries, https://www.yhchang.com/

Platforms:
* ELMCIP, https://elmcip.net/
* ELO, zbirke 1 - 4; Electronic Literature Collection, Vols. 1-4 (2006 - 2022) https://collection.eliterature.org/
* Literatura Electrónica Latinoamericana y Caribeña, http://antologia.litelat.net/
* NET ART ANTHOLOGY (Rhizome), https://anthology.rhizome.org/
* UbuWeb, https://www.ubu.com/

media art and theory:

International
* Festival Ars Electronica https://ars.electronica.art
* Prix Ars Electronica https://ars.electronica.art/prix
* Transmediale festival: https://transmediale.de/en
* Archive TM https://archive.transmediale.de/

In Slovenia:
* Taktike in praksa / Tactics & Practice: https://aksioma.org/sl/tactics.practice
* Adela, https://wiki.ljudmila.org/Adela
* Izis, https://festival-izis.org/
* Kiblix, http://www.kibla.org/festivali/kiblix/
* MFRU, https://www.mfru.org/
* Speculum Artium, https://speculumartium.si/
* Pixxelpoint, https://pixxelpoint.org

• Active participation in sessions 20 %
• running coursework (can be part of final exam) 40 %
• FInal essay or written exam 40 %

Assoc. Prof. Peter Purg, PhD currently leads the New Media module in the Digital//Media Arts and Practices graduate//postgraduate programme at the School of Arts, University of Nova Gorica, where he acts as Associate Professor, projects coordinator as well as expert across realms of digital culture and media. Since December 2021 he is Dean of the School of Humanities. Having obtained a PhD in media art, communication science and literary studies from the University of Erfurt (Germany), his scientific inquiries now include media arts pedagogy, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, media art and media ecology. His artistic interests range from (lecture) performances and intermedia installations to public-space interventions as well as participatory creative processes. More at www.pleter.net

● PURG, Peter (avtor razstave). Crypto Minding: postindustrijski podatkovni aktivizem : PostMobilnost; GO!2025 Evropska prestolnica kulture : razstava v xCentru, Nova Gorica, od 26. 10. 2023 do 11. 11. 2023.
● PURG, Peter, CASTILLO-RUTZ, N., BERMÚDEZ I BADIA, Sergi, CSÍKSZENTMIHÁLYI, C., KRPAN, Jurij V., HEDEER, F., SOUSA, D. L., ŠIROK, Klemen. Progressive pedagogies for innovation among art, science and technology : the case of mastmodule.eu = Pedagogía progresiva para la innovación a través del arte, la ciencia y la tecnología : el caso de mastmodule.eu. Artseduca. 2022, vol. 32, str. 209-222. ISSN 2254-0709
● SERTIĆ, Irena, BUBAŠ, Josipa, STEINBOCK, Kristina, PURG, Peter, PARAMON, Ramon. PAIC framework: Participatory Art Scenario and Narrative". V: SERTIĆ, Irena (ur.). PAIC, participatory art for invisible communities. Zagreb: Omnimedia, 2018. Str. 98-109. ISBN 953-95119-1-7. http://paic-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/E-book_Paic.pdf. [COBISS.SI-ID 5398267]
● PURG, Peter, ŠIROK, Klemen, BRASIL, Daniela. The transformative impact of blended mobility courses. The International Journal of Art & Design Education, ISSN 1476-8062, 2018, vol. 37, iss. 2, str. 187-198, doi: 10.1111/jade.12101.
● WECKERT, Simon (umetnik), GAMMER, Gloria (umetnik), PURG, Peter. Nepotovalna agencija : interaktivni kibernetski teleportacijski performans : 6. december 2022, Xcenter, Nova Gorica.
● PURG, Peter. Body borders in _Arts: the kinaesthetic self in performative_A, the social self in participatory_A, the electronic self in media_A : lecture at the conference The Art of BorderingPURG, Peter. Körper im elektronischen Raum : Modelle für Menschen und interaktive Systeme. Saarbrücken: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, cop. 2007. 411 str. ISBN 978-3-8364-3077-7. [COBISS.SI-ID 2458071]
● PURG, Peter. Videoscanning (in) an art school community : pivotal creative tool becomes a medium of collective (self)reflection and curriculum development. V: Designs on e-Learning Conference, 5 - 7 September 2012. Crowd and cloud : towards a collaborative future. London: University of the Arts, 2012, str. 6-7. http://myblog.arts.ac.uk/del2012/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Paralell-Session-2_CW.pdf. [COBISS.SI-ID 2674683],
● PURG, Peter. Performative disturbance of public space. V: VODEB, Oliver (ur.), JANOVIĆ, Nikola (ur.). Demonstrating relevance: response-ability : teorija, praksa in imaginacija družbeno odzivnega komuniciranja = theory, practice and imagination of socially responsive communication, (Knjižna zbirka Psihologija vsakdanjega življenja). Ljubljana: Fakulteta za družbene vede, Založba FDV: Memefest, 2010, str. 490-497. [COBISS.SI-ID 1861115]

Performance-Lectures:

G, Peter. Eastweetswest: a performance process reflecting the state of unity, October 3, 2016; gruentaler9,Berlin, Germany. http://vsu.ung.si/node/3669. [COBISS.SI-ID 4575483]
PURG, Peter. Ultravijolični dokaz odrasti. [S. l.: s. n.], 2021. 1 spletni vir (1 videodatoteka (29 min, 34 sek)), barve, zvok. https://drive.google.com/file/d/102Qej_ULgYY0llMTq3fqRDmFKfM9IFnE/view. [COBISS.SI-ID 76905987
PURG, Peter (umetnik), et al. Diplomacy Collective. Potsdam: Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, 2019. https://klops.filmuniversitaet.de/index.php/s/UO7G60pPoTQ0aaD. [COBISS.SI-ID 5364731]
PURG, Peter. Quo vadis? : participative crucifixion performance. [New York]: Vimeo, 2017. https://vimeo.com/242541117. [COBISS.SI-ID 4955899]
PURG, Peter. Other Contact / Drugi Stik, perfomance Speculum Artium 2021 international festival for new media culture, 24.9.2021 https://speculumartium.si/wp21/other-contact/?lang=en .
PURG, Peter. Človek človeku stroj. [S. l.: s. n.], 2021. 1 USB-ključ (1 videodatoteka 15 min, 17 sek)), barve, zvok. [COBISS.SI-ID 58950915]; online lecture performance on three video channels
PURG, Peter. "art@blackbox.edu": performans z udeležbo na festivalu Kiblix (Participative performance at Kiblix festival), Maribor, 11. 11. 2017. [COBISS.SI-ID 4962811]
PURG, Peter. Performiranje urbanih medijskih ekologija (Performing Urban Art Ecologies): gostovanje na Akademiji uporabnih umetnosti Univerze umetnosti Beograd, 26. - 31. March 2017. [COBISS.SI-ID 4765179]