Compact Week / 5th-9th May Instructor: Helin Ulas
Course Concept
The workshop will introduce installation-based narration that engages with media dramaturgy using Touchdesigner. It follows a practice-based learning approach where participants work collaboratively in groups. The workshop will begin with an introduction of a “Creative Brief1”, followed by an exploration of media dramaturgy methods through various case studies and references. Each group will have the opportunity to create a narrative response: “Compostion2”to the brief and the examples covered in class.
We will then concentrate on a hands-on demonstration with Touchdeisgner, showing the participants how to translate such narration models into Touchdesigner. Within Touchdesigner, we will look into Interfaces, controlling presets & parameters with trigger-based timelines & Time-based timelines for real-time media management. Each group will be asked to come up with a response to the “Creative Brief”to create a prototype of a preset-based system that applies a “Composition”for real-time-based storytelling using “Media Dramatury3”methods.
Creative Brief: Algorithmic Interfaces & Narratives
As human agency becomes increasingly shaped by algorithmic systems, we'll examine the narratives that emerge from our interactions with interfaces and automation. Participants will explore questions such as:
● How do algorithms stage and influence user experience?
● In what ways do interfaces structure our perception and behaviour?
● References: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-drama-review/article/training-humans-not-machines/1E803B4DF035406EE53C2356A13704C8
https://books.google.de/books/about/New_Media_Dramaturgy.html?id=ARUhMQAACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Glossary
1. Creative Brief: A conceptual framework outlining the thematic focus and key questions for creative exploration in a project.
2. Composition: The deliberate arrangement of design, visual, spatial, and temporal elements within an installation to create meaningful relationships and support narrative flow.
3. Media Dramaturgy: The conceptual structuring of media elements (video, sound, lighting) to create narrative progressions within immersive environments.
Please bring:
Laptop (if available), power supply, smartphone, TouchDesigner (installed).
Requirements: Basic familiarity with TouchDesigner or other media tools is helpful but not required. Please have a look at this resource before the workshop - if you have never used a Node-based programming environment before.
The workshop will be held in English, but students are welcome to ask questions in German if needed.
