dave pape
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DMS 315: Stereoscopy


[edit] Fall 2010

[edit] Course Info

When: Friday, 10:00am - 1:40pm
Where: CFA 242

Instructor: Dave Pape
e-mail: depape at buffalo.edu
Office: CFA 250
Office hours: Mon/Tues 1-2pm or by appointment

Website: http://resumbrae.com/d/DMS315

[edit] Course Description

This course explores the creation of stereoscopic ("3D") imagery. 3D movies are making another comeback, with many recent, major releases. Although it is best known in mainstream Hollywood fare ranging from "Creature from the Black Lagoon" to "Avatar", stereoscopy has also been employed by creators such as Norman McLaren, Salvador Dali, Robert Wilson, and many others. In this class we will study the history, technology, and aesthetics of 3D image-making in photography, film, painting, and computer graphics; more importantly, students will learn to create their own stereoscopic work. Projects will include both still and moving images, and can be live (photo/film/video) or digitally created.

The topics we will cover include:

[edit] Textbook

[edit] Grading

You are allowed one free absence; after that, each absence will cost you 2% of your overall grade. Once we start making stuff, we'll want to look at and discuss everyone's work regularly - this is part of the class participation. Participation also includes discussion of readings and of the films that will be viewed in class.

The exam will take place some time toward the end the semester. It will cover both the technical and historical aspects of stereoscopy.

Assignments will be given in class, and due in class one week later. Late assignments are penalized one letter grade per 24 hour period that they're late. One that's more than 72 hours late will not earn any points. You will be working on your final project during the second half of the semester; a complete rough cut should be ready to be shown in the final class session. The completed project may be turned in during finals week. Assignments are to be done individually. The final project may be a team project or an individual one, and may take any form - film, video, computer animation, video game, installation, book, performance, etc. - as long as it's stereoscopic.

[edit] Policies & Other details

[edit] E-mail

I will send any e-mail relating to this course to your official buffalo.edu address. Be sure that you check this address. Do not ask me to send e-mail to another address instead - if you don't want to use the buffalo.edu mail system, forward your mail from there to whatever system you do use.

Also, be warned that mail from free services like Hotmail or Yahoo has a strong chance of being caught by spam filters. Hence, I recommend not sending me e-mail from such an address, if you want to be certain that I'll receive it.

[edit] Lab Fee

This course carries a lab fee of $100.

[edit] Students with Disabilities

If you have a disability (physical, learning or psychological) which may make it difficult for you to carry out the course work as outlined, and/or requires accomodations such as recruiting note takers, readers, or extended time on exams and assignments, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 25 Capen Hall, 645-2608, and also your instructor during the first two weeks of class. ODS will provide you with information and will review appropriate arrangements for reasonable accomodations.

[edit] Plagiarism

Plagiarism is literary theft and a betrayal of trust. The term is derived from the Latin word for kidnapper and refers to the act of signing one's own name to words, phrases, or ideas which are the literary property of another. Plagiarism comes in many forms, all to be avoided: outright copying, or paraphrase, or a mosaic or disguised use of words and phrases from an unacknowledged source. To avoid plagiarism, make it your habit to put quotation marks around words and phrases, or to isolate and indent longer passages, that you are using from someone else's writing. And be sure to cite the source, in a footnote or endnote, or within parentheses in your text. The penalties for plagiarism can be severe: from an F for the particular assignment, to an F for the course, to referral of the case to the Dean of Undergraduate Education for administrative judgment. If you are unsure about how to use and document sources, please consult with your instructor.

[edit] Weapons as props

If you are planning a student production which involves using any prop which could be interpreted to be a weapon [toy gun, BB gun, knife, etc.] and you are planning to shoot on the UB campus or any other public place, you must obtain written permission from Campus Security or the equivalent authority before you shoot. If you do not, you will face serious problems including possible expulsion from the university.

[edit] Sexual harassment

Sexual Harassment of employees and students, as defined below, is contrary to University policy and is a violation of federal and state laws and regulations.

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:

  1. submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic advancement;
  2. submission or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting such individual;
  3. such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment

No university employee of either gender shall impose a requirement of sexual cooperation as a condition of employment or academic advancement, or in any way contribute to or support unwelcome physical or verbal sexual behavior.

Any member of the university community who requires additional information or who wishes to make a complaint or receive a copy of the University procedures to be followed for complaints arising from matters related to the policies outlined above should contact the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Affirmative Action Administration, 406 Capen Hall, 716-645-2266.

Examples of Sexual Harassment

What to do if you are harassed
Do:

Don't: