VIZA 641 : Visual Storytelling
Fall 2016


Syllabus
Syllabus: VIZA 641, Visual Storytelling

Catalog Data: Viza 641, Visual Storytelling, (2-2) 3.

Instructor: Ergun Akleman, Ph.D.

Hours: MW 10:20am - 11:10am & MW 10:20am - 12:00pm

Office: Langford A, Room 105

Classroom: Architecture C 205

Phone Number: (979) 845-6599

E-mail: ergun dot akleman at gmail dot com

Office Hours: Open Door Policy

Description: Exploration of visual storytelling techniques for the attainment of desired storytelling effects; includes character development, using shots, camera, lights, props and background elements, master plots, one and multi-panel cartoons, comics, storyboards, animatics and story-reels.

Prerequisites: MS/PhD Status or Consent of the instructor.

Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will know the state of the art in the visual storytelling. They will understand visual elements of stories, understand transformation and manipulation of these elements, they will be able to create their own stories and they will be able to undertake creative work and research involving visual storytelling.

Attendance: Attendance is required.

Course Outline: Course will cover character development including Exaggeration, Stereotyping and breaking streotypes, Animal Attributes, Facial Expressions and Gender; Principles of Animation for Visual Storytelling such as Staging, Anticipation, Follow Through, Curves or Line of Motion, Line of Action. Project Types will include Posters, One Panel Cartoons, Multi-Panel Cartoons, Comics, Storyboards, Animatics and Story Reels. The course also covers Shots such as Line of Interest, Apex, interior and exterior shots, Randomly ordered Shots, Changing shot order. We will also discuss Secondary Elements such as Lighting, Camera Position, Props and Background Elements. The course will cover Master Plots including Quest, Adventure, Pursuit, Rescue, Escape, Revenge, Underdog, Riddle, Rivalry, Temptation, Metamorphosis, Transformation, Maturation, Love, Forbidden Love, Sacrifice, Discovery, Wretched Excess, Ascension and Descension. We will also analyze Main-Genres such as Horror, Western, Science Fiction, War, Epic/Historical, Crime / Gangster, Comedy, Adventure, Action, Drama, Musicals and Sub-Genres such as Biopics, Detective/Mystery, Disaster, Fantasy, Film Noir, Guy and Girl, Melodramas, Road, Romance, Sports, Supernatural, Thriller/Suspense.

Course Materials:
It will be provided in class.

Additional Resources:

  • Katz, Steven D., Shot by shot, Michael Wiese Productions, Studio City, CA 1991.
  • Tobias B. Ronald, 20 Master Plots and How to Build Them,
  • Culhane, Shamus, Animation from script to screen, St. Martin Press, New York, 1988.
  • Arijon, Daniel, Grammar of the film language, Silman-James Press, Los Angeles, 1991.
  • Blair, Preston, Cartoon Animation, Walter Foster Publishing, Laguna Hills, CA, 1994.
  • Thomas, Frank and O. Johnson, The illusion of life, Hyperion, New York, 1981.

Grading Policy
Projects: 40 points
Quizzes: 40 points
Class Participation: 20 points

The highest possible grade is 100.

  • A Grade >90 points
  • B 90 points > Grade >80 points
  • C 80 points > Grade >70 points
  • D 70 points >Grade >60 points
  • F 60 points > Grade

Projects:
Students will be responsible to complete projects. The project descriptions are available in class project website. The grading will be based on both quality and process. Quality mesaures are provided in associated project pages. If you miss the target date, your project will be graded over %50 of actual grade.

Quizzes:
We will have weekly quizzes in class. Quizzes will be evaluated by peers and me. If you miss a class-quiz with no-excuse, you will be able take the quiz next week, but your work will be graded over %50 of actual grade.

Class Participation:
Class participation will be computed mainly based on attendance. Students will miss 2 point for each class they miss from their "class participation grade". A student can miss at most 20 points from class participation. Students who regularly provide insightful inputs by participating class discussions will get some bonus points in class participation.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy Statement
The following ADA Policy Statement (part of the Policy on Individual Disabling Conditions) was submitted to the University Curriculum Committee by the Department of Student Life. The policy statement was forwarded to the Faculty Senate for information.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities, in Cain Hall or call 845-1637.

Academic Integrity Statements

Aggie Honor Code

An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.

Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System. Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the TAMU community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor System.

For additional information please visit: http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/

Plagiarism
In this course, we want to encourage collaboration and the free interchange of ideas among students and in particular the discussion of homework assignments, approaches to solving them, etc. However, we do not allow plagiarism, which, as commonly defined, consists of passing off as one's own the ideas, words, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated.
If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, please consult the latest issue of the Texas A&M University Student Rules, under the section on Scholastic Dishonesty.

College of Architecture's "Don't deface the property" statement
"It is unlawful for any person to damage or deface any of the buildings, statues, monuments, trees, shrubs, grasses, or flowers on the grounds of any state institutions of higher education (Texas Education Code Section 51.204)"
The words damage or deface refer specifically to any and all actions, whether direct or indirect, that either diminish the value or mar the appearance of the physical environment.

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