Preparing students for further study or careers in fields such as fine arts, entertainment, and media
Art/Drawing
This course emphasizes Art/Drawing Elements (Line, Shape, Color, Texture, Tone) and Principles (Focal Point, Balance, Leading Lines, Pattern, Perspective, Proportion and Scale). In the first part of the class, students explore drawing/printmaking exercises that help them develop technical skills with various art materials in relationship to the Elements and Principles. In the second part of the class, students choose a socially-‐engaged theme or topic, and then use their drawing/printmaking skills to create one or more substantially sized compositions that express their chosen theme. Students then present their final composition(s) at the Student Exhibition at the end of the semester, using critique methods that have been taught throughout the entire semester.
Digital Photography
Students are introduced to basic techniques of digital photography through a series of group discussions and photography assignments. Assignments emphasize skills related to Rule-‐of-‐Thirds, composition, natural and artificial light, focal point, leading lines, depth of field, and other visual aesthetics techniques. Students visit various museums and galleries, San Francisco and Bay area “iconic” locations, and a Reprographics business. Students will print out several of their digital photos and present a thematic series of prints at an Exhibition at the end of the semester, using critique methods that have been taught throughout the entire semester.
Films & Filmmaking
This course presents the history of cinema from its birth to today. We study films and filmmakers who are critical to the evolution of the medium in terms of technique and societal and cultural impact. We review all of cinemas’ media relatives; from radio, newsreels, music videos and commercials to YouTube and Snap Chat. We also explore the technical aspects of how films are made so that we can apply these techniques to the process of making films via project based learning. The overall goal is to illuminate students to the essential works of cinema and media and apply this knowledge to the making films.