06 Jun 2013

MediaArtHistories Master - Danube University
Riga Immersion - Fall 2013

The MediaArtHistories MA at Danube University is the only international Master of Arts program focusing on preparing art professionals and researchers through a deep exploration of the diverse histories of Media Art, Science and Technology. The program is a two-year low-residency, either 90 or 120 ECTS Master's degree offered in English. In addition to individual study and project work at your home location, students gather twice a year for two-week seminars with internationally noted media artists and scholars. These intense and enriching sessions take place at Danube University or another European location relevant to the community of media art, such as Linz, Austria, Berlin, Germany, and Riga, Latvia.

Since its beginnings in 2006, Danube University's MAH program has offered its students both a deeper critical comprehension and a practical orientation regarding the most important developments of contemporary art, by building on its faculty network of renowned international theorists, artists, and curators. The connections and community that are formed during the two-week modules are maintained with online networking and project collaboration throughout the year.

==> BRAIN TRUST – Faculty of the MediaArtHistories program have included: Erkki HUHTAMO, Lev MANOVICH, Christiane PAUL, Roger MALINA, Jens HAUSER, Jeffrey SHAW, Jussi PARIKKA, Sean CUBITT, Paul SERMON, Oliver GRAU, Christa SOMMERER, Edward SHANKEN, Frieder NAKE, Machiko KUSAHARA, Nat MULLER, Gunalan NADARAJAN, Monika FLEISCHMANN, Margit ROSEN, Knowbotic Research, Andreas LANGE, Christopher SALTER, Darko FRITZ, Irina ARISTARKHOVA, and others.

==> CONTENT - Media Art History offers a basis for understanding evolutionary history of audiovisual media, from historic examples such as the Laterna Magica of the 17th century to the algorithmic art of recent decades. Key approaches and methods from Image Science, Media Archaeology and the History of Science & Technology are explored in depth. Courses cover subjects such as computer animation, net art, interactive, telematic and genetic art as well as the most recent reflections on nano art, bio art, video games as art, and digital gender theory.

==> DANUBE UNIVERSITY - located 70km from Vienna in the UNESCO world heritage Wachau region, Danube University is the only public university in Europe specializing in advanced continuing education by offering low-residency degree programs for working professionals and life-long learners. The University's Center for Image Science is housed in the Göttweig Monastery, a 14th century building remodeled to fit the needs of modern media arts research in singular surroundings.

==> STUDENTS - MediaArtHistories coursework is held in English, and students can be accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis. Acceptance into the program requires either a Bachelor's degree (or higher), or equivalent relevant work experience. Students may travel to Europe twice a year for 2-week blocks of study, or can be eligible for student visas for year-round residency. Thus, working professionals can maintain their usual employment, and students entering directly after a Bachelor's degree will have opportunity to gain valuable career experience while they study. International students to our program have come from locations including Canada, Hong Kong, Ukraine, USA, Japan, Brazil, Iceland, Russia, Egypt, Germany, Austria, Korea and Mexico.

==> MODULES – Oct 1-11, 2013 (taking place immersed in Riga, including the 3-day MediaArtHistories conference Renew) – April 24-May 6, 2014, November 21 – December 1, 2014, April 24 – May 5, 2015

==> APPLICATION (digital) - application form, a letter of motivation, copies of previous degree(s), copy of passport and a Europass CV. An application interview is required, which may be conducted in person or through internet videoconferencing.

www.donau-uni.ac.at/mah
www.mediaarthistory.org/maharchive
www.virtualart.at
www.donau-uni.ac.at/en/studium/medienkunstgeschichte/10365/index.php