Creative Software Systems

Contact information: Thor Magnusson
Email: T.Magnusson<what?>sussex.ac.uk

Where & when:

Lecture Group: Tuesday - 11.00-12.00 Arundel Building 1B
Seminar Group 1: Wednesday - 11.00-13.00 Pevensey 1 2A02

Teaching method: Lectures, Seminars
Assessment modes: Coursework
Prerequisites: None

Course outline :
The course provides a general introduction to the field of computational and computer-mediated creativity as applied in the various fields of technological art. Teaching makes use of seminars, guest lectures and workshops. Formal assessment is via an extended essay. Seminar performance is informally assessed.

Seminar arrangements :
Each seminar focusses on an important piece of work from the field of computational creativity. This may be a theoretical thesis or something practical. At the seminar two students jointly present the piece of work, taking 20 minutes to describe its key points, background literature etc., and to generally highlight anything there is to be said in favour. Following this, two students jointly present a critique of the work describing its problems and difficulties and clearly delineating any unsatisfactory aspects. Following this, 40 minutes is used for open debate on presentations and issues raised. The final 10 minutes will then be spent on an evaluation session.

Students who have the role of "scribe" for a seminar take notes on the presentations and the debate and jointly write these up in a 1000-word summary which is then posted on the course website in the blog section immediately. All seminar participants then write a paragraph on the blog in the form of "blog comment" about their view of the session and other comments that were not expressed, if any. (within 7 days).

Learning outcomes :
By the end of the course a successful student should be able to:
1) Descibe several relevant approaches and techniques used in the study of creativity, demonstrating some understanding of the definitions and positions held by each. 2) Explain some of the approaches taken in the description and modelling of creative processes, and the production of creative artifacts, in terms of aim, mechanism and results.

Assessment :
Extended Essay
Seminar Participation

References:
The Creative Mind by Margret Boden
But mainly photocopies and electronic files from the tutor.

Optional bibliography to be found [here]

And some useful links [here]

Course software :
SuperCollider
Pure Data
Processing