Integrated Media

Integrated Media (IM) is a supplemental concentration offered by many MFA programs at CalArts--including the MFA Writing Program. It is designed specifically for advanced students whose creative use of technology--in particular digital media-goes beyond their primary areas of study, or métiers, in art, dance, film/video, music, theater and writing. The Center for Integrated Media supports all IM students across CalArts by enabling them to apply new technologies and integrate multiple media and disciplines into new forms of expression.

The Center for Integrated Media is conceived as an interdisciplinary laboratory where students can combine art, science and technology. It offers specialized IM classes, workshops and seminars, and supports a wide range of projects involving performative and environmental installations, video, sound, music, robotics, gaming, programming, interactivity, computer graphics and the Internet.

Prospective writing students interested in IM as a supplemental concentration apply to the MFA Writing Program and ask to be considered for IM. These applications are reviewed jointly by program faculty and IM faculty. Applicants are expected to show the level of ability required for the Writing Program and, at the same time, demonstrate significant previous experience with digital technologies and interdisciplinary work.

Writing students working in IM must fulfill all the requirements of the Writing Program. In addition, they must complete one IM seminar, one IM critique class and one specific IM project during each year of residency. Further coursework can include independent studies and elective courses on technical and theoretical subjects such as network topologies, new software and hardware, programming basics, operating systems, digital video production and editing, streaming media, interactive tools and new Internet applications.