4D Areas of Study

The 4D Art area of study includes photography and intermedia art. The photography courses provide students with the technical and conceptual background necessary to build compelling photographic practices through experimentation, thoughtful critique and scholarly research on the theoretical, critical, and historical discourses. The program includes both film and digital techniques, as well as interdisciplinary approaches. The intermedia art area provides students with the technical and conceptual background to produce compelling work in a range of time-based practices with internet, performance, video, photography, and algorithmic based art. Intermedia Art uses technologies as dynamic, experimental, and critical tools for artmaking. Faculty emphasize exploration, speculation, innovation, and scholarly research.

Photography and Video

The photography and video area provides you with the technical and conceptual background necessary to build compelling image-based practices. You’ll achieve this through experimentation, thoughtful making and critique, in addition to scholarly research on the theoretical, critical and historical discourses surrounding the fields of photography and video. 

Students are encouraged to assemble a unique constellation of interests that facilitates self-directed, self-motivated research and art production.

Photography and video faculty teach both film and digital techniques, as well as cross-disciplinary moves between photography, video, performance and installation. Studio courses use digital and black-and-white darkrooms, scanning, lighting techniques, software, and a range of camera formats including 35mm, DSLR, medium format and 4 x 5 film cameras, darkroom and digital printing. 

The photography and video area annually presents the Handtmann Photographic Lecture Series and fosters connections to the rich, multilayered cultural resources of Los Angeles via public exhibitions, lectures, films and happenings.

Intermedia and Performance Art

The Intermedia area provides you with the technical and conceptual background to produce compelling work in a range of time-based practices with internet, performance, video, photography and algorithmic-based art.

An intra-dependent area of study, Intermedia Art uses technologies as dynamic, experimental and critical tools for artmaking. Faculty teach both studio practice and theoretical courses with an emphasis on exploration, speculation, innovation and scholarly research. You will encounter a vast and intersectional selection of historic and contemporary moving image, media and performance art focusing on discursive art practices and arts influence on culture and society.

The Intermedia program fosters your connection to the rich, multilayered cultural resources of Los Angeles via public exhibitions, lectures, films and happenings.