School of Arts

  • Niran, Kimara Moodley, Durban Art Gallery

    Animated Truth

  • Claire Dongo, Durban Art Gallery

    The many faces of Bob

  • Dr Yane Bakreski, Durban Art Gallery

    Augmented Abstraction

  • Dr Stewart & Dr Bakreski, Durban Art Gallery

    Big Man

  • Jethro Settler, Dennis Hurley Building

    Projection

About Digital Arts

The discipline of Digital Arts was introduced at UKZN Pietermaritzburg Campus in 2011. Based on the best practices in the world, it is designed to meet the needs of the new generation digital and new media artists, prepared to pursuit their individual interests in the academia, industry or as individual artists. Digital Arts is offered as an undergraduate major and postgraduate study (Honours, MA and PhD) within the Humanities and within the BA and SocSCi Degrees. Digital Arts at present at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels offers almost of the art forms that involve digital technology as a production tool, such as digital photography and video, graphic design and visual communication, digital drawing and painting, digital graphic novels and web comics, 3D modelling etc., as well as art forms that reflect on the digital technology as a medium (new media art), such as digital art installation, internet art, augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality etc. The discipline also offers an extremely strong Animation strand, including traditional 2D animation, 3D animation, and experimental animation.

Digital Arts Team

Buthelezi, Lelo
Buthelezi, Lelo Lecturer
Digital Arts • Pietermaritzburg Campus
Reddiar, Wayne
Reddiar, Wayne Lecturer
Digital Arts • Pietermaritzburg Campus
Stewart, Michelle
Stewart, Michelle Lecturer
Digital Arts • Pietermaritzburg Campus
Melikhaya Noqamza
Melikhaya Noqamza Digital Arts, Technician
noqamzaM@ukzn.ac.za • 033-260-6545

Undergraduate Modules

The undergraduate major encompasses two areas of study: a theoretical component which is aimed at understanding of the nature of digital media and a creative component aimed at helping students develop the skills needed to exploit the multiple creative possibilities that have been unleashed by the digital revolution. The undergraduate programme consists of 8 modules, 2 taken in the 1st year of study, 2 in the 2nd and 4 in the 3rd. These modules are divided into 4 “theory” modules and 4 “practical” modules, although this is a very loose distinction, since the theory modules incorporate a certain amount of practical work and the practical components draw on and extend students’ theoretical understanding. A more detailed account of the structure of the major is presented below.

Modules

AllDigital ArtsLevel 1Level 2Level 3Undergraduate

DIGA110: Introduction to Digital Media (Theory)

This module begins by offering students a basic introduction to Digital Arts theory, in particular the impact of the digital revolution on Visual Culture, Contemporary...

Cont. Reading

DIGA101: Introduction to Digital Arts (Practical: laboratory-based)

This module aims to introduce students to current practices and principals of the digital arts as they apply to conceptual and contemporary creative production. This...

Cont. Reading

DIGA201: Applied Digital Arts (Practical: lab-based)

The module extends knowledge and skills introduced in DIGA101. Content can include Graphic arts and design, 3D modelling and Digital Photography.

Cont. Reading

DIGA210: Film Studies (Theory)

This module extends ideas taught in DIGA110 and introduces concepts and ideas relating to moving image practices, in particular as they relate to the digital...

Cont. Reading

DIGA301: Advanced Digital Arts 1 Arts (Practical: laboratory-based)

The module aims to extend the practices and principles of digital art established in levels one and two. It further introduces time-based art – such...

Cont. Reading

DIGA302: Advanced Digital Arts 2 (Practical: laboratory-based)

The module extends the 2D and 3D animation processes established in DIGA301 and introduces interactivity, installation and advanced design.

Cont. Reading

AHIS310 20th Century Art, Visual Culture & Theory

This module introduces contemporary and new media art practice and theory.

Cont. Reading

DIGA311: Digital Theory (Theory)

This capstone module extends and deepens students understanding of Contemporary and New Media art – in particular as it relates to Post Media aesthetics, theory...

Cont. Reading

Postgraduate Modules

This program is comprised of 50% theory and 50% practice. The aim of this program is to introduce advanced level digital arts production and theory and to allow students to engage with a certain level of specialisation. The content for both the theoretical and practice-based components draw on and extend conceptual, aesthetic and technical processes and ideas introduced at the undergraduate level. The postgraduate honours programme consists of 4 modules; 2 studio-based modules and 2 theoretical modules. Students are required to take one studio-based and one theory-based module per semester. While, the studio-based modules focus on specialisation and independent research – these modules may include structured tuition depending on the digital processes that are taught. The theory-based modules include a critical to introduction academic writing and research and a long essay of 10-12000 words. The content builds on that taught in the undergraduate program and importantly relates to practice as well as theory.

Modules

AllDigital ArtsLevel 1Level 2Semester 1Semester 2Postgraduate

Diga701: Digital Arts Studio Work

While this module may be project-based, it also focuses on individual specialisation within the field of Digital Arts practice. Students are required to research and...

Cont. Reading

Diga710: Critical Methodologies

The aim of this component of the module is for students to learn the skills and knowledge required for researching and writing an extended study...

Cont. Reading

DIGA702: Digital Arts Studio Work

As with DIGA701, students are required to research and produce a creative digital art project. While this project will be guided by lecturers, the emphasis...

Cont. Reading

DIGA7RP: Research Paper

The aim of this module is for students to apply the research skills and knowledge acquired from DIGA710 in semester one. Students are required to...

Cont. Reading

MA and PhD degrees in Digital Arts

Study at these levels can be pursued at the MA and PhD levels. Research can be practice-based with a textual component or purely theory-based. However,...

Cont. Reading

Digital Arts News

Art Work Gallery