News: Students Learn Computer Animation

During the January term, the Communications Arts Sciences Department (CAS) offered the course “After Effects and the Sixty-Second Seduction.” This unique class provided students with a hands-on opportunity to learn new software while creating promotional spots together.

Taught by Professor James Korf, the course focused on the power of images and the use of Adobe After Effects. Korf says, “The class allowed students interested in Adobe After Effects to learn that program. It is an important and powerful tool.”

30-Second CAS Department Promos
Kevin Buist:
Mike Jackson:
Pow Navarro:
Prof. James Korf:
For the first two weeks, students spent up to five hours daily in front of the computer, meticulously working through program tutorials. Korf explains that once they gained enough expertise, students produced moving images, stylized with typography and music. The outcome was a collection of thirty-second promotional videos designed by each individual that promote the CAS department. View some of the final projects by clicking a compatible format at right.

Korf explains the power of visual imaging, “It’s the way in which one is usually seduced by images. It deals with the juxtaposition of images through typography, which is almost always moving.

An image, which is well composed, using particular colors, has an aesthetic balance to it, which is moving, has light reflections, and is compelling to the eye, causes us to look at what is on the screen. You can’t help but look.”

Students worked alongside their professor, who was also learning the program. Korf says, “This is a program I wanted to learn. Everything they did, I did.” Senior Mike Jackson speaks enthusiastically of learning with Korf. “Although more advanced, and with a greater wealth of knowledge in the field of video production, he learned along with his students, which increased his approachability and made him more of a co-learner rather than simply a professor.”

Working with Adobe After Effects challenged students, but ultimately the relaxed and explorative learning environment proved to be stimulating. Jackson says, “I think that the greatest asset of the course can be found in the way in which it was structured. Rather than having a strictly followed syllabus, the class focused more on understanding the program through your own efforts. The best part of the course, in my opinion, is that it afforded me time to sit down and thoroughly explore the program without the pressure of assignments due every day.”

In addition to the hands-on experiences, an underlying theme of ethics blanketed the course’s objectives. Korf says, “It’s a powerful, seductive tool. Sometimes an image is so seductive that people watch the images instead of retaining the message. When you learn a new tool, you must make choices on how to use that tool. You can use it anyway you want to. You must think about how to use it in a positive manner instead of a negative one.”

The class also provided students with insight on work discipline. Jackson says, “It takes work to stay ahead of the competition in real life, and with competition comes flexibility. However, this doesn't mean that you can't enjoy the experience of expanding your horizons. This class was a great example of how flexibility pays off in the field of video production. The ability to learn a piece of software and produce a high quality product within the three weeks of interim shows just that ability to compete in the marketplace.”

Equipping students with both technical and ethical tools, the interim course “After Effects and the Sixty Second Seduction” proved successful for students and professor alike. Korf says, “There are all kinds of great software on the market, but you need to dig in and learn them to include them as part of your repertoire. This course offered an excellent opportunity to work through such a program."

—Kaitlyn Bohlin