While interest in the electronic arts has grown rapidly in the last twenty years or so, there are still not many programs like Madison's, which train students broadly in many media and provide them with a grounding in aesthetics and theory. While many people may feel themselves unfamiliar with electronic or computer-based arts, one might think of Laurie Anderson's performance pieces or Philip Glass' minimalist music as examples of this type of work. Through visiting-artist engagements and student exhibitions, the Madison community has an opportunity to see what contemporary artists are doing. Over time, the Interarts program will incorporate new technologies as they are developed. However, the approach is not to experiment with new software in a willy-nilly fashion, but to seek those technologies that truly show artistic potential.
Creative expression is the goal, and technology a means to that end.
A long-range aim is to create a master's degree program to accompany the current offering, a B.S. in Dance with an Interarts and Technology Option. As technology becomes more prevalent in everyday life, altering the way people communicate, work, and spend their leisure time, it comes as no surprise that technology is also influencing the way people express themselves artistically. In the Interarts and Technology program, technology is both a tool for expression and, at times, the subject itself. For more information about the Interarts and Technology program, see its home page or contact the program coordinator, Professor Joseph Koykkar .