Most Influential

1. Ten Nelson and hypertext

Before this class, I had never imagined that the Internet could exist any other way than it exists now. Previously I knew that it was Tim Berners-Lee's brainchild, but I had no knowledge that the Internet had precursors or that there was controversy around the idea of the net (except for issues of net neutrality). Nelson's notion of hypertext is interesting because it envisions the web as something for academic use, made to enhance knowledge and organization. Today's Internet does that in a sense, but its multiple other uses make it indeed something different from what Nelson imagined. Though Nelson's Internet may never exist the way he intended, I think it is important to keep his goals of academic integrity and intellectual lineage in mind as the World Wide Web continues to evolve.

2. Science and math as art - Ken Perlin and Carsten Holler

You can't have digital art without math and science, and I think what I will take away from this class is that the art does not come despite the scientific nature of it but BECAUSE of that very nature. The beauty, as I learned from Ken Perlin and Carsten Holler, is in the very processes that go into making the digital art. In school we art taught that art and science/math are opposed, but in fact more and more they are connected in meaningful ways, to the benefit of both math/science and art. Math and science make digital art possible, and I think that is good, because it allows more people to get involved with art, both right brainers and left brainers. Those two types of people can even work together, and that is where the real magic happens.

3. Intellectual curiosity

There are certainly other big concepts that I will remember from this class including digital journalism (Michael Strickland), data visualization (THINK exhibit), and the future of technology in daily life (augmented reality), but there is something else that I will remember first and foremost: the virtue of constantly learning about the world around you — its past, its present, and its future. Whether it's music or fashion or art, Cynthia taught me, by example, that pursuing an interest in the constantly changing world is a fulfilling way to live life. Whether it was literature, or a museum, or a YouTube link, Cynthia was always excited about something and being with her made me feel inspired to pay more attention to things that are new and positive. This is a lesson whose importance transcends the classroom.