GRADUATE

The Art, Culture, and Technology (ACT) program at MIT offers a Master of Science in Art, Culture and Technology (SMACT), a rigorous and selective two-year graduate program.

At MIT, admission to each graduate program is coordinated by the academic department to which the graduate program belongs. The Art, Culture, and Technology program is a discipline group within the Department of Architecture. Therefore, all applicants seeking admission to the SMACT degree program apply through the Department of Architecture admissions office. Application information can be found on the Architecture website.

ACT offers a diverse range of subjects, from courses exploring media that include photography, video, and sound, to examinations of cinema, public art, and the intersections of art and culture in the public sphere.

Students looking to explore ACT offerings start by taking either Introduction to Artistic Experimentation (4.301) or Foundations in Art, Design, and Spacial Practices for Architecture Majors (4.302). Both of these subjects introduce students to artistic practice and aesthetic analysis through studio work and lectures. Projects evolve through stages of conceptual and material development to final presentation. Upon completion of 4.301 or 4.302, or with permission of the instructor students can take more advanced subjects in the Program. Emphasis is placed on conceptual development and experimental approaches to studio production in both traditional and new media. Artistic practices range from the personal narrative of the video diary to collaborative public projects that invite community participation.

CAVS leadership. Otto Piene, a member of the ZERO group, succeeded Prof. Kepes as director in 1974. Following Piene’s retirement in 1994, the internationally-known artist and VAP faculty member, artist Krzysztof Wodiczko, became director of CAVS. Steve Benton, inventor of the white-light “rainbow” hologram, directed CAVS from 1996 until his death in 2003; and in 2004, Wodiczko returned as director with the goal of emphasizing critical engagement with the intellectual and ethical questions posed by the social construction of advanced technologies. With the appointment of Associate Director Larissa Harris, and under the leadership of Krzysztof Wodiczko, the Center embarked on a revitalization program which included creating a visiting artist program and strong focus on transdisciplinary production embedded in MIT’s scientific and technological community.

Undergraduate students looking to further their studies can declare a HASS minor in Art, Culture and Technology, or fulfill their HASS Concentration Requirement within ACT.