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September 10, 2007

Margaret Morse appointed Acting Dean of Arts Division

By Scott Rappaport (831) 459-2496; srapp@ucsc.edu

Margaret Morse has been named Acting Dean of the Arts Division for the 2007-08 academic year, effective September 15.

Morse has been providing interim leadership as Associate Dean of the Arts since July 1, when longtime arts dean Edward Houghton retired. A professor of film and digital media, Morse has also served for the past academic year as chair of the Digital Arts and New Media (DANM) M.F.A. Program.

Morse's research explores cultural change through media, focusing on forms ranging from film, television and video, to new media and digital culture. Her numerous books and articles include theoretical essays on interconnected cultural forms, such as freeways, malls and television, as well as on particular media art forms such as installation and closed-circuit video, plus the examination of the meaning of interactivity and immersion in the digital arts. Her contemporary media art criticism addresses a wide range of work in the United States and Europe.

Morse is currently working on a monograph about Leni Riefenstahl’s film Triumph of the Will; writing for a research project by Scottish artist Clara Ursitti, who works to connect profoundly learning-disabled adults who are non-communicative by focusing on the sense of smell; writing about changing media forms for the journal American Art; and undertaking a research project on the topic of collaboration with the Anarchive collective of the Sorbonne and The Labyrinth Project at USC, plus three DANM M.F.A. students. She is also co-editor of the new Art, Technology and Culture book series at UC Press.

Morse said her plans for the Arts Division over the coming year include a commitment to enhance the division's presence on the web, create new opportunities for interdisciplinary research, and promote support for new graduate programs and long-term capital projects.

"I want to put more emphasis on development outreach and obtaining more grants to support students and research projects," said Morse. "The division needs to increase support for new graduate programs that will be established in the next few years, such as the Ph.D program in film and digital media and the History of Art and Visual Culture Ph.D in visual culture, both in the final stage of approval," she added.

The search for a permanent Arts Division Dean will continue this fall with the appointment of a new search committee. A previous search closed last spring without a selected candidate.

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