Dr Paul Dolan

Assistant Professor

Department: Arts

Teaching

MI7005 Experimental Animation 1: This module uses experimental processes to help students reflect on and develop their animation practice.
MI6021 & MI6015 Final Project Research and Development & Final Project: Production and Realisation: This module constitutes the final year project for undergraduates, in which they make a short animated film over the course of a year.
MI5018 Compositing for Animation: This module provides students with an opportunity to composite 2D and 3D animation into live video footage.
MI5015 3D Games Design: This module introduces students to real-time animation, game engine processes and visual scripting. Students are asked to re-create the inside of a contemporary artists’ mind using a game engine.
In the past I have also taught Introduction to Animation, Motion Graphics, Sound and Edit and Interactive Animation.

Email Paul

Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

I am an artist and researcher. My research is based around computer simulations and the environment, and can be divided into four main areas of interest:

The ecological impact of virtual culture –I am interested in the operational and physical impact of computer simulations and digital media on the physical environment. My current practice explores physical sites involved in the mining, manufacturing and disposal of digital media. This work sits within a critical media infrastructures context.

The ontology of Computer simulations – I use the term computer simulations to mean animation, videogames and VFX processes across commercial and artistic contexts. I am interested in the ontological form and behaviour of computer simulations – what they are, how they work, and what impact they have on contemporary life. This is informed by theories of ontogenesis and theories of becoming in Giles Delueze and Gilbert Simondon.

Recalcitrant Temporalities – I am interested in how time is constructed in real-time computer simulations. My research challenges the simplicity of the term ‘real-time’ and offers an Assemblage Theory-based approach to understanding heterogenous temporalities that cut across human, non-human, physical and virtual domains.

Re-materialising simulations – My research adopts new-materialist philosophies to understanding digital media and art. I am interested in using contemporary art practice to gain a better understanding of where the intersections of the real and virtual lie in computer simulations. Existing research on Software Studies, Media Ecologies, Media Archaeology and other forms of Digital Materialisms all underpin this line of thinking.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Recalcitrant Temporalities: Heterogenous Time and the Simulated Image, Dolan, P. 1 Mar 2020, Machinic Assemblages of Desire, Leuven, Leuven University Press
Expanded Animation, Convento Sao Pedro de Alcantara: 31st Society for Animation Studies, Dolan, P. 17 Jun 2019
From Silicon to Pixel: Exploring the material origins of the simulated image, Dolan, P. 18 Jun 2019, The 31st Conference of the Society for Animation Studies
In Silico: A practice-based exploration of computer simulations in art, Dolan, P. 1 Jun 2019
Spruce Pine, North Carolina (2018) - 8 minute HD video, Dolan, P. 1 Sep 2018
Records and Wireframes: NEON Festival, CentreSpace, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Dolan, P. 9 Nov 2017
Learning extended writing: Designing for children's collaboration, Heslop, P., Kharrufa, A., Balaam, M., Leat, D., Dolan, P., Olivier, P. Jun 2013, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Interaction Design and Children, New York, ACM
Self-Organised Learning Environments (SOLEs) in an English School: an example of transformative pedagogy?, Dolan, P., Leat, D., Mazzoli Smith, L., Mitra, S., Todd, L., Wall, K. Nov 2013, In: Online Education Research Journal
Tables in the Wild: Lessons Learned from a Large-Scale Multi-Tabletop Deployment, Kharrufa, A., Balaam, M., Heslop, P., Leat, D., Dolan, P., Olivier, P. Apr 2013, CHI 2013 (ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems)