Jason brings up a situation we often see in the world of digital literature, and elsewhere, as well. That situation--obliquely anticipated in Alvin Toffler's Future Shock--is the distance between new technologies and the artist. Where does the learning curve of new technologies and the innate predilection of artistic impulse meet? In what individual do we find a happy combination of the two? Unfortunately, the meeting between artist and new technologies is rarely a happy one. More common is the artist fooling amateurishly with new technologies or the new technologist aspiring to artistry.
This is why we see collaboration as the new order of the day in new media, and the successful solo artist a rarity. After all, who can command all that technology? Where do we find that individual who has experience, or even a notable sense, of multiple disciplines?
Obviously, I am exaggerating here, and we could easily point to many examples that defy my points. But at the heart of it is an important question that those of us who teach new media need to address: how do we best prepare students for this brave new world?
Best,
alan
--- On Mon, 5/9/11, Jason Nelson <heliopod@gmail.com> wrote:
> From: Jason Nelson <heliopod@gmail.com>
> Subject: [Yasmin_discussions] boundaries and new and bio
> To: yasmin_discussions@estia.media.uoa.gr
> Date: Monday, May 9, 2011, 5:22 AM
> All,
>
> I'm eager to jump into numerous of these threads. So I'll
> pop in some
> thoughts regarding what seem to be two general themes
> brewing. The
> notion of boundaries and the evolving use of tech (both
> electronic and
> biological) in art/science.
>
> I see the two as quite inter-tangled in numerous ways, but
> one in
> particular strikes me as an artist/poet/creator. And that
> is that,
> honestly, I do not care. I don't mean to sound flippant or
> be
> dismissive, but I could care less about where the
> boundaries between
> art forms and media live. Additionally, I'm little
> interested (again
> as a creator) in how new technology is created or where
> the
> technology/biology sits in relation to other
> past/current/future
> advancements.
>
> Instead I am interested in what is being created, in the
> artworks/creations/poetry/whatever being built/born with
> those tools.
> Much of "new media" or "bio art" or "insert term and
> creative
> nomenclature" is discussed in how it relates to that
> technology or how
> that technology is being used or how the art is somehow
> redrafting
> lines and on and on. These kind of conceptual and
> theoretical are
> immensely interesting to me as a casual intellectual. And I
> can
> certainly see the need for such discussions as society
> grapples with
> how these new development impact our lives and conditions
> and
> relationships. But, as an artist, I do not would rather
> experience the
> creation, rather play/explore/being consumed within the
> artwork than
> have to consider boundaries and the intersections of
> science.
>
> One of the concerns about the use of "new media" is that it
> isnt
> "new". And that all artwork or poetry uses technology of
> some sort or
> other. And so why qualify it. Indeed, I don't want to look
> at an
> artwork and have to consider how cool it is that a GPS
> tracker is
> being attached to an arm, or a cellular clump is being
> eaten by
> another cellular clump that looks like a baseball hat. I
> simply want
> to experience the artwork, I want the experience to
> transcend the
> tools, to become its own creation and not a curious use of
> new
> technology.
>
> Again....and I know I keep repeating this, I am not saying
> these
> discussions arent worth while. Because they absolutely are.
> I am just
> tired of seeing works that are all about the process and no
> so much
> about the artwork itself, they are all about the science,
> with a
> little bit of art thrown in.
>
> Of course, then again, I really do want to see cellular
> clumps eat
> each other. As long as they are shaped like Sarah Pallin.
>
> cheers, Jason
>
> --
> Jason Nelson
>
> Net Art/Digital Poetry and other oddities
>
> http://www.secrettechnology.com
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