Velvet-Strike- Anne-Marie Schleiner, Joan Leandre and Brody Condon
Velvet-Strike "is an artistic intervention that enables participants to insert what the artists call 'Counter-military graffiti' into the virtual space of the game Counter Strike." The Velvet-Strike website also provides ways of having virtual protest within the game.
Although the artist states she is not making a statement on violence in video games, that is exactly what I see her doing. The fact that the artists want people to basically protest the game they bought and play is very confusing. I understand that this was close in time to 9/11, but why go after the video game? Often in times of war, War games become popular in the masses because war is relevant to the person. Much like the games Spacewar and SpaceInvaders, both coinciding with a type of military conflict, they become popular because it was on peoples minds. Thanks to technology we have our games are looking more and more realistic, but on average if the AI became real people, most likely around 98% would not participate and 1% of the 2% are most likely military forces.
386 DX- Alexei Shulgin (1998)
Shulgin created a CyberPunk band. The band doesn't actually consist of real people, but of computer generated speech with an "Intel 386DX Processor running text to speech and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) software. The songs sound like a robot singing karaoke to early video game soundtracks.
Oh wow, this is weird. I mean do what makes you happy, but I cant believe he holds actual concerts to watch a program sing. Although I find it odd, I think that it takes a lot of talent and ability to both program and write songs.
aLife- John F. Simon, JR. (2003)
" This work features a grid of 6 continuously changing 3D compositions." Each animation is generated in real time. The software models "recombinant processes of living evolutionary systems.
The Idea is fairly interesting. I would like to see it inaction. I gather from the text and images that the topic/living thing is always moving and changing which is interesting. I like artwork that constantly moves and evolves to show progression.
Female Extension- Cornelia Sollfrank (1997)
Sollfrank made up names and personal information and submitted more than 200 online works to project Extension. She created a software that scanned HTML material and 'remixed' the information. Even though she submitted the majority of art as all female artists the 3 prize winners were all male. Sollfrank "attributes this to the widespread sexism that biases the selection of artists for exhibitions. This discrimination was her intention to critique through Female Extension."
This is the best revilement of sexism in the art world I have ever seen . She has guts to do what she did. I am saddened to see that not too much has changed in the art world in relevance to sexism since 1997.
2001- Wolfgang Staehle
In 1999, Staehle installed Empire 24/7 for the 'net_connection' Exhibit at the ZKM center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe. Empire 24/7 was a 24 hour 7 days a week instillation of a web cam pointed at the Empire state building. The gallery it was hosted in provided the ability for the viewer to feel as if they were merely looking out of a window. In 2001, Staehle installed 2001 in Postmasters Gallery in New York. The instillation consisted of a monastery, a TV tower, and the third webcam was focused on the world trade center. The webcam was on and running on 9/11 2001. The entire attack on the trade center was captured in real time by Staehle.
First of all, The title of the article is 2001. So why until the last paragraph was I hearing all about BBS and Empire 24/7? As for Empire 24/7, I am sure that it was a very beautiful capture of the Empire State building, but I would be bored in a matter of seconds. I like the concept of watching from a live feed from dawn to dusk and through every moment of time. But to be honest...who really sits there to watch it? As for 2001, I would have been bored as well save the fact that a very important moment in our history was captured live. That is the only thing that catches my attention about this type of art. Of course this is my personal aesthetic there are many people who love this type of artwork...That is why I love the world of art...all subjectivity.
The Region of the Transborder Trousers - Torolab (2004-05)
This project utilizes GPS technology and uses it to track the daily life of the 2 cities of Tijuana and San Diego. The project lasted 5 days, all members wore, "Torolab designed garments including a skirt, a vest, 2 pairs of pants and sleeves that could be worn with a t-shirt, each with a hidden compartment for a mexican passport. Each person kept records of their fuel consumption." Once they completed the data collecting of both the GPS and gas consumption over the period of 5 days the information was added to a program that created an animated map of each persons journey across the 2 cities and the border in combination with a gas meter.
This is a cool project, although I thought there was going to be more to the reason for the project. I expected some elaborate meaning behind the reason for the clothes and gas consumption data rather than just an aesthetic experience. However the way the project was installed is really neat and
future-esque. In the photo available it looks much like a hologram which is just so cool! This aesthetic of viewing the final product is what catches my attention.
Bust Down The Door Again! Gates of Hell-Victoria Version- Young-Hae Chang Heavy Industries
In 2000 Bust Down The Doors! was exhibited and told the story of a "midnight raid on a home by unidentified armed aggressors." The 2004, Bust Down The Door Again! Gates of Hell-Victoria Version was a remix of the original in which the original text is used, but superimposed over a picture of the duo's work as it was "displayed on 9 internet refrigerators for an exhibition in the Rodin Gallery in the Samsung Museum of art in Seoul.
I would like to see this in person. I would most likely feel confused from the background and the superimposed text and possibly grow anxious from that combination with the meaning of the words. This remix is very interesting and I can see that there was much thought in how it would be done and the affect to the aesthetic and mental experience.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Textbook: New Media Art- Mark Tribe/Reena Iana (Pg. 64-80)
Horror Chase- Jennifer and Kevin McCoy
Horror Chase is an "electronic sculpture" which is a remake of a scene from the 1987 film "Evil Dead II," directed by Sam Raimi. Instead of 'sampling and remixing' the original film, the couple chose to film their own version through reenactment. The final product is played forwards then backwards in a constant changing loop.
This is a fairly interesting work. I like that rather than taking the original film and remixing it, the artist were original and used their own selves as both actors and directors. I find this is more effective than the original film being remixed or sampled.
Mouchette.org - Mouchette
In 1996, the website mouchetter.org appeared. The maker of the website claims to be a 13 year old girl. "Visitors are greeted with a lurid close up of a flower, its petals crawling with ants, and flies, accompanied by a portrait of a sad looking girl." The website has innocent and suggestive content on different pages of the site. Many pages are interactive some with questions and the ability to answer.
I think this work/website is very important for women as a whole. To me, the fact that people become angry over the sexuality of the young girl and suggestive content is a very good thing. The website itself is both innocent and suggestive. On the home page the words "browse me" are at the bottom where you are able to select and visit other pages. The entire website is suggestive of child pornography, molestation, and innocence accompanied with ignorance of thought knowledge. This work forces people to look at what they don't want to see.
1 year performance video (aka samhsiehupdate) -MTAA
MTAA was working on (2004-2005) an ongoing work called 'updates.' "The artists reinterpret seminal artworks from the 1960's and 70's by using new technologies to perform actions that defined the original process." One of the 'updates' was a year long performance video " which revisits Tehcing (sam) Hsieh's one year performance in 1978-79, aka 'Cage Piece.' MTAA, adapted the piece to fit the 'internet age.' viewers think they are viewing a live feed from the website, but it is a pre-recorded video activated by the viewer and video is chosen by the program based on time of day the viewer watched the video.
I feel this is an interesting play on technology and comparing it to historical performance pieces, but I find it uninteresting. I don't find value in reenactments. Although, it is a great idea and well done I would like to see original ideas that would have relevance with todays audience that plays on technology. This idea can be expanded upon to reach out into possible future events as well.
Shredder 1.0 - Mark Napier (1998)
Shredder 1.0 is a website designed for the viewer to become the participant and help re-create the website. If a web address is entered into the location field at the top of Shredder's website, or chosen from a list of URL's. The website then "deconstructs the original website to form an abstract composition." Napier states that "my works are not objects, but interfaces. The users become collaborators in the artwork, upsetting the conventions of ownership and authority." Napier also states "by interacting with the work, the visitors shape the piece, causing it to change and evolve, often in unpredictable ways. The user is an integral part of the design."
This idea of interactive art is a very important concept today (2011). This continuous always changing work is very important for the viewer. I find it very interesting that he chose what he does for his works. Often artists dislike someone trying to change their work, but Napier invites and promotes it. The entire idea revolves around the viewer interacting and helping to better the work rather than look and blindly pass by. I love the idea of interactivity, I want to be a video game designer, so I love when the viewer is made a participant and is given the ability to make choices in their aesthetic and immersive experience. Therefore the viewer is no longer just wondering they are becoming a part of an experience that only they can have because they had a choice in the creation of the art in front of them. To me, that is true art.
The Pink of Stealth- Mendi and Keith Obadike, 2003
The project 'The Pink of Stealth' "combines an online hypertext, a web-based game and an MP3 and also DVD. The Hypertext conveys a story of a man and woman who's races are never revealed." The plot is non linear and has 5 variations. Each variation unveils words that fit together once all discovered to show the hidden meaning. The couple "use this project to think about the associative properties of language and the way that a word or concept from one context can carry along the values of another context."
I feel this project is very important when it comes to defining race. My first impression of 'The Pink of Stealth' is that both man and woman are looking for an ideal partner, but have no idea of the race of the other. Therefore they are blind to color, yet still have their desire for their ideal. If they were to meet and find their looks are not what is wanted, would their already existing feelings overcome looks or fail in attraction?
Free Radio Linux - Radioqualia
"February 3, 2002, to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the coining of the term 'open source.' A duo calling themselves Radioqualia launched Free Radio Linux." Linux is an open source operating system. "Radioqualia programmed a "speech.bot" to recite all 4,141,431 lines of source code of the 'core' of the Linux operating system. The voice was broadcast over the internet in real time and relayed to a network of FM,AM, and shortwave radio stations around the world." The performance lasted 590 days on a cycle of constant 24/7 repeating.
Absolutely insane! This is a neat idea, but for 590 days! I don't know if I would listen to more than 5 second of the source code recitation. Although boring the concept is really interesting. Sharing information for free has become a huge part of our global society. This is how video games began with sharing of source code. If it were for free sharing many technologies we have today would most likely be very different.
Opus- Raqs Media Collective
"Opus or Open Platform for Unlimited Signification, is an online digital commons for sharing creative work and an example of an important genre of new media art." Opus allows artist to upload their work to the collective, 'Participants' can then alter the work and re-submitting the altered work into the collective as a new piece. The original is treated as the 'parent' to the 'child' or the altered version.
This is a really neat idea, a collaboration of artists borrowing, adding, stealing, inspiring other artists around the world in an open collective environment is how art should be. This is a great tool for idea exchange that benefits everyone involved.
Carnivore- RSG (Radical Software Group)
RSG developed CarnivorePE (PE=Personal Edition). This software uses an "open source tool called Packet sniffer" in order to 'eavesdrop' on the network it is installed to. The software collects data sent and received on the network. The collected data is used as material for "artistic interfaces," called clients.
This is cool. I want to have a 'client' done for me to put on my desktop. I think this is a really cool idea to take a scary government invasion of privacy and turn the technology into art. This is so inventive, I am at loss for proper words to describe my feelings for this work, if anything it has inspired me.
WWW.rtmark.com - R TM ARK
rtmark is a group of anonymous artists that create parody's of corporate brand consciousness.
I think rtmark is doing a good thing for awareness. People need to know how corporations need to be limited in order to protect the average person from the corporation's schemes. Rtmark allows their obscure activities to be viewed by the public through the internet.
Horror Chase is an "electronic sculpture" which is a remake of a scene from the 1987 film "Evil Dead II," directed by Sam Raimi. Instead of 'sampling and remixing' the original film, the couple chose to film their own version through reenactment. The final product is played forwards then backwards in a constant changing loop.
This is a fairly interesting work. I like that rather than taking the original film and remixing it, the artist were original and used their own selves as both actors and directors. I find this is more effective than the original film being remixed or sampled.
Mouchette.org - Mouchette
In 1996, the website mouchetter.org appeared. The maker of the website claims to be a 13 year old girl. "Visitors are greeted with a lurid close up of a flower, its petals crawling with ants, and flies, accompanied by a portrait of a sad looking girl." The website has innocent and suggestive content on different pages of the site. Many pages are interactive some with questions and the ability to answer.
I think this work/website is very important for women as a whole. To me, the fact that people become angry over the sexuality of the young girl and suggestive content is a very good thing. The website itself is both innocent and suggestive. On the home page the words "browse me" are at the bottom where you are able to select and visit other pages. The entire website is suggestive of child pornography, molestation, and innocence accompanied with ignorance of thought knowledge. This work forces people to look at what they don't want to see.
1 year performance video (aka samhsiehupdate) -MTAA
MTAA was working on (2004-2005) an ongoing work called 'updates.' "The artists reinterpret seminal artworks from the 1960's and 70's by using new technologies to perform actions that defined the original process." One of the 'updates' was a year long performance video " which revisits Tehcing (sam) Hsieh's one year performance in 1978-79, aka 'Cage Piece.' MTAA, adapted the piece to fit the 'internet age.' viewers think they are viewing a live feed from the website, but it is a pre-recorded video activated by the viewer and video is chosen by the program based on time of day the viewer watched the video.
I feel this is an interesting play on technology and comparing it to historical performance pieces, but I find it uninteresting. I don't find value in reenactments. Although, it is a great idea and well done I would like to see original ideas that would have relevance with todays audience that plays on technology. This idea can be expanded upon to reach out into possible future events as well.
Shredder 1.0 - Mark Napier (1998)
Shredder 1.0 is a website designed for the viewer to become the participant and help re-create the website. If a web address is entered into the location field at the top of Shredder's website, or chosen from a list of URL's. The website then "deconstructs the original website to form an abstract composition." Napier states that "my works are not objects, but interfaces. The users become collaborators in the artwork, upsetting the conventions of ownership and authority." Napier also states "by interacting with the work, the visitors shape the piece, causing it to change and evolve, often in unpredictable ways. The user is an integral part of the design."
This idea of interactive art is a very important concept today (2011). This continuous always changing work is very important for the viewer. I find it very interesting that he chose what he does for his works. Often artists dislike someone trying to change their work, but Napier invites and promotes it. The entire idea revolves around the viewer interacting and helping to better the work rather than look and blindly pass by. I love the idea of interactivity, I want to be a video game designer, so I love when the viewer is made a participant and is given the ability to make choices in their aesthetic and immersive experience. Therefore the viewer is no longer just wondering they are becoming a part of an experience that only they can have because they had a choice in the creation of the art in front of them. To me, that is true art.
The Pink of Stealth- Mendi and Keith Obadike, 2003
The project 'The Pink of Stealth' "combines an online hypertext, a web-based game and an MP3 and also DVD. The Hypertext conveys a story of a man and woman who's races are never revealed." The plot is non linear and has 5 variations. Each variation unveils words that fit together once all discovered to show the hidden meaning. The couple "use this project to think about the associative properties of language and the way that a word or concept from one context can carry along the values of another context."
I feel this project is very important when it comes to defining race. My first impression of 'The Pink of Stealth' is that both man and woman are looking for an ideal partner, but have no idea of the race of the other. Therefore they are blind to color, yet still have their desire for their ideal. If they were to meet and find their looks are not what is wanted, would their already existing feelings overcome looks or fail in attraction?
Free Radio Linux - Radioqualia
"February 3, 2002, to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the coining of the term 'open source.' A duo calling themselves Radioqualia launched Free Radio Linux." Linux is an open source operating system. "Radioqualia programmed a "speech.bot" to recite all 4,141,431 lines of source code of the 'core' of the Linux operating system. The voice was broadcast over the internet in real time and relayed to a network of FM,AM, and shortwave radio stations around the world." The performance lasted 590 days on a cycle of constant 24/7 repeating.
Absolutely insane! This is a neat idea, but for 590 days! I don't know if I would listen to more than 5 second of the source code recitation. Although boring the concept is really interesting. Sharing information for free has become a huge part of our global society. This is how video games began with sharing of source code. If it were for free sharing many technologies we have today would most likely be very different.
Opus- Raqs Media Collective
"Opus or Open Platform for Unlimited Signification, is an online digital commons for sharing creative work and an example of an important genre of new media art." Opus allows artist to upload their work to the collective, 'Participants' can then alter the work and re-submitting the altered work into the collective as a new piece. The original is treated as the 'parent' to the 'child' or the altered version.
This is a really neat idea, a collaboration of artists borrowing, adding, stealing, inspiring other artists around the world in an open collective environment is how art should be. This is a great tool for idea exchange that benefits everyone involved.
Carnivore- RSG (Radical Software Group)
RSG developed CarnivorePE (PE=Personal Edition). This software uses an "open source tool called Packet sniffer" in order to 'eavesdrop' on the network it is installed to. The software collects data sent and received on the network. The collected data is used as material for "artistic interfaces," called clients.
This is cool. I want to have a 'client' done for me to put on my desktop. I think this is a really cool idea to take a scary government invasion of privacy and turn the technology into art. This is so inventive, I am at loss for proper words to describe my feelings for this work, if anything it has inspired me.
WWW.rtmark.com - R TM ARK
rtmark is a group of anonymous artists that create parody's of corporate brand consciousness.
I think rtmark is doing a good thing for awareness. People need to know how corporations need to be limited in order to protect the average person from the corporation's schemes. Rtmark allows their obscure activities to be viewed by the public through the internet.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Textbook: New Media Art- Mark Tribe/Reena Iana (Pg. 42-64)
etoy.SHARE
In the 1990's the internet became a great medium for artists. The internet allowed artists to create websites that showed their artwork to anyone who choses to look at the website. Some of the artists chose to represent themselves as corporations with logo's and slogans to go along with the corporation. In 1994 a group of European artists formed a Swiss corporation called Etoy and in 1995 set up their website etoy.com. Their mission statement stated that they are " a corporate sculpture that crosses and blurs the frontiers between art, identity, nations, fashion, politics, technology, social engineering, music, power, and business to create massive impact on global markets and digital culture. Etoy goes where common companies and individuals can't afford to risk to go."
I found it very interesting that artists could even deem themselves as corporations. I love the idea, an artist as a corporation or even a group of artists as a corporation could become a big importance in society if done correctly. Also, using the website as an art its-self is basically web design today. When Etoy entered the lawsuit with the toy company eToys and deemed it Toywar I chuckled a bit. I found it ridiculous that the eToys company would be angry in the first place, just inform your customers that etoy is not eToys.com. Its very simple. People wander to the wrong websites all the time. I found the Toywar very funny and I think the artists did a great job in the set up or the game and display especially for the technology 11 years ago. It was a very clever defense on the artists which ended up helping them, which was a huge gamble.
Domestic- Mary Fanagan
"Domestic is a computer game based on a commercially produced game engine called Unreal Tournament." Fanagan used the game engine to create a "home-like environment for the exploration of childhood memories and feelings."
I found this interesting that she would incorporate a video game into her art. Although I most likely wouldn't take a second glance at the artwork in person, I found the idea behind the work to be very interesting and clever. The book talks about her feministic quality int he work, but in the 3 pictures provided I didn't see a gender connection. I barely even saw the childhood connection. but then again I am only looking at a couple pictures from an entire work of art. It would also help if I knew her entire childhood history. However, I even think my own experiences would come out and become a part of my thoughts again.
Telegarden- Ken Goldberg
Telegarden went online in 1995. The idea behind Telegarden is to raise questions about what the artist calls 'Telepistemology'- or "the study of nature of knowledge gained through remote, mediated sources such as internet." This work allows gardeners from all over the world to remotely tend to the garden from the internet in their own home or office.
This is a cool idea! Much like Farmville of today on Facebook, people want to be able to have something to take care of without much thought put into it. If it is in the virtual world there is no need to worry about it unless you have the time for it, because it can always wait and will always be there. Yet, in the early 90's this was a new concept. I can see by just the one picture provided that the artist put a lot of thought into the design and capabilities of the program. The only question I have is : What happens when the flowers die? Other than that this is a well thought out 'game.' It is the mother of Facebook games.
A-trees- Natalie Jeremijenko
Natalie Jeremijenko "creates works that force us to examine the problematic consequences of digital and other technologies, such as cloning robotics, and software." A-trees allows us to watch a 'growth simulation' of a tree on a computer desktop. "A-trees serves as aestheticized monitors" of actual air quality surrounding the area of the computer by using a special meter. The meter measures the amount of Carbon in the air and send it to the computer where a program the bases the growth of the tree to the amount of Carbon in the air. This is a play on global warming. Also, A-trees is programed to look at how much you print paper. It then prints out a sheet with tree rings every time the person uses roughly enough paper to make up a medium size tree. Eventually if enough paper is used and you keep all the tree rings you can see how much a tree can make in paper.
I love this idea of simulation. It would be nice to have now because global warming and climate change are a constant talk among people. If everyone had this program in their house I wonder how many would actually care? Now if the simulated tree actually took the carbon out of the air that would be extremely cool! Yet, I have real plants and Im sure they love the carbon in the air, but can we find a program to help the environment? The idea behind this work of simulated plant life is now a common in daily internet games, but to actually have it bring to your attention what is around you and how much paper your using and how many trees you are killing is a true artwork. To make the participant think about their daily actions. I absolutely would put this on my MAC.
wwwwwwwww.jodi.org- Jodi
This website first appeared in 1993. The home page looks like a script glitch or like someone is just beginning to use Java script. The page looks confusing and full of errors. However, in reality it is a constant change of the blueprint to a bomb in the source code. The glitch look is an aesthetic of the website to play on technology.
I found this an interesting work. I know the first thing I would do if I came across this website; "VIRUS!!" I would close my internet browser so fast you wouldn't know what happened. This is more than just a play on glitches when looking at it from 2011. Now the first thing I think of is virus. People are hacking into networks and reeking havoc on everyone. A great example of this is the recent Playstation Network disaster. A lonely 19 year old boy is being sued by Playstation, his revenge, shut down the entire playstation internet access and steel content from the company. The reason Playstation is suing him, for hacking into the video game Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Now when we look at this artwork it is not just a play on glitches, but a play on hackers and viruses caused by other people. The internet has become a weapon of its own.
Pedestrian- Paul Kaiser and Shelly Eshkar
"Animated Lilliputians move with uncanny verisimilitude over the streets and plazas of Trompe-l'ceil City that has been rendered digitally with near-photographic realism." Motion Capture and 8 volunteers were used to help create the movements for the animation. Pedestrian was inspired by "Crowds and Power" 1960 book by Elias Cantetti, which examines 'follow the leader' and Pack mentality of crowds."
When I first glanced at the picture next to the text and on page 53 I though oh cool pictures. When I looked for a longer period of time I realized the 3D aspect rather than the 'real' aspect of the people. I was in awe by the beauty and instantly said I cant wait to be knowledgable enough to have my renders look that beautifully crafted. The idea behind it is very interesting. Iv always thought about Pack mentality, but never pondered much about it. I wish that in the book I could hear the soundtrack that goes with the video. I would become more immersed int he world created and become able to understand more by doing so.
Glasbead- John Kilma
"A psychedelic online art work that enables up to 20 simultaneous participants to make music collaboratively via a colorful 3D interface."
I found this a really cool idea, but i'm not much into music like that so I don't find the attraction. I'm sure it is very fun and greatly interactive. I found the 3D rendering to be well thought out. I like the idea of banging the ends together to make the sound wanted. The interactivity of this work is very well done.
Minds of Concern:: Breaking News - Knowbotic Research with Peter Sandbichler
"Presented in 2002 as part of a group exhibition titled 'Open_Source_Art_Hack'
at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. The Minds of Concern:: Breaking News consisted of an online website and a physical instillation. The website featured Port-Scanning software that searched for security vulnerabilities on the internet servers of selected non government organizations and media artists. The goal was to 'pinpoint the dilemma of the NGO's and Media artists having to protect an independent and progressive political and social practice through security measures which are constantly being tried, tested, and attacked with ever new invasive tools."
I found this work very cool. Most people don't realize how many holes are in their security for their network and computer. This work reveals the exact vulnerability of the system. I was sad to hear in the book that the actual scanning was shut down due to the release of this information to possible hackers, but you would think that the companies would thank the artist and then proceed to find a way to fix and fill in the vulnerabilities. I guess people just don't think logically. I am pretty sure the average person interacting with that work don't know the first thing about hacking into a company network.
Dialtones: A Telesymphony -Golan Levin with Scott Gibbins, Gragory Shakar and Yasmin Sohrawardy
"First performed in 2001 at Ars Electronica Festival in Linz Austria. Dialtones calls to attention the new kinds of social relations that have arisen around mobile phones." The artists have the guests download a dial tone and then take the guests phone numbers with permission and ad them to a Que. Once the artist begins each person is given a list of numbers and times of exact calling. The music begins each phone is called in the tonal order wanted by the artist. Eventually all the phones are ringing in procession and creating music.
This is absolutely great. Because I am so irritated by people and their ringtones in places where we should not hear them, like a movie or a restaurant. Now the noise can become a musical phenomenon. I wish I could have been in the performance because now the viewer is a participant and if they are to leave then the performance will cease to be what it is supposed to be. Very inventive, I think this should be done in a happening.
My Boyfriend Came Back From The War - Olia Lialina
1996 this Net Art Project tells a story of 2 lovers who are reunited after an unnamed war. Fragments of dialogue and un recognizable photos are on screen to be interacted with. The dialogue is hard to understand and very choppy, but it tells the story of the couple reuniting.
I like this work because it shows truth to what it is like for 2 people who have been apart for such a long time. They are often awkward and grown apart and must learn who each other are as people again. I think the choppiness of the work helps to show this disconnect between the lovers.
Vectorial Elevation - Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
Hemmer placed 18 robotic search lights around Mexico City's Zocalo, to celebrate the new millennium. The participants used web based interface to control the searchlights and choreograph a pattern on the night sky.
This is a neat work. Although to me it seems like a light show. Although the participants can move the lights I still don't exactly see the 'Art.' Don't get me wrong it is very beautiful, but what is so special about it? Is it special because people from all over the world could participate?
In the 1990's the internet became a great medium for artists. The internet allowed artists to create websites that showed their artwork to anyone who choses to look at the website. Some of the artists chose to represent themselves as corporations with logo's and slogans to go along with the corporation. In 1994 a group of European artists formed a Swiss corporation called Etoy and in 1995 set up their website etoy.com. Their mission statement stated that they are " a corporate sculpture that crosses and blurs the frontiers between art, identity, nations, fashion, politics, technology, social engineering, music, power, and business to create massive impact on global markets and digital culture. Etoy goes where common companies and individuals can't afford to risk to go."
I found it very interesting that artists could even deem themselves as corporations. I love the idea, an artist as a corporation or even a group of artists as a corporation could become a big importance in society if done correctly. Also, using the website as an art its-self is basically web design today. When Etoy entered the lawsuit with the toy company eToys and deemed it Toywar I chuckled a bit. I found it ridiculous that the eToys company would be angry in the first place, just inform your customers that etoy is not eToys.com. Its very simple. People wander to the wrong websites all the time. I found the Toywar very funny and I think the artists did a great job in the set up or the game and display especially for the technology 11 years ago. It was a very clever defense on the artists which ended up helping them, which was a huge gamble.
Domestic- Mary Fanagan
"Domestic is a computer game based on a commercially produced game engine called Unreal Tournament." Fanagan used the game engine to create a "home-like environment for the exploration of childhood memories and feelings."
I found this interesting that she would incorporate a video game into her art. Although I most likely wouldn't take a second glance at the artwork in person, I found the idea behind the work to be very interesting and clever. The book talks about her feministic quality int he work, but in the 3 pictures provided I didn't see a gender connection. I barely even saw the childhood connection. but then again I am only looking at a couple pictures from an entire work of art. It would also help if I knew her entire childhood history. However, I even think my own experiences would come out and become a part of my thoughts again.
Telegarden- Ken Goldberg
Telegarden went online in 1995. The idea behind Telegarden is to raise questions about what the artist calls 'Telepistemology'- or "the study of nature of knowledge gained through remote, mediated sources such as internet." This work allows gardeners from all over the world to remotely tend to the garden from the internet in their own home or office.
This is a cool idea! Much like Farmville of today on Facebook, people want to be able to have something to take care of without much thought put into it. If it is in the virtual world there is no need to worry about it unless you have the time for it, because it can always wait and will always be there. Yet, in the early 90's this was a new concept. I can see by just the one picture provided that the artist put a lot of thought into the design and capabilities of the program. The only question I have is : What happens when the flowers die? Other than that this is a well thought out 'game.' It is the mother of Facebook games.
A-trees- Natalie Jeremijenko
Natalie Jeremijenko "creates works that force us to examine the problematic consequences of digital and other technologies, such as cloning robotics, and software." A-trees allows us to watch a 'growth simulation' of a tree on a computer desktop. "A-trees serves as aestheticized monitors" of actual air quality surrounding the area of the computer by using a special meter. The meter measures the amount of Carbon in the air and send it to the computer where a program the bases the growth of the tree to the amount of Carbon in the air. This is a play on global warming. Also, A-trees is programed to look at how much you print paper. It then prints out a sheet with tree rings every time the person uses roughly enough paper to make up a medium size tree. Eventually if enough paper is used and you keep all the tree rings you can see how much a tree can make in paper.
I love this idea of simulation. It would be nice to have now because global warming and climate change are a constant talk among people. If everyone had this program in their house I wonder how many would actually care? Now if the simulated tree actually took the carbon out of the air that would be extremely cool! Yet, I have real plants and Im sure they love the carbon in the air, but can we find a program to help the environment? The idea behind this work of simulated plant life is now a common in daily internet games, but to actually have it bring to your attention what is around you and how much paper your using and how many trees you are killing is a true artwork. To make the participant think about their daily actions. I absolutely would put this on my MAC.
wwwwwwwww.jodi.org- Jodi
This website first appeared in 1993. The home page looks like a script glitch or like someone is just beginning to use Java script. The page looks confusing and full of errors. However, in reality it is a constant change of the blueprint to a bomb in the source code. The glitch look is an aesthetic of the website to play on technology.
I found this an interesting work. I know the first thing I would do if I came across this website; "VIRUS!!" I would close my internet browser so fast you wouldn't know what happened. This is more than just a play on glitches when looking at it from 2011. Now the first thing I think of is virus. People are hacking into networks and reeking havoc on everyone. A great example of this is the recent Playstation Network disaster. A lonely 19 year old boy is being sued by Playstation, his revenge, shut down the entire playstation internet access and steel content from the company. The reason Playstation is suing him, for hacking into the video game Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Now when we look at this artwork it is not just a play on glitches, but a play on hackers and viruses caused by other people. The internet has become a weapon of its own.
Pedestrian- Paul Kaiser and Shelly Eshkar
"Animated Lilliputians move with uncanny verisimilitude over the streets and plazas of Trompe-l'ceil City that has been rendered digitally with near-photographic realism." Motion Capture and 8 volunteers were used to help create the movements for the animation. Pedestrian was inspired by "Crowds and Power" 1960 book by Elias Cantetti, which examines 'follow the leader' and Pack mentality of crowds."
When I first glanced at the picture next to the text and on page 53 I though oh cool pictures. When I looked for a longer period of time I realized the 3D aspect rather than the 'real' aspect of the people. I was in awe by the beauty and instantly said I cant wait to be knowledgable enough to have my renders look that beautifully crafted. The idea behind it is very interesting. Iv always thought about Pack mentality, but never pondered much about it. I wish that in the book I could hear the soundtrack that goes with the video. I would become more immersed int he world created and become able to understand more by doing so.
Glasbead- John Kilma
"A psychedelic online art work that enables up to 20 simultaneous participants to make music collaboratively via a colorful 3D interface."
I found this a really cool idea, but i'm not much into music like that so I don't find the attraction. I'm sure it is very fun and greatly interactive. I found the 3D rendering to be well thought out. I like the idea of banging the ends together to make the sound wanted. The interactivity of this work is very well done.
Minds of Concern:: Breaking News - Knowbotic Research with Peter Sandbichler
"Presented in 2002 as part of a group exhibition titled 'Open_Source_Art_Hack'
at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. The Minds of Concern:: Breaking News consisted of an online website and a physical instillation. The website featured Port-Scanning software that searched for security vulnerabilities on the internet servers of selected non government organizations and media artists. The goal was to 'pinpoint the dilemma of the NGO's and Media artists having to protect an independent and progressive political and social practice through security measures which are constantly being tried, tested, and attacked with ever new invasive tools."
I found this work very cool. Most people don't realize how many holes are in their security for their network and computer. This work reveals the exact vulnerability of the system. I was sad to hear in the book that the actual scanning was shut down due to the release of this information to possible hackers, but you would think that the companies would thank the artist and then proceed to find a way to fix and fill in the vulnerabilities. I guess people just don't think logically. I am pretty sure the average person interacting with that work don't know the first thing about hacking into a company network.
Dialtones: A Telesymphony -Golan Levin with Scott Gibbins, Gragory Shakar and Yasmin Sohrawardy
"First performed in 2001 at Ars Electronica Festival in Linz Austria. Dialtones calls to attention the new kinds of social relations that have arisen around mobile phones." The artists have the guests download a dial tone and then take the guests phone numbers with permission and ad them to a Que. Once the artist begins each person is given a list of numbers and times of exact calling. The music begins each phone is called in the tonal order wanted by the artist. Eventually all the phones are ringing in procession and creating music.
This is absolutely great. Because I am so irritated by people and their ringtones in places where we should not hear them, like a movie or a restaurant. Now the noise can become a musical phenomenon. I wish I could have been in the performance because now the viewer is a participant and if they are to leave then the performance will cease to be what it is supposed to be. Very inventive, I think this should be done in a happening.
My Boyfriend Came Back From The War - Olia Lialina
1996 this Net Art Project tells a story of 2 lovers who are reunited after an unnamed war. Fragments of dialogue and un recognizable photos are on screen to be interacted with. The dialogue is hard to understand and very choppy, but it tells the story of the couple reuniting.
I like this work because it shows truth to what it is like for 2 people who have been apart for such a long time. They are often awkward and grown apart and must learn who each other are as people again. I think the choppiness of the work helps to show this disconnect between the lovers.
Vectorial Elevation - Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
Hemmer placed 18 robotic search lights around Mexico City's Zocalo, to celebrate the new millennium. The participants used web based interface to control the searchlights and choreograph a pattern on the night sky.
This is a neat work. Although to me it seems like a light show. Although the participants can move the lights I still don't exactly see the 'Art.' Don't get me wrong it is very beautiful, but what is so special about it? Is it special because people from all over the world could participate?
Monday, April 25, 2011
Ways of Seeing
We are "surrounded by images of an alternative way of life." 'Publicity' sells us that "by spending money we will be richer, but we will be poorer." This is glamour, the state of being envied is turned into glamour. Glamour is a new idea. In previous history people were born in to nobility, therefore there was no reason to envy. Today envy is a common emotion. The meaning of an image can be changed based on location, narrative, and sound. Reproductions of art can make the work 'ambiguous.' "Publicity works on the imagination and adds up to a philosophical system." The things publicity sells are neutral, so they must be made glamourous by putting the object in a glamourous situation. The advertisements are not just proposing the item, but also an attitude and way of life.
I think any image if put in different context's can become anything the artist (or person) desires. Although the fact that advertising is used the way it is, to basically lie to the public in order to sell a product fascinates me. Not in a good way. The advertisements tell us that if we purchase a product we will be 'cool' or become a different person. By companies exploiting the human need to 'fit in' the customers purchase and purchase to follow the new 'glamour.' The objects aren't really needed for survival, the money they are spending could be used for more important things such as food and daycare. Or even for hobbies and Gas. Yet people instead buy 100's of pairs of shoes or I saw this woman with this bag so I have to go buy the $500 bag too so I can look 'High Fashion' as well. This idea of glamour abstracts the desire to fit in and turns it into a race of profits. I find it sad that people envy models and movie stars. Why not just be yourself? Why do we have to judge based on social and economical status? If we were uncivilized and back to cave man days, would we need to have the best fur coat because it looks good or because it kept me warm? When we look and the consumer market the amount of 'stuff' people buy outweighs the necessities of life. When an Ad is selling a product and a way of life, the only thing you really get when you buy the product is the product, not the way of life to go with it. Because that would mean that you would have to change as a person and deviate from your true identity. This envy of a way of life that does not exist is a social disaster. If marketers portrayed their products in actuality, I would most likely no longer find advertisements irritating. This idea of the ideal high class world is unattainable to the average person. Even if I was able to become high class I would not act as if I were. I would still live as I do now because I would not want to be a High class person. That is only my own personal feelings of course.
I think any image if put in different context's can become anything the artist (or person) desires. Although the fact that advertising is used the way it is, to basically lie to the public in order to sell a product fascinates me. Not in a good way. The advertisements tell us that if we purchase a product we will be 'cool' or become a different person. By companies exploiting the human need to 'fit in' the customers purchase and purchase to follow the new 'glamour.' The objects aren't really needed for survival, the money they are spending could be used for more important things such as food and daycare. Or even for hobbies and Gas. Yet people instead buy 100's of pairs of shoes or I saw this woman with this bag so I have to go buy the $500 bag too so I can look 'High Fashion' as well. This idea of glamour abstracts the desire to fit in and turns it into a race of profits. I find it sad that people envy models and movie stars. Why not just be yourself? Why do we have to judge based on social and economical status? If we were uncivilized and back to cave man days, would we need to have the best fur coat because it looks good or because it kept me warm? When we look and the consumer market the amount of 'stuff' people buy outweighs the necessities of life. When an Ad is selling a product and a way of life, the only thing you really get when you buy the product is the product, not the way of life to go with it. Because that would mean that you would have to change as a person and deviate from your true identity. This envy of a way of life that does not exist is a social disaster. If marketers portrayed their products in actuality, I would most likely no longer find advertisements irritating. This idea of the ideal high class world is unattainable to the average person. Even if I was able to become high class I would not act as if I were. I would still live as I do now because I would not want to be a High class person. That is only my own personal feelings of course.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Ecological Realism
This article, by André Gorz , 15 Mar 2011 is a statement on economic growth and how consumerism is not helping, but destroying the world around us. The continued production using resources that took millions of years to create will be depleted within the next 10-20 years. Uranium for nuclear power plants will also be depleted within the next 30 years. Eventually there will be nothing left to use in production. Science is being used not to help the earth and humans, but to destroy the earth and provide civilization with 'things' that we want and not need. Capitalism is only a lesser version of Socialism. Economists have ignored natures slow demise and deemed it unnecessary to acknowledge.
This article is true to every word. If we do not stop using and producing products that are unneeded we will deplete the Earth of its natural resources and destroy humanity as we know it. Yet, it will not only be humanity affected, but also animals and plant life as well. If the Earth becomes sterile of life this planet will only become an exact twin to Mars. Human encroachment on our planet is going to be the death of civilization and death of much life on our planet. We have helped to speed up the climate change process. If you drive through New Jersey and New york you can see what we have done to our planet. The brown pollution filled water surrounded by death. The water cannot sustain life in the small rivers and the air itself has a distinct smell that I can only describe as 'Pollution' itself. When even life cannot be sustained in nature, how can we disregard our own wrong doing as a species? If we do not stop what we are doing all life on this planet will cease to exist. When that day does come hopefully within a few thousand years the planet will be able to have a journey of rebirth and new life will sprout.
This article is true to every word. If we do not stop using and producing products that are unneeded we will deplete the Earth of its natural resources and destroy humanity as we know it. Yet, it will not only be humanity affected, but also animals and plant life as well. If the Earth becomes sterile of life this planet will only become an exact twin to Mars. Human encroachment on our planet is going to be the death of civilization and death of much life on our planet. We have helped to speed up the climate change process. If you drive through New Jersey and New york you can see what we have done to our planet. The brown pollution filled water surrounded by death. The water cannot sustain life in the small rivers and the air itself has a distinct smell that I can only describe as 'Pollution' itself. When even life cannot be sustained in nature, how can we disregard our own wrong doing as a species? If we do not stop what we are doing all life on this planet will cease to exist. When that day does come hopefully within a few thousand years the planet will be able to have a journey of rebirth and new life will sprout.
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Persuaders
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders
The marketing/Advertising world has become cluttered and in order to market past the clutter companies then create more clutter. Ad's have become what the company wants rather than appealing to the consumers wants/needs. A brand can forge a spiritual/emotional bond with the consumer. Fill the empty place of community such as the ipod ad's. Artists(musicians are combining their videos with advertisements.) The Song's lifestyle brand attempted to create a way of life with their brand. Advertisement will eventually be in video games and movies. In some cases this has begun such as in Sex and the City in the show featuring Absolute Hunk. In Castaway FedEx was used as the main brand.
I feel that now this video is completely true and slightly behind in what is now today. Video games today such as Fight Night: Champion, when playing online, advertisements are constantly updated every week as well as an advertisement when entering online play during the loading screen. Now that people are watching less and less television and playing more video games, advertisers must find a way to pierce the game industry to allow their product to be seen. I think that by companies doing this we are only becoming numb to the presence of advertisement and we don't care to look at the product. In turn companies try to innovate to push throughout the clutter of the ad's to then attempt to reach our want to purchase. But this becomes irritating to see in every moment of life. We walk out of our house to see ad's along the streets and on our phones and computers. Is there a point where it is enough? When will companies realize that this bombardment does not help?!
The marketing/Advertising world has become cluttered and in order to market past the clutter companies then create more clutter. Ad's have become what the company wants rather than appealing to the consumers wants/needs. A brand can forge a spiritual/emotional bond with the consumer. Fill the empty place of community such as the ipod ad's. Artists(musicians are combining their videos with advertisements.) The Song's lifestyle brand attempted to create a way of life with their brand. Advertisement will eventually be in video games and movies. In some cases this has begun such as in Sex and the City in the show featuring Absolute Hunk. In Castaway FedEx was used as the main brand.
I feel that now this video is completely true and slightly behind in what is now today. Video games today such as Fight Night: Champion, when playing online, advertisements are constantly updated every week as well as an advertisement when entering online play during the loading screen. Now that people are watching less and less television and playing more video games, advertisers must find a way to pierce the game industry to allow their product to be seen. I think that by companies doing this we are only becoming numb to the presence of advertisement and we don't care to look at the product. In turn companies try to innovate to push throughout the clutter of the ad's to then attempt to reach our want to purchase. But this becomes irritating to see in every moment of life. We walk out of our house to see ad's along the streets and on our phones and computers. Is there a point where it is enough? When will companies realize that this bombardment does not help?!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Text book reading 1
I do not have the text book yet. I am waiting for it to arrive it should be here within the next day or 2. This entry will be completed once I have it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)