Author Archives: juliel50

The Image That Lasts

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Over the past twenty years the artworld has been transformed by technology. New trends have emerged to steal the spotlight from the traditional landscapes and portraits. Not only is much of it recorded digitally, presentation is changing. Some experts believe this is the art for the masses, especially this texting, tweeting gadget loving generation. The new phenomenon is art that many can relate to, if not produce. Creating art is no longer only for the truly talented and artistic, but concept and presentation are now just as important. Not only are more people attempting to create and show art but the avenues have widened, giving more opportunity. Galleries and Museums are really involved at this point but it took a while to get there. The answer as to whether these works will last is not known. Appreciation of new art is not always established this quickly and it suggests a lasting legacy. With the growing interest, there must be solutions to its unique issues of preservation.

The image of acceptable fine art has changed dramatically. In a late 1990s’ article titled “But is it art?”, an LA gallery owner John Mattheisen said, “I think people buy work based on two things: what art critics say and personal taste.” He hinted that the art was not praised yet therefore prices very low. This in turn would effect where it was shown or sold and whether it would be collectable. Traditional artists are proven sellers and new art has to prove itself. As strange as it seems, “one stumbling block keeping critics, curators and artists embracing this artform is that many have a hard time defining exactly what digital art is.”(Sullivan, Terry)

The social aspects of the accessability and possible personal involvement is so meaningful. It is conceivable to create using work from history and an original, then digitally record something that lasts forever. Actually the possibilities are endless because sharing is possible with these tools. And in ten minutes a piece of art can be seen all over the world. The concepts and surfaces are changing. This is new and very interesting.

Throughout history traditional fine art defined many cultures. Preservation and restoration has been key in keeping these images alive. When many of these treasures were created, they were not sought after or even seen. Many of the so-called masters were not recognized till after they died. Fixing and repairing art is an art that took many years to develop. It takes time to realize the success of making sure something lasts. Knowing how to keep this new art whole is going to take time. Fortunately, the experimentation has exposed people to many new ideas. Collaborative art and work that you interact with is very popular. By creating these installations, permanence is clearly not so important. It seems as if the concept and experience as displayed may be it. Perhaps endurance is in its strength as far as vision not permanence. There seems to be evidence that this is the case.

As recent as 2011, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City had a show that allowed the people attending to interact with the art. Many of the pieces showcased were design driven concepts to be accessed digitally, as well as viewed on site. As quoted in a New York Times article; MOMAs’ senior curator Paola Antonelli described the event as an answer to a current phenomenon, “pancommunication–everything and everybody conveying content and meaning in all possible combinations.”(Rosenberg, Karen) There were special galleries created for exhibitions of work including robots, charts and information systems, video games and chattering objects. People visiting could interact on their cellphones by scanning in a special code that in turn called up a website. If a viewers phone wasn’t compatible, MOMA arranged for viewing on their own website. “Talk to Me: Design and the Communication Between People and Objects” was considered an exceptionally smart show. It was truly innovative and well received, “one of the smartest design shows in years–by which I mean it’s intelligent but also that it is made for the texting, tweeting, social-networking, down-app loading, smartphone-weilding museumgoer.” (Rosenberg, Karen)

Since the days when artists just incorporated digital visuals into their work, the universal use of technology has changed communication. Perhaps shows like this have become standard in the museum world. When people can physically touch a piece of art or speak to it, there is a bond made. Chuck Close is a well known artist who create portraits that look like giant digital paintings. Way before we incorporated computers as tools for artists, he painted these awesome images. He is actually experimenting with computers and pushing his images to be seen in a different light. “It’s wonderfully complicated because you’re building an image,” he says about his new found technique. Not only do these experiments invite raw untested talent but the established artist. “There’s been an explosion of creativity during the last decade as many artists are exploring the technologies and what boundaries they can push,” said Ronald Lobaco, curator of “Out of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital” shown at The Museum of Arts and Design in New York. This recent exhibition included many internationally known artists including frank Stella, Daniel Libeskind and Hiroshi Sugimoto. This may be what digital art is, the ability to express as never before.

Bibliography

Rosenberg, Karen. Art That Interacts If You Interface. New York Times 29 July. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.

Using this article to help me show the success these new artforms are having. Because the writer reviewed the show, I was able to gather information and opinions of others as well. I did not want this paper to really have my opinion because I am a trained artist and have very strong feelings. Although I appreciate the growth of any idea, it may not be my thing. As we can see this is no longer just some new fad but an established movement so to speak in terms of art and business. When the big money museums are involved that indicates stability. In this article, she was very thorough and established a couple of view points.
In this article, specifics about the works were included and I may highlight a couple in my paper. Since this show was one of the biggest and most successful of this time, it introduced many people to the not so specific genre. Getting the general public and young people involved has surely had an affect on creation. It really enabled me to understand the possibilities for exhibiting an interactive show. Also, several reactions from people helped me to understand the viewers opinion.

Sullivan, Terry. But is it art? Photo District News. June. 99, Vol 19.6.

This was an extremely interesting article that included a review of a Christies Auction Event. This auction house has been known for the expensive art and treasures. This was one of the first events that showed digital anything. The response was mixed but the people seem to see a possible future in the popularity of this type of art. Indicated in the article are the questions of longevity both physically and in terms of popularity. because it was written some time ago, the relevance of this article is obvious for me to establish some sense of time….in terms of growth.
Having information that was put out over a decade ago is vital to this research topic. The atmosphere at that time, I can almost remember and having documentation means so much. It seems like this was almost the beginning of the phase we are in. What was called digital has evolved to include so many different techniques. The question that they ask in the title has been answered somewhat, in the way things have changed. Very important to show in writing an effective paper.

Sheets, Hilarie M. Artists take up digital tools. New York Times 27 Oct. 2013.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 April. 2014.

I used this article for information regarding an art show involving established artists using technology, perhaps for the first time. Some of the artists mentioned are very famous for their work before the digital boom. They discuss with excitement the addition of digital techniques they are now working with. Although very established on an international level, they are changing the pictures and images they have worked so hard to get. It is important to understand the artists view and acceptance of these tools. It is a risk that does not have to be taken but artists by nature seem to be experimental. This group validates the new art and techniques that were questioned not so long ago. Although a short article, the interview of Chuck Close was fascinating. I have always admired him for several reasons. He is severely handicapped and his painting style has always involved so much detail. In fact, the technology today lends to his style and technique visually. But the best thing for him is the physical access he now has.

Proposal: Art and Technology

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Having studied and created art for many years, I am interested in the direction Fine Art is taking. There are many opinions on this subject, and surely there is an argument to be focused on. Technology has affected the way people produce art as well as how they express themselves. Some would say that the interpretation of art has changed with technology. Certainly, it has made all art more accessible.

My intention is to spend time online, search through current Art Magazines and make a trip to the Museum Of Modern Art. Although limiting myself to writing about paintings and drawings would be ideal, it may not be possible.

I think I will have to see where the information takes me. If I could include my personal opinion, I would love it. Reviewing an art show and writing about the look of the art and materials involved would be interesting. Since I was trained as an Illustrator and Fine Artist, navigating that world may be possible. At the time I studied, there were no computers used in any classes. Now there are Degrees of all kinds in well respected art schools with Technological Art Majors.

I plan on highlighting how this movement in art has enabled people to get involved on different levels, people who may not have the academic talent once thought necessary for success. What does this mean and how do serious experts measure these works? Are theses artists taken seriously and are they considered Masters?

I am sure there is plenty to write about but deciding what to focus on is going to be
a task.

The Beginning to the End

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In order to have and use the feed credit is needed. Titus and the teenagers have plenty of that. They purchase what they want, go to the moon and even get stoned. They seem unaffected by the world beyond the feed. When Titus meets Violet, he is exposed to something different. Although, he worries about whether he is smart enough, they develop a relationship. After they survive the hacking of their feeds, they bond. Although their friendship seems strained, Violets opinions and looming demise change him. The device they carry in them keeps track of their habits in terms of consumerism. What it cannot do is control what is in the heart.

While on a trip to the moon, Titus sees Violet and in that moment that is all he wants.
p.13 “She was the most beautiful girl, like, ever.”
p.17 “I followed her when I could.”
p.22 “The girls lesion was beautiful. It was like a necklace. A red choker”

They go to the mall where Violet exercises her right to fight the feed.
p.98 “I am not going to let them catalog me. I am going to become invisible.”
p.99 She whispered, “Complicating. Resisting.”

Since Violet got her feed later than most and her father bought the economy model, she is not recovering from the hacking experience on the moon.
p.153 ”Someone was just nosing around my feed, checking out my specs and sending me all these images.”
p.129 “Something just won’t work for an hour or two. My finger or something.”
p.180 “You know the part that’s the really ironic thing? The guy? The hacker? You almost agree with him. He completely fucked you over, and you almost agree withhim.”

Titus can’t deal with the thought of Violets’ health issues and he erases her list.
p.253 “I am going to tell you everything. Some day, I might want you to tell it back to me.”
p. 254 “ I sat on the sofa. I looked at the fireplace. I had deleted all her memories.”

Violet was barely breathing and Titus returns to give her his memories.
p.294 ”Two days later, I went to visit her.”
p.297 “They say we’re all crossing the bridge of dreams together That there is nothing more than that. Just us, on the bridge of dreams.”

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We now learn who Titus has become. Through Violets fathers words and her condition, we are taken to a mad sad place. And the feed delivers ever more ominous messages on the state of the world.

People are rioting in the malls everywhere as their skin disappears. It is peeling off and nobody knows why. America is being threatened by “The Global Alliance” who issued a statement that says, “the physical and biological integrity of the earth relies at this point upon the dismantling of American based corporate entities, whatever the cost.”(p.243)

People have been disappearing….whole suburbs. Large groups of people have been found dead. Maybe it is happening already. Nobody knows anything including what a corporate entity is. The feed continuously delivers these types of messages while advertising shaving cream and sales on jeans. The bombardment of information leaves no time to sort it out. There is no thinking.

Titus deals with his breakup with Violet by getting trashed. He is really not capable of feeling. Losing his so called mind is his intention. He hasn’t been able to communicate with her for awhile but going mal weakens him. The concept of death is so foreign and he won’t deal with it, not even for Violet. But he tries and this rips them further apart.

We never get to understand what time is. The feed distorts everything. All we know is that this teenager has moved on. SchoolTM where Titus seems to learn nothing is over. He has become attached to Quendy. While he is away with the guys, he misses her….and life goes on.

The message revealing Violets decline stops time. The feed has made Titus unable to feel but he must find out what happened. After Violets father blames himself for skimping when buying her feed, he blames Titus for helping his daughter get hacked. We really feel the fathers pain through his flying words. Titus can’t understand a word and he demands over and over, “tell me”.(p.291) Violets father wants him to read it himself and find the answer but he won’t do it. He cannot read. SchoolTM teaches them how to use the information given them. They don’t have to speak, feel or read as long as they have credit.

Titus is numb. The sight of Violet with the disks and tubes has had an affect on him. He strips and forces a moment of silence by exhausting his credit. He is invisible.

The act of deleting someones memories and dreams is haunting. The vision of Violet, so helpless and still having the strength to want some part of her to live on is extraordinary. The story of Titus and she coping with a disintegrading life, together and alone is so sad. The book is ending on that note. The bond of these two is forever and forever is a dream. Titus has finally learned something.

Throughout the novel there has been a feeling that Violet would be punished for her thoughts and behavior. She is told that they won’t help her with her feed because of her profile. She is so brave and at this point we understand the value of life. Once Titus clears his credit so to speak, he sits with her. He whispers his memory to her barely beating heart; “Together, the two crazy kids grow, have madcap escapades, and learn an important lesson about love. They learn to resist the feed.”(p.298) And now we know that this is the beginning of the end.

The Relationship

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In the third chapter of feed we get to see the relationship of Titus and Violet develop. Violet is independent and outspoken. She is very unusual in the world they live in. She takes Titus on an intellectual journey and he goes willingly.

Through Violet we can begin to understand the moral consequences of this consumer driven government. She has been home-schooled and really educated. Pointing out that getting rid of the trees and replacing them with air factories seems counterproductive is considered
“snotty”(p.125). She is idealistic and Titus father reacts to this concept by defending it, “Do you know how inefficient trees are next to an air factory?”(p.125) Titus is torn between his father who represents the establishment and the irresistible Violet. Titus is fine with the idea of being rewarded with an upcar by his father. He is really very immature, not quite his own person. In the world they live in, he may just remain this way.

Since the experience on the moon Violet has introduced Titus to another way of thinking. She seems torn with wanting to fit in and hating the feed. She has very strong feelings about society. When Titus spends they day at the mall with her, she is “trying to create a customer profile that is so screwed, no one can market to it.”(p.98) He goes along with her and considers it exciting. When he questions her, she flirts with him instead of answering. They are very different.

Violet is smarter than The other teenagers Titus hangs out with. She has never been to a party before she meets him and her uneasiness is felt by everyone. This is a girl that didn’t have access to the feednet till she was seven. She has not been to school with other kids. Violet is not typical and the others do not understand her. They are not really capable of much it seems. They are consumed by the advertising, following all the trends. Using your brain is reserved for very few in this book. This is an attraction for Titus or maybe he is just curious.

Titus spends much of his time defending Violet. It makes him feel smarter to be around her although he may not understand why. She is very complicated. She has a real mind and the guts to use it. Still, she is vulnerable physically and somewhat on the edge. There is a question as to whether she will survive and Titus is determined to stay involved. Maybe he has begun to understand the lives they live. He is not the type to question or rock the boat. He simply wants to be happy. She has influenced him in a way that has never happened.

The complications of Violets words have taken its toll on their relationship. Although Titus parents will accept Violet as long as he is happy, his friends won’t. It may be a decision he will have to make. Titus wants to save Violet but it may be out of his control. He wants to spend time with her but she does not really want to be with his friends. When she attempts it is not successful. And then her body goes limp.

Eden

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In this portion of the book we begin to learn what not having the feed would be like. It is written in English and quite unaffected compared to Part 1. We can really begin to understand how powerful this connection to the feednet is. It really controls them and being without seems so frightening.
Titus describes having nothing in his head. This is referred to as credit. Having no credit meant he had to speak to people directly. His hospital room is described as “nothing but the walls” and the picture on one…uninteresting. Without the feed everything is quiet. They are in the hospital after being hacked. The police are present and everyone looks horrible. As they are waiting for their parents, the major concern is the feed.
Acceptance of the situation is a process. Through Titus we learn a little history of the feednet. He doesn’t know life without it. Being able to have your desires understood and your questions answered has made these people lazy. To use your brain and make a decision has never been necessary. Dealing with real time is something they cannot understand.
Feeling their frustration made me sympathetic to the situation. These teenagers should not be struggling with making a sentence. They should be able to rest assured that life will continue and everything will be okay. As they start to open up, the relationship between Violet and Titus changes. Her father does not come and she is having a feed problem unlike the others. They are forced to deal with each other and they form a bond. It was the newness of this friendship that enabled them to get through this event. Actually, they seem to begin to enjoy themselves.
Learning about Violet is different. She calls herself “pretentious” and we begin to see her personality emerge. Titus has feelings for her and actually expresses himself.
Being trapped in the hospital has made this group very anxious and they cause chaos at some point. They are bored and destroy some stuff in the hospital. All this time, they seem to be having fun. They get away with the behavior because everyone feels sorry for them.
I want them to go home without the feed. As they begin to act like real people with vulnerabilities, personalities and opinions, you can begin to imagine life without the interference. Although it would be a struggle to survive in this crazy world they live in, it may be a possibility. They seemed almost happy for the first time. The language used sounds a little more complex. With time, maybe they would be able to function. With strength, maybe it could happen. This time in the hospital has changed them and they are scarred in some way. They may be traumatized but they seem better off. After all, they are kids and normal development can’t be a negative.
Just like that, the confusion is over. The ordeal is over and they turn the feed back on. And they forget how much fun they could have without it. They forget the tears and talks and fears and real time. As the narrator said, “and the feed was pouring in on us now” and just like that they were lost in it. They were “dancing in it” and this to them was cause for celebration, for now.

Feed – Part 1 & 2

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Feed is futuristic view of life through the voices of teenagers. They describe a dark contaminated world where air is scarce. Although much of the kids behavior seems familiar, there is an underlying feeling of hopelessness. With chips planted in their brains and a constant flow of advertising and propaganda, they manage to survive. On some level they seem very normal. It is the unique challenges that they live with that are frightening.
The language used in the book seems familiar. Much of the slang is abbreviated and very often the dialogue is broken up. And the Feed is on all the time. The frantic pace created by the author gives me a feeling of urgency.
It seems that everyone has lesions somewhere on their body. Although they joke about them, I feel they have been infected. They actually try to make each other feel better about the sores. The girls actually talk about how “it’s on the edge of your face, so it frames your face.” And Violet then says, “I want mine to go all the way around. I want it to be like a necklace”. How do they deal with this? I would like to know if they are dying.
Violet is a girl the group meets when they go to the moon for spring break. They are underage and just like in our world, their plans are limited. Titus seems to be the most mature of the group. He has spotted this girl and is attracted to the fact that she is different. She notices him as well.
On the moon there is little gravity. It is a wild scene filled with tourists and strangers. The boys like to play around in the environment. Titus seems to be worried about how they are perceived. He doesn’t like when they act “stupid.” The girls seem to stick together and be influenced by the Feed quite easily. Twice, they disappear and come back with different hairstyles.
When they seem to be enjoying themselves, they are suddenly attacked. By just being touched, the messages they hear change. They have no control over their speech. They are chanting and can’t stop. The Feed has stopped. These are just children who really become frightened. Nobody understands what is going on…..and they wake up in the hospital.
After being told what to buy, what music to listen to, how to live, where to eat all the time, there is silence. The doctors don’t really fill them in and the parents are on the way. Only Violets parents aren’t coming. Through this catastrophe, Titus and Violet are growing close. She wears clothes from the past. She actually writes the “lost” language. He seems fearless in some way.
As I continue reading, I wonder about Violet and her story. These characters lose their minds for a couple of days. They are forced to live without the Feed and they adapt. Time seemed to slow down for a time and they almost seemed happier. I didn’t want them to be programmed. I had the feeling that they would have been fine without it.

Catfish

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The documentary “Catfish” was very current and dramatic. We follow three best friends on their journey to find the truth about this “Facebook Family” that has touched all of them through contact on the internet. It is a cautionary tale and in the end lessons are learned.
When Yaniv has a child named Abby introduce herself online, he becomes very attached to her. She is so special, a child with talent and evidently quite accomplished. She writes about her life as an artist but also as a little girl. When she describes the death of her snake, she moves quickly on to her new pet. Yaniv or Nev as they call him is impressed. He then comments, that she can understand the “circle of life”.
Although he only communicates with Abby online for sometime, he speaks to her family on the phone. He learns about Angela (the mother) and her other children, Megan and Alex. He regularly communicates with them all and develops a crush on Megan. The family seems loaded with talent and he can relate to this. He describes Angela as fantastic, “look at her children” Nev says.
His relationship with Megan grows very quickly. Much of the conversation borders on pornographic. Although, he is a film maker with a busy life, this seems to be his other life. Since most of the time he is working and spending time with the same people, this is a separate life. He shares some of it with Rel and Henry. When Megan sends him tapes of her music, they all listen to it. She wrote it for him and her brother helped her record it. When Abby sends paintings, they all wait for the box to be opened.
Nev seems to never catch Abby at home for a phone conversation and when he does, something is not right. When the friends discover that Megans’ songs are not hers, they
investigate. Nev wants to know who he has been talking to. His brother(Rel) and Henry are filming this and he is clearly upset. “This is my life” he yells at his brother, maybe we should stop filming. He made a commitment to film this but now he is hurt and confused. They continue to uncover lies and when doing a job near the “Facebook Family” home, they decide to drop in.
During the trip, they used music in the documentary to help the viewer stay involved. The lies are exposed one by one. The suspense was real. I wanted to know what kind of a person would do this?
The sad answer is a very lonely one. Nev was lonely and vulnerable as well. I felt sorry for all involved during the uncomfortable “face to face”. Even with Nev there, Angela continues to lie. It is a long scene with answers to questions that needed to be asked. I feel that Nevs reaction to being lied to is not very emotional in the end. He has it figured out. He seems to have accepted it. There is no choice.
I found it interesting that they remain “Facebook Friends”. Angela stays connected with this life she so desperately wanted access to and Nev remains open. On some level, he must feel sorry for her. I believe Nev has learned a lesson and remaining connected is a reminder he may need. After all, he answered Abbys friend request when he did not have to.

Summary…Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?

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The article explores the correlation of internet use and loneliness. Steven Marche uses stories and studies to get us involved on a emotional level. He clearly wants us to understand that the “internet paradox”(5) has been here for sometime. Facebook is the variable used throughout and it helps people to understand the enormity of the issue. The reader is left with no real answer but a lot to think about.