After today’s class, write at least 250 words summarizing your reading and today’s lecture on Bolter and Grusin’s “Remediation.” Copy-and-paste your writing into a comment made to this blog post.
Also, take every opportunity to catch up on these after class writing assignments. Saving them to do at the end of the semester will be unnecessarily burdensome on yourself and it will provide little of the cognitive effect that doing this work incrementally over the semester will bring.
Some folks might find this essay titled “Radical Mediation” by Richard Grusin useful in their research, too.
Before we talk about the reading, let’s practice some things with Microsoft Word that might be beneficial for your writing in our class and in your other classes. Open this file in class:Â practice-word.
Bolter and Grusinâs âRemediationâ this talks about different ways of helping the media like photography, films, video conferencing, and other etc. This will help people understand more about the media that they use in their daily lives. In the article is said, âRemediation can also imply reform in a social or political sense…â This is trying to tell us that our social and political starts to change over time because all of these social media that is happening around us can help political people with their vote and getting people to have a better understanding to these people around the world. It is also connecting with the American culture and that we learn new technology very fast because we see new software and we would upgrade our technology to them and we already knew how to use them. But for some people in our culture, it might take a while for them to understand because they might not understand how other culture software working in their country or state because our technology might be similar but doesnât mean our software are the same. They also talk about how science is also involved in the remediation because they might see it as more of a mathematical and more algorithmic in their software and other media that they use on their technology. Another example is, âPhotography, film, and certainly television have been constructed by our culture to embody our cultural distinctions and to make those distinctions part of our reality, and digital media follow in this tradition.â This is also telling us that with all these media that are being shown to us makes us realize that we are more connected to a lot of people around the world and having a better understanding of their culture because of social media, photography, films, and etc. to help us with the visual that they are showing us.
âRemediationâ By J. David Bolter and Richard Grusin explained how how old media is being corrected and fixed by new media but regardless of that new media canât get rid of the media before it. They used three main ideas in their essay; the first one is Immediacy, which means that the reflection of the world is dependent on technology to create a sense of presence in addition to what we have discussed in class with Prof. Ellis that we become so used to it that we cannot even see it. As indicated in (Page 316) that the virtual reality
comes before the outside world. Meaning that, All media represent each other that we donât need to actually see it. Immediacy gave us an opportunity to make things easier such having to interact with others on Laptops or Phones âfacetimeâ as if we are having a face-to-face conversation. Second, Hypermediacyâ which takes us back to the work of McLuhan âThe medium is the messageâ to emphasize that we as observers are awake to the medium we are observing; since the medium influences the message itself. As I understood from the article, it illustrates that the use of Windows in laptop such as âtexts, graphics and videosâ has given us a tremendous space because it has to deal with the viewersâ attentions as it becomes mind-related to them and they become used to it. Lastly, Remediation (as it was written in the board) is âall media contain other mediaâ. Meaning that it is the improvement of previous technologies, while still attempting to remain to the original medium by making the presence of the older media to maintain a sense of multiplicity.
Remediation is the idea that all media contains other media, and that every current media is built upon the idea that other mediums exist. This is what both J David Bolter and Richard Grusin expand on in their piece âRemediationâ. We build upon the ideas of Marshall McLuhan and Derrida, that the Medium is the Message, and that both speech and writing are important, thus shouldnât be placed in a hierarchy. With remediation, this is very important, as the fact that current âmediation is remediationâ highlights the idea of not setting up a hierarchy on types of mediums. Media works with each other, where some media highlights others, which is called hypermediacy. Hypermediacy is one of the poles by which media operates. The other is immediacy, or the idea that we are so used to a form of media, like our smartphones, that it is less apparent to us. Another example of this would be computers in class being an everyday tool. We donât realise how much we use it or what impact it has in our life, so it is transparent to us. The major highlight from this piece is that all media exists in relation to other media. In other words, this idea of remediation can go both ways. We can use old to bring in new, and we can use new to highlight old. Being that this piece was written in 1996, and yet we can relate to each philosophy linked to the idea of remediation, it is a timeless concept that will for indefinite time build upon itself to produce new mediums.
Summary of J.David Bolter & Richard Grusinâs âRemediationâ
In their paper, Bolter & Grusin discuss the making of media as remediation, in which the new media is on a spectrum of Immediacy to Hypermediacy. Immediacy refers to the disappearing, or making transparent, of old features and functions. Hypermediacy, the opposite pole on the spectrum, is when the new media multiplies pre-existing medium converging feature and functions into a new single form. In explaining their perspective and defining remediation, they lean on the works of several other published intellects in their field.
The paper was published in 1996, yet âthe logic of immediacyâ applies to emerging technology now just as much as it did when it was being written. The prime example of this for Bolter & Grusin was virtual reality (VR). This is an immersive experience that offers broad strokes of technical achievement and sensory responses. Yet, all of the features and functions were transparent to the user inside virtual reality. The controls were integrated. The artifacts were hidden once plugged in, and the experience really relied on the active perspective of the user rather than limitations of the technology. They support this logic with Jaron Lanier, one of the first commercial VR developers, and Meredith Bricken, an interface designer. They continue to paint a picture using the mouse as another example stating, âThe mouse (and the pen-based interface) allow the user the immediacy of touching, dragging, and manipulating visually attractive ideograms.â
The âlogic of hypermediacyâ is exemplified by the works of Douglas Englebart and Alan Kay. The possibility to multi-task with multiple âwindowsâ âopened onto a world of information made visible and almost tangible to the user.â Even the word windows offers an impression that visibility multiples with the more windows you open. In this way, the technological advances used by tiled windows lean towards hypermediacy on the spectrum.
After reading David bolter and Richard Grusin â Redemptionâ , I learned of immediacy which is to erase the medium making the medium less visible in contrast to hypermediacy which emphasizes the medium making it more apparent. The idea was that all media operated between two poles one being immediacy and the other hypermediacy. It was believed that these two elements worked together threw contrast . redemption in reference to technology speaks to the relationship to early technology and new technology. Attention is draw also to the borrowing and reusing if old media to new. Re using old technology in efforts to innovate and reconstruct new and better technology showing the evolution of our tech like old computer programs that may not have been successful can and have been reverted to newer up-to-date technology thatâs useful and active in our society. Their is media that we see and interact with like the computer but there is media inside the computer that that functions that we donât see. All media exist in relationship to other media from the past.
After reading Bolter and Grusinâs âRemediationâ there are three major points that these two bring to light. One of the reasonings include how all remediation being the mediation of mediation. This logic is solely based on how media is a non- stop changing process and it relies on other mediums to take part in this process. The second reasoning is that remediation is the inseparability of mediation and reality. This analysis is based on how the understanding of perception is within the mediations should be acknowledged as being real and taken seriously through the media. The third reasoning is that remediation should be viewed as reform. This aspect is based on the idea of the process of reforming reality may be beneficial in the eyes of the media.
Media has the functionality of objects within the world and has a strong relationship between the systems of linguistics, cultural, social and economic change according to Bolter and Grusin. The word remediation comes from the latin root of âremederiâ which means to heal and to restore health. This word expresses how the ability for a medium to be seen in one culture as a reforming aspect or an improvement of another medium. An example that was used was the state of the political and social culture that we have and how it has transformed its way in digital media. Political leaders believed the world-wide web is responsible for the extraordinary ability to reform and entire democracy as stated in the text. The word immediacy, further suggests that we live in a âright nowâ society and everything in many ways have become so transparent that it is now the reality that we know the media is a ubiquitous phenomenon.
Another concept that Bolter and Grusin wanted us to take away was âThe desire of immediacy and the fascination with hypermediacy.â (Bolter, Grusin p. 353) This idea is very important to consider moving forward because this is part of the media hybrids that are constantly generating something new in this media atmosphere that we have. It is difficult to not be fascinated by a world that constantly changes the way society views and interacts with technology. It is part of the way we innovate in this society, but also because we are considered cyborgs as well in this technical era, it is very important that we pay more attention to how this affects us as individuals.
Remediation means that all media contains other media which basically means that the current media is derived from past media knowledge. Bolter & Grusin argue that all media tend to operate between two poles, Immediacy, the erasure of the medium (less apparent or transparent) and hypermediacy, the promotion of the medium (more apparent, opaque). They draw attention to the borrowing of new media to old media. Certain technology and ideas keep being recycled and reformed to work with the new generation. People tend to be overly attached with social media and technology, such as our smart phones or laptop. Some technologies, such as the ones I mentioned are important and useful (school, work, everyday life), while others are completely useless and is in a way corrupting us. As McLuhan points out, we need to stay aware of what the media is doing to us. As media becomes more transparent, it is harder to know what the exact effects are. I agree with him because media now a days usually inform false information. You never know what they are saying is partially true, false, or completely incorrect. For instance there are so many news worldwide that is very important and urgent which we are not informed about, but instead whenever you open any social media website or the news the headlines say âKim Kardashian is having another baby!â, âA 14 year old girl is pregnantâ. Besides false information social media tends to popularize certain trends and fashion which is considered âprettyâ or âidealâ such as size 0, the big butt/breast trend, thigh gap trend, botox and lip job trends are all fashion ideals which became popularized wit the help of famous , âtrendyâ celebrities who maintain those images and lifestyle, and makes is acceptable for everyone else to follow. When social media promotes these lifestyles young teens feel obligated and pressured into living up to those expectations which corrupts young minds, promotes premature aging, and is increasing lots of danger (mental health, cyber attacks, abuse).
In J.David Bolter & Richard Grusinâs âRemediation,â they indicate that remediation is the concept that all media derives from past media. Bolter and Grusin argue that all medium tend to operate between two poles; Mediacy and hypermediacy. Mediacy is the erasure of the medium; it is less apparent or transparent, whereas hypermediacy is the promotion of the medium; it is visible or opaque. Both mediacy and hypermediacy draw attention to the borrowing and repurposing that old media do to new media. New media borrows from and refashion old media such as art, photography radio, and film. New media pays homage to old media by building on concepts and technologies of the past and replacing them with new media that is more efficient for the future. A new music video editing in a clip from an old movie to relay a point is a simple example of remediation. When looking at the new video, one can distinguish the periods of each media and understand the purpose of the old media being reference into the new media.
Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusinâs âRemediationâ was an interesting read. Bolter and Grusinâs ideologies complement Marshall McCluhanâs idea that âthe medium is the messageâ . They refer to the repurposing of media as a sub system of a larger system as remediation. Older media is embedded in new media but most of the time we are so used to the newer technology that we do not define the older technologies used in it as a part of the newer, better system. Remediation works both ways. Like the example of a filmmaker making a scene set the past we can also appropriate and fashion graphics to make the scene look a certain way. Filmmaking is a good example of how remediation can work in reverse. Remediation is an interesting idea to take into consideration when looking closely at new media because it gives an eye opening new perspective into technology and systems. Hypermediacy causes the line between media to be less visible because of the complexity there could be between the many medias in the media in question. An example of this complexity can be seen in virtual reality. If I played a virtual reality game I would play the game for awhile and could become confused about which reality would be the ârightâ reality at some point. We often do not see the effects of media and how they are relevant to new and old media because it is invisible. Looking at media in small parts and thinking about how remediation applies helps give some perspective.
In the article âRedemdiationâ the authors Bolter and Grusin speak about new media and how it is taken into exaggeration. Our current media is what they would call âmedia-richâ. They speak on what hypermediacy is which is emphasizing on what the medium is. Speaking on what remediation; media that is contained from all other media.
With the technology that we have today has improved and evolved to the point that pictures on the screen that was new at least ten years ago. However, now with the evolution of technology, the just a digital picture that moves on our screens are nothing to us. We expect that to happen and so it is a norm for this generation’s society. That is when the new technology of virtual reality comes to our lives; the virtual reality is now what is new and the evolution from a watching thing from a rectangle changes to having a bucky goggles over your eyes and you see the graphics world as if you are in that world. That is the logic of immediacy that it is transparent to the users that eventually we get to use to using the technology that we are not aware as it becomes a norm. Immediacy takes away the medium but instead have a direct relationship with the technology. Then there is a pole logic which is hypermediacy which we are aware of and has mediums that we see as a computer screen. Hypermediacy is a âcombination of random access with multiple mediaâ which means that it is a technology that has used previous mediums usages and puts them together to make new technology. Which can be said that all medium relates to another medium since evolution is to develop on top of each other to make an upgraded version. All the mediation borrows from each other and that includes both of the logic listed above.
David Bolter and Richard Grusin talk about âRemediationâ. They say that all media contain other media, all mediation is remediation .Richard Grusin published his ,âRadical Remediationâ in the fall of 1996. They also say that all media tend to operate on two poles which are immediacy which means âwithoutâ and hypermediacy which means âexcessive or over the topâ. Immediacy is the eraser of the medium, whereas Hypermediacy is the promotion of the medium or in other words to emphasize the medium. Both poled draw attention to borrowing and repurposing.âNew tech define themselves in relationship to earlier tech of representation. New media can include techs underlining media. ALL media exist in relation to other media and remediation works in both directions. An example of and ultimate place of immediacy is Times Square. They used strange days the movie to situate their argument. There are many types of media that we can interact with and there is a lot of media that makes the technologies work that we canât see or interact with.
“Remediation” is an article by Richard Grusin and Jay Bolter. The meaning of remediation for those who don’t know can be defined as ‘settling (disputes, strikes, etc.)
In the previous class, we read their article entitled, “Remediation”, in the article they shed light on three new terms, immediacy, hypermediacy, and remediation. Immediacy is described as the process of having a person experience a medium without the actual medium being present. An example of this is using a FaceTime app to make it look like your talking to face to face, but in reality, you are using a phone to complete this process and you forget about the phone. Hypermediacy is the opposite of immediacy and is not the erasure of media. It is not transparent, you cannot see through it and it is more apparent. An example of this that is brought up by Bolter and Grusin would be of a desktop interface. When we look at a computer we can see that it has files, applications, a clock, etc. Bolter and Grusin are highlighting the fact that all mediation is in fact remediation. They are saying that no media is really “new” because all new media takes from old media. In this way, media is on a spectrum of continuity and it escalates, or evolves, all the time. Bolter and Grusin want us to see how all media exhibit attention between hypermediacy and immediacy. They also talk about Remediation which is how new media finds its way through old media. So in a sense everything is a remix because everything we see has already been done in some type of way and they we see it now may be just reskinned. It is the idea that old media is being built upon/ further developed.