Technological or Media Determinism

The development of the internet and its extremely rapid penetration in all aspects of human life implies the idea of technological determinism. This is used to refer to the common assumption that new technologies are the primary cause of major social and historical changes. Working in an industry that offers internet services and being part of persuading customers that this is everything they need in this world for their life to be more efficient, fun, successful and simple. I as well often find myself believing in inevitability of the new media.

Deconstructing Benjamin

Walter Benjamin’s main focus in his published work entitled, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction,” is that when a piece of artwork is reproduced, that traditional work loses its meaning through the loss of its aura, or authenticity. Benjamin writes that an original piece of artwork’s aura derives from its unique characteristic in being a one of a kind piece. However, when that work is reproduced, the work loses its refined value as an original piece. Benjamin writes, “Even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking one element: its presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be” For example, if a person were to see a replica of a Monet piece or a Picasso piece, they would not feel the same emotions as they would if they saw the actual piece. Seeing the real piece of artwork is a much greater experience than seeing a reproduction or replica of the work.

The Tyranny of Copyright?

The Tyranny of Copyright suggests that culture is a public right endangered by copyright extensions, and it portrays legal scholars and trial lawyers as creative thinkers who hope to restore the “Jeffersonian” ideal of a “free society” by rolling back or ending the protections now afforded creative work. But the case against copyrights is academic. Creative work is produced by real people working in the real world. The readers of the article should not confuse the length of copyright enjoyed by corporations with the copyright protection granted to freelance creators. Corporations don't create, individuals do and the longer a corporation can extend copyrights produced by employees or obtained from freelancers, the longer it will succeed and try to keep that work out of the public domain.

Understanding Media

Electric light is pure information. It can be used as a doctor, surgeon or baseball lights at a game they are in the same content. “The medium is the message” because it is the medium that shapes and controls the scale and form of human association and action. This is merely to say that the personal and social consequences of any medium that is of any extension of ourselves, results from the new scale that is introduced into our affairs by each extension of ourselves, or by any new technology. Also there are different types of media, hot and cold. Hot media tends to expand one sense and also tends to give a lot of information. Cool media expands more than one sense and doesn’t give a lot of information, leaving the audience to fill in the gaps for example a movie.Electric light is pure information. It can be used as a doctor, surgeon or baseball lights at a game they are in the same content. “The medium is the message” because it is the medium that shapes and controls the scale and form of human association and action. This is merely to say that the personal and social consequences of any medium that is of any extension of ourselves, results from the new scale that is introduced into our affairs by each extension of ourselves, or by any new technology. Also there are different types of media, hot and cold. Hot media tends to expand one sense and also tends to give a lot of information. Cool media expands more than one sense and doesn’t give a lot of information, leaving the audience to fill in the gaps for example a movie.

The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction

A great amount of things have changed over the last 20 years and nothing is the same as it use to be, and in future we must expect great transformation of the different techniques of art. In principle a work of art has always been reproducible. Nearly anything made by man was able to be reproduced therefore replicas are made. Different people did it for different reasons, one was to practice these crafts, another was to diffuse their works and lastly for their own gain. Digital reproduction of a work of art represents something new. “Just as water, gas, and electricity are brought into our houses from far off to satisfy our needs in response to a minimal effort, so we shall be supplied with cultural commodities, which will appear and disappear at a simple movement of the hand, hardly more than a sign”(Steven Jobs). Because these replicas are being made it breaks tradition which is the obverse of the contemporary crisis and the renewal of mankindA great amount of things have changed over the last 20 years and nothing is the same as it use to be, and in future we must expect great transformation of the different techniques of art. In principle a work of art has always been reproducible. Nearly anything made by man was able to be reproduced therefore replicas are made. Different people did it for different reasons, one was to practice these crafts, another was to diffuse their works and lastly for their own gain. Digital reproduction of a work of art represents something new. “Just as water, gas, and electricity are brought into our houses from far off to satisfy our needs in response to a minimal effort, so we shall be supplied with cultural commodities, which will appear and disappear at a simple movement of the hand, hardly more than a sign”(Steven Jobs). Because these replicas are being made it breaks tradition which is the obverse of the contemporary crisis and the renewal of mankind.

Stage 1 (Winter Project)

1. How has our relationship to art changed by virtue of the fact that new media allow us to more easily be producers as well as consumers? (If, indeed, you find that it has.)

Our relationships with technology and electronics have changed a great deal over my lifetime. We have become so reliable on technology that we can now not live without it. About 20 years ago not everyone had the privilege to have a high tech computer or high speed internet. Also there was no such thing as a PS3 console or the types of phones that we can fit in our pocket. Everything has become so advanced whereas almost every single person has access to a computer with the internet as well as a cell phone. Our gaming devices have gone from Nintendo to PS3, where we can now play games in HD online with millions of others around the world, as well as using the system to surf the net. It has become much easier to contact friends and family around the world because of these drastic changes. Also we can produce levels of higher expectations because of these technologies and electronics that are part of our everyday society. I still remember the first time I ever had to type something in elementary school and I did not even have a computer, I had to go over to my aunt house to use hers. I now have 2 computers in my home as well as 2 laptops that I can access at anytime. Nowadays things have become more convenient and easier to use which allows us to produce the best work that we can with the technology that we are exposed to.

Why Networks Matter (By: Manuel Castells)

Castells feels that networks appear to be the organising form of life, including social life. We know that technology does not form the society that we live in but without certian technologies different things would not have been able to develope, for example Castell uses electricity and the electrical engine. "Networks matter because they are the underlying structure of our lives. And without understanding their logic we cannot change their programmes to harness their flexibility to our hopes, instead of relentlessly adapting ourselves to the instructions received from their unseen codes. Networks are the Matrix." (Castell)