I was thoroughly interested and entertained by the history of comics documentary in class. While comic books are such a major part of modern pop culture, their history and nature is largely unknown, and something which I have not explored much myself. I was unaware of the severity of laws against comics early on, which seems strikingly similar to the current debate surrounding violence in digital games. Debates about violence, corruption, and societal degradation seem to be the normal birth pains for any new and revolutionary medium.
My personal Favorite Web Comic is xkcd. It's sometimes above my head, as it often deals with advanced mathematics and computer science, things which I have very little grasp of, although I'm working on the computer science. However, the author takes al sort of geekery and silliness, and brings it to a charming, human level. His simple stick figure drawings serve only as background for his sarcastic wit and clever puns and situations.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
New Media Reader pp:585 - 647
TIMELINE:
1986: Langdon Winner publishes Mythinformation
1987: Lucy Suchman publishes Plans and Situated Actions
1988: Michael Joyce Publishes Siren Shapes, Bill Nichols publishes The Work of Culture in the Age of Cybernetic Systems
1990: Lynn Hershman publishes The Fantasy Beyond Control
As the New Media Reader continues into the modern age, the essays contained therein are becoming less and less speculative and awe-struck by modern technology, and instead are increasingly focused on specifically how advanced technologies might shape society, art, and human interaction. Of particular interest was Winner's Mythinformation, which sought to put to rest the idea that technology will automatically bring about social change. I myself have been of the opinion that the internet and the availability of information will almost inevitably increase natural democracy. However, every new medium throughout history has increased the accessibility of information, most have not led to democratic utopia. Granted, of course, that the internet is unparalleled in nature and scope. This does not mean, however, that it cannot be controlled and bought. I also appreciated Nichol's exploration of simulation and interactivity in culture. Being quite interested in digital games and interactive entertainment, the nature of expression and culture within interactivity is a fascinating topic for me.
1986: Langdon Winner publishes Mythinformation
1987: Lucy Suchman publishes Plans and Situated Actions
1988: Michael Joyce Publishes Siren Shapes, Bill Nichols publishes The Work of Culture in the Age of Cybernetic Systems
1990: Lynn Hershman publishes The Fantasy Beyond Control
As the New Media Reader continues into the modern age, the essays contained therein are becoming less and less speculative and awe-struck by modern technology, and instead are increasingly focused on specifically how advanced technologies might shape society, art, and human interaction. Of particular interest was Winner's Mythinformation, which sought to put to rest the idea that technology will automatically bring about social change. I myself have been of the opinion that the internet and the availability of information will almost inevitably increase natural democracy. However, every new medium throughout history has increased the accessibility of information, most have not led to democratic utopia. Granted, of course, that the internet is unparalleled in nature and scope. This does not mean, however, that it cannot be controlled and bought. I also appreciated Nichol's exploration of simulation and interactivity in culture. Being quite interested in digital games and interactive entertainment, the nature of expression and culture within interactivity is a fascinating topic for me.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Eric Rosenthal
Eric Rosenthal's lecture on his current work was really gripping. While many of the necessary scientific and biological concepts for a more complete understanding were out of my experiential range, he has a way of explaining things that make them seem so obvious that one cannot help but assume his theories are correct. I was truly impressed by his modesty and reserve, which was considerable, considering he could quite possibly revolutionize both technology and biology.
New Media Reader 339-441
1974: Theater of the Oppressed is published.
1975: Soft Architecture Machines is published.
1976: Computer Power and Human Reason published.
1977: Responsive Environments published. Personal Dynamic Media published.
1980: A Thousand Plateaus published, Mindstorms published, "Put-That-There" published.
Mid-1980's: Boal returns to Brazil.
1985: Opening of MIT's Media Lab.
1992: Boal runs for political office and wins.
This section of The New Media Reader dealt primarily with philosophies and potentialities for human-computer interaction. I was especially interested in sections about responsive environments and virtual reality. Living in an age of constant and increasing human/computer interaction, seeing the history of the theory that computer should adapt more to people, and not vice-versa. Most interesting to me were sections, especially in Responsive Environments and Personal Dynamic Media, about using computers for education. Since their advent, children have had to take special classes and work hard to learn, over time, to properly use computers. I find great merit in the pursuit of computers and programs that can serve children and offer them greater education, as opposed to children being forced to adapt.
1975: Soft Architecture Machines is published.
1976: Computer Power and Human Reason published.
1977: Responsive Environments published. Personal Dynamic Media published.
1980: A Thousand Plateaus published, Mindstorms published, "Put-That-There" published.
Mid-1980's: Boal returns to Brazil.
1985: Opening of MIT's Media Lab.
1992: Boal runs for political office and wins.
This section of The New Media Reader dealt primarily with philosophies and potentialities for human-computer interaction. I was especially interested in sections about responsive environments and virtual reality. Living in an age of constant and increasing human/computer interaction, seeing the history of the theory that computer should adapt more to people, and not vice-versa. Most interesting to me were sections, especially in Responsive Environments and Personal Dynamic Media, about using computers for education. Since their advent, children have had to take special classes and work hard to learn, over time, to properly use computers. I find great merit in the pursuit of computers and programs that can serve children and offer them greater education, as opposed to children being forced to adapt.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Ingo Maurer
Before getting to the Cooper-Hewitt, I was skeptical about going to see Ingo Maurer's work. I thought I was going to spend an afternoon looking at designer light fixtures. As soon as we arrived however, and I saw a poster in the lobby of a hanging lamp made out of exploding porcelain Buddha's and chopsticks, I knew I was in for something a little more interesting. This feeling compounded upon arriving upstairs and looking at Maurer's "sketchbook" of interesting objects haphazardly arranged in sort of chunky, vague idea-forms.
The actual exhibit exceeded all of my expectation. Maurer takes lighting and transforms a space, creating a kind of electric sculpture that compliments and maintains synergy with the surrounding space. The most fascinating thing about his work is its general stylistic inconsistency. While certain motifs were repeated, like explosions and hearts, the works themselves echoed everything from Asian-style paper work, to art deco, to hypnotic blue installations. Knowing nothing about Maurer beforehand, I was quite impressed, and will keep an eye out for his work from now on.
The actual exhibit exceeded all of my expectation. Maurer takes lighting and transforms a space, creating a kind of electric sculpture that compliments and maintains synergy with the surrounding space. The most fascinating thing about his work is its general stylistic inconsistency. While certain motifs were repeated, like explosions and hearts, the works themselves echoed everything from Asian-style paper work, to art deco, to hypnotic blue installations. Knowing nothing about Maurer beforehand, I was quite impressed, and will keep an eye out for his work from now on.
New Media Reader 249-338
Timeline:
1970: Software Exhibition. Constituents of a Theory of the Media published
1972: Requiem for the Media and Television: Technology and the Society published.
1974: Computer Lib / Dream Machines published.
This section of the book departed from previous sections in that the book now starts to focus on media theory and philosophy, as opposed to the earlier more technical and historical documents. Constituents of a Theory of the Media was particularly engaging. Enzensberger clearly realizes that a massive change in media distribution and media experience is in effect, essentially foretelling many modern uses of the web in his suggestions on massive networks of video and new media distribution. I found his guarded optimism about the potential of new media refreshing amidst an often fearful environment when it comes to new technologies. In only a couple of paragraphs he refuted McLuhan's "The Media is the Message" doctrine, insisting that new media can and must be used to further democratize society. The essay, and Baudrillard's response, were clearly intentionally sandwiched between a section on the Software Exhibition, and excerpts from Computer Lib / Dream Machines, both of which, especially the latter, champion computers as being far more malleable, adaptable and potentially friendly than many let on at the time. Nelson's work, full of friendly language and colorful illustrations, predicts many of the uses of the personal computer, as well as many conceptualizations for presently existing programs. More than anything, the readings this week illustrated a departure from straight technical adcvancement, and became a theory and fortelling of mass personal computing, as well as mass participation in media.
1970: Software Exhibition. Constituents of a Theory of the Media published
1972: Requiem for the Media and Television: Technology and the Society published.
1974: Computer Lib / Dream Machines published.
This section of the book departed from previous sections in that the book now starts to focus on media theory and philosophy, as opposed to the earlier more technical and historical documents. Constituents of a Theory of the Media was particularly engaging. Enzensberger clearly realizes that a massive change in media distribution and media experience is in effect, essentially foretelling many modern uses of the web in his suggestions on massive networks of video and new media distribution. I found his guarded optimism about the potential of new media refreshing amidst an often fearful environment when it comes to new technologies. In only a couple of paragraphs he refuted McLuhan's "The Media is the Message" doctrine, insisting that new media can and must be used to further democratize society. The essay, and Baudrillard's response, were clearly intentionally sandwiched between a section on the Software Exhibition, and excerpts from Computer Lib / Dream Machines, both of which, especially the latter, champion computers as being far more malleable, adaptable and potentially friendly than many let on at the time. Nelson's work, full of friendly language and colorful illustrations, predicts many of the uses of the personal computer, as well as many conceptualizations for presently existing programs. More than anything, the readings this week illustrated a departure from straight technical adcvancement, and became a theory and fortelling of mass personal computing, as well as mass participation in media.
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