Readings III

Some of the most striking large ideas include 1) how new media is the medium to converge art and life, by providing the tools with which to reveal an alternate world and reach into a person's mind, 2) the shifting idea of artist as facilitator ('interactive' art), 3), the idea that a media that can more thoroughly provide an all-compassing experience, that can somehow converge all the past intellectual and technical advances in the arts, is somehow 'better',  and 4) the overarching optimism about how new media can improve quality of life. 

I think all of these large ideas are both very fertile but also evident of just how new new media is. The history is so short, and all the possibilities are there, but even just art as... the culture, or the institution, has yet to come up with a convincing approach in which to evaluate it. For this reason, new media can strike a sort of populist note that really rings true with what is happening now in the world. It is teeming with creative energy, and its popularity or reception is dependent upon the viewer in its most pure form. All the obstacles that might exist between a person and getting this person to a gallery to see the art, they are gone and are instead replaced by easy anonymity where real consequence are not immediately real. One might not have to worry about what 'image' they present to the outside world while they go to a gallery when they are alone in their room at a computer. 

I also think this is also interesting though because this brings to question ideas of 'taste'- its relevance and its functional significance. When art is suddenly dependent upon so many new people, many of which are not familiar with the history of art or its ideas, the success of a work can suddenly depend on (oh no!) the layman, the everyman, art that pleases the people. I don't think this means new media will evolve to please and entertain, putting pretty girls in the forefront and replacing substance with catchy humor. But I do think this is a new problem that new media will have to contend with. A larger audience is a good problem to have.