Objectives:
- Examine the role of technology as force for cultural maintanence and change
- Discuss the validity of art created with the aid of machines
Artifact:
I believe that the primary thesis of the Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins by Beverly Jones is that in the artistic form, technology has changed the world and have continual influence over their evolution in the form of art and social evolution combined. “New forms of art and technology are frequently cast in the mode of old forms just as other aspects of material and symbolic culture have been” (Jones 21). In such a short period of time, technology has improved so vastly and is continuing to do so in an everlasting faster pace. Jones explains this change through the visual effects of computer graphics.
One of the three historical examples Jones provides to help support her thesis is the use of electricity and computers, in which she states that during their introductions, no one thought that they had any potential or value in our lives. “These examples express the tendency to set limits of ‘the possible’ based on previous experience, knowledge, and conceptual frames” (Jones 21). This was highlighted through the sales of Mercedes Benz cars as well, as they were projected very low numbers due to the lack of high quality drivers present at that time. She claims, “those who originate and use new forms of art and technology embed their assumptions in the new symbolic and material forms” (Jones 21). These assumptions create new patterns that can be observed in many different ways.
A compelling and accurate illustration of Jones’ thesis at work in today’s culture can be observed through the visual effects in movies. Not only does the improvement of technology create more appealing graphics for the viewer to enjoy, they also make animated scenes appear more realistic, making it possible to “film” an impossible situation. Because of this, technology fuels new forms of creativity and inspiration to portray movies in a different light to society. We can see the effects of technology though animated films, from children movies such as The Incredibles and Frozen, to Transformers and many other blockbuster hits. One of the movie companies, Pixar, is an excellent example of computer graphics because it exemplifies its growth and success from the adaptation of older modes of art and technology. Due to the effects of digital art and computer graphics, we have the most breathtaking and amazing movies of the generation.
An article that I found that relates to this reading is from CNN Money, where it describes the type of futuristic technology from Star Trek that we use today, as a tribute to the passing away of Leonard Nimoy, the actor that had played Spock in this legendary movie. From GPS, to automatic doors, seeing how we take today’s form of technology for granted while society 20-30 years ago were dreaming of such technology shows the beauty behind the progression of our human race. The art of technology has advanced at such a high level in present times, and it is only progressing at a faster rate as our time continues. I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for us, and hopes that the art of technology evolves to become even more beautiful.
Reflection:
I always believed that technology has a huge influence in changing the direction of our culture, as it does impact our lifestyle enough as it is. I feel that because people can connect more efficently with each other due to technology, it is much easier for individuals to impact society as a whole today. Also, because of their ease of use and significance in our daily lives we tend to become very attached to technology as well. This can also be observed in gaming as well, as seen in Jane McGonigal’s TED talk, where she had mentioned gamers have played billions of hours together thus far through World of Worldcraft, and that this amount will only increase as technology becomes available for more third-world countries. It impressed me to see how far we’ve come in such a short period, and wondering at the same time as to what could possibly come up for us in the near future.
That being said however, I think that the advancement of graphic design limits the validity and significance for art in general. I agree with Beverly Jone’s explanation on the impact of technology on graphic design today, in that it eases the amount of work required to create such art, as it takes away from an artist’s skill to a certain extent. Obviously the creativity may be present, but because one can transmit their visuals into a canvas a lot smoother I feel that they have to be seen from a different perspective and that their art shouldn’t be considered as ‘artistic’ as our other works. But also, it does depend once again on what we perceive as ‘art’. In my Interpretation of Art blog, a trait that I look for in judging something as art is its significance and value to our world today. For example, the first form of art, although unique, wouldn’t be considered artistic in my eyes since the ‘artist’ just used adobe or a different program in order to create it, so it wasn’t literally from their two hands. The iPhone however, would be considered artistic in my eyes because it is revolutionary, and appealing to our visuals as well. Overall, everyone will have different interpretations and perspectives of art, but with the influence of technology, I believe that true art in general won’t be as appreciated as much as it once was.
Future:
Like I’ve mentioned before, technology has progressed so much as it is, and so I don’t know how much further it can keep progressing. However, there are yet a numerous amount of problems and issues that our world faces, and technology could potentially have an impact on that. Because technology is becoming very cheap, more and more businesses can utilize various components on a daily basis, which can enhance our lifestyle. I believe that there are still a couple places where we can grow, and I hope that the advancement of technology can enhance our lives even more.
Sources:
Mcgonigal, J. (2010, February 1). Gaming can make a better world. Retrieved March 17, 2015, from http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world?language=en