The main thesis that the author discusses in Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins is how art is changing. If we look into the past, people used to only see art as paintings and sculptures. Now however, we are at a new point in time where technology is much more prominent and as a result has started to become interwoven with art. The author writes about the mix between these forms of art when she says, “An examination of the fluctuating borders between computer graphics theory and practice in scientific/technological use, in artistic use and in ‘everyday’ use reveals differing patterns of culture authorization” (Jones 21). This quote demonstrates how our society is starting to change the old borders that were once set up between art and technology/science.

Jones gives a historical example of how technology and art were combined in the 1940s when she writes, “Computers were used to generate the earliest computer graphics and display them on oscilloscopes” (Jones 22). This quote reveals how technology and art used to be connect 70 years ago. If we take a step back and look at how art and computers have developed together, it is amazing to see the advancement. An example of this is with animation. Nowadays, we are able to digitally draw characters and have them do things such as act in movies. Animationschool.net discusses the basics of animation when they write, “Animation is the art of bringing something to life. How it’s brought to life can be done any number of ways…You can put it on a computer, like Toy Story.” In the 1940s this would have never been impossible and because of that, people would not be able to consider something such as animation as art. By comparing Jones 1940 example and this animation example, we are able to support Jones thesis on how art is constantly changing.

 

References

Jones, B. J. (1990). Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins. LEONARDO: Digital Image – Digital Cinema Supplemental Issue, pp. 21-30.

How Animated Movies Are Made. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2015, from http://www.animationschool.net/how-animated-movies-are-made.html

I decided to respond to the Ted Talk that discusses making the world a better place through video games. Before watching this speech, I always considered video games a waste of time. It never occurred to me that the amount of time people spend playing video games would give them some sort of skillset. However after I was finished, it made sense to me that we have a large number of people who have mastered the skills suggested by Jane McGonigal: urgent optimism, social fabric, epic meaning, and blissful productivity. Furthermore, when I finished watching this speech, I personally felt that gamers could better change the world by utilizing their skills in a unique work places. Although Ms. McGonigal’s idea of creating video games that people would play then ideally carry with them in real life was a valid idea, I personally felt that if we designed a work environment with the same principles that draw gamers to excel, and focused that energy to fix real world problems, we would truly exceed in solving real world problems.