In “Computer Graphics: Effects of Origin”, Jones discusses the evolution of computer graphics, and examines the role that technology has increasingly been playing in the creation of art. She explains that the technology of today was built on the foundation of the technology of yesterday, and so on back in time, and in each stage of technology, it has been used to create art. She says “The 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”, showing that in the same way the symbolic culture builds upon itself, technology (specifically art from technology) is cast from the old molds, and altered (21 Jones).

Jones uses the example of computer graphics (or CGI) to illustrate her thesis. She talks about the origins of computer graphics, saying “In the 1940’s analogue computers were used to generate the earliest computer graphics and display them on oscilloscopes. Ben F. Lapofsky and Herbert W. Franke were among the pioneers creating these images.  Franke’s graphics were phase forms, presented as events rather than as static imagery” (52 Jones). The earliest forms of computer graphics have lead to each technological advancement in the CG field, to the point where it is difficult to differentiate between real and computer generated content in video games and movies.

The best example I can think of that illustrates Jones’ point that technology builds on itself, even to the point of it being cyclical is vinyl records. At one point, vinyl records were the most technologically advanced means of distributing music (art), but was eventually made obsolete by technological advancments (8-tracks, cassettes, CDs, MP3s). That technology has seemed to found it it’s way into the mainstream once again. I myself love to collect vinyl records and listen to even new music on vinyl, and there are many people who share that sentiment. Vinyl record sales are up over 30% from last year. There are companies that are still building and selling turntables, and some of them have been modernized, and in my opinion, look awesome.

The primary point that Jones makes in Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins is that technological advancement is affecting our lives beyond just the technology itself. She says “these changes are not simply technical effects. They contribute to maintenance and change of culturally conditioned conceptual patterns in the larger cultural historical context”, meaning that the fundamental aspects of culture themselves are being shaped by technology. As a result, how we as a society interact with that technology has changed the way we interact with each other. There is no doubt that, especially in the last ten to fifteen years, technology has defined our (western) culture. We are fully immersed in technology every single day. We have access to the accumulation of the world’s knowledge in our front pockets, and the ability to communicate with anyone and everyone simultaneously. In many cases, a majority of our interactions are digital. My question now is, with the cyclical behavior of cultural history, will we see a mass exodus away from these digital platforms in the near future? I love music, and I almost always listen to it on my phone, which is loaded up with MP3 files of my favorite songs. I also collect vinyl records of all my favorite bands and songs. I find my self more and more being drawn to the experience of listening to music on vinyl, rather than on my iPhone. This is true for many people, as vinyl sales are up over 30% this past year. Will we see this type of cultural shift to the social interaction technology of old (e.g. pen and paper, face-to-face interactions, etc) make a comeback like vinyl has?