Sandy's digital exploration
Besides the conventional artworks,like painting and photography,Visual Culture is also highly influenced by Digital Media. I want to know more about the relationship between visual culture and digital media.
2013年11月28日 星期四
2013年11月26日 星期二
Prsentation: Mouchette.org
A) Introduction
l Artist: Uncertain
l Name: Mouchette.org
l Year: 1996
l Display in the internet
l Networked Digital Art
B) General Description of the Website
Mouchette’s website is supposed to be a thirteen year old girl. The first page just introduces hername, age and a list of relevant information. Next to the introduction has a portrait of a sadlooking adolescence girl. The background contains the combine pictures with a close-up a luridflower, its petals crawling with ants and files which created a sense of eerie. The background canbe changed if you pressed the button of “reload” which next to “My next mood is …..” The otherstrange thing is the weird sound like smiling and crying in different time. The drop-menu link candirect you into different theme of the story.
C) Detailed Illustration of the Internet Art
1.
Interested
Sections
l Suicide Kit
l 7 songs
l Blind Jump
l Flesh and Blood
l Cat
2. Central themes of those sections
a) Suicide
“Suicide Kit”
What is the best way to kill yourself when you're under
13? The strange question to ask you to commit suicide. The
funniest thing is many people response and shown their answers
on the Internet. Some response would suggest ways to die like
taking pills. Some viewers would kindly to suggest cherishing the
valuable life.
“Suicide Kit”
What is the best way to kill yourself when you're under
13? The strange question to ask you to commit suicide. The
funniest thing is many people response and shown their answers
on the Internet. Some response would suggest ways to die like
taking pills. Some viewers would kindly to suggest cherishing the
valuable life.
b) Sex
1. “Flesh
and Blood”
The child is depicted in a sexual
way. The background image is of
a close-up a young girl’s face,sticking out her tongue. The text
accompanying this image reads: “Want to know what my tongue
tastes like? Try it on your screen and tell me. The site possesses
interactive questions for viewer to respond and ask for the e-mail
address. You access to the page: “Meet my dad” and “Meet my
Mum” to read the strange story.
a close-up a young girl’s face,sticking out her tongue. The text
accompanying this image reads: “Want to know what my tongue
tastes like? Try it on your screen and tell me. The site possesses
interactive questions for viewer to respond and ask for the e-mail
address. You access to the page: “Meet my dad” and “Meet my
Mum” to read the strange story.
Simply read from the title, I
expect the section is the sweet singing by the youth girl. The truth is entirely shocking. The 7 songs are about a woman gasping are activated. From the song, I just can imagine the scene of sexual intercourse between the couple. Why the child is so early to be sexualized?
3. Blind Print
This page appears when I click the
right corner of the first page. I am shocked to see this scene. When you move
the mouse, the picture will appear. The picture is small but you can guess what
is
happening with a woman moaning.
happening with a woman moaning.
c) Violence
“Cat”
An image of a cat, open its mouth
and showing it sharp teeth nervously which convey a sense of ambiguous. The cat
was violently shaking on the screen while shrill screaming and are playing, the
viewer is asked to kill this cat.
D) Features
that the artwork shares with the earlier art movement
1. Pop
Art
l Popular
l Straight-forward presentation
lThe repetitive arrangement of picture
lThe repetitive arrangement of picture
Mickey, Andy Warhol
2. Dada Movement
l The event and audience
participation
The audience can chose the different section
of the web to read. In the website, there are multiple choices to answer the
question.
l The chance/ Random
There are
some blind prints which have some special animations or pornography which
pop-up unexpectedly.
l Formal Instruction
There are
drop-menu and multiple choice guides you to explore the mysterious website. For
example, the “Painting”, you press the button the “Author unknown”, then you
can read the development of the story telling form the story.
l Borrowing or appropriation
It is not
start from zero. The Mouchette persona and Web-site are loosely based on Robert
Bresson’s 1967 Film, “Mouchette” about a suicidal adolescence girl who is raped
in a forest at night. The portrait of a sad girl on the cover page matches with
the background story of Mouchette.
E) Criticism and Controversy
1.
The dispute of Copyright
According
to the “Film Quiz”, there is a formal notice from Robert Bresson to “Mouchette”
to cancel the film Quiz in 2002. According to Toni Saint, “this copyright issue the
question of ownership over fictional identities……and raises issues of originality
and ownership.” It is difficult to claim who is right or wrong. The
dispute of copyright is a complex issue. Personally, it is just an inspiration
from the original film which the unknown artist makes use of it and combined
with new elements. Therefore, it may irrelevant to the copyright issue. On the
other hand, it can be a promotion to the original film from the popularity of
the website.
2.
Child sexuality and Identity
Online
“Clearly, http://mouchette.org provokes heated reaction toportray of child sexuality and to the way it constructs and
manipulates the identity online.”
Could
such a well-developed Web-site really be the work a 13-year-old girl? Who is
the real Mouchette? The true identity of the artist behind http://mouchette.org remains
unknown. It raises our concern of the masking of personal identity on the
Internet. Also, the ability of the creator to maintain the anonymity for over
twenty years is one of the significant reasons this website has gained its “international
reputation” in the Internet art community.
There
concerns stem from the anxieties surrounding cases of pedophilia and other
sexual fetishes. No matter the “7 songs” and “Flesh and Blood” are sexually
suggestive. However, it can be seen as a trap to pedophilia. Also, it
challenges the convention that a youth girl engaged in the initiation of sex. I
don’t like the presentation of the child sexuality. Even though I know it may
be fake and just a gimmick in the website. A youth girl should not be so
sexually mature and sexual arousing which I am doubt about the intention and
implication of the artist.
F) References of Key Quotes
1.
Mouchette, and Manthos Santorineos. "Rape,
Murder and Suicide Are Easier When You Use a Keyboard Shortcut: Mouchette, an
On-Line Virtual Character." Leonardo. no. 3 (2005): 202-206.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1577754 (accessed November 14,2013).
2.
Tribe, Mark. New Media Art. Los Angeles: Taschen,
2006.
2013年10月24日 星期四
Blog for Marks Napier, “Shredder”, 1998
Marks Napier’s “Shredder” http://www.potatoland.org/shredder/
Background:
Marks Napier, “Shredder”, 1998
“This work is typical of much digital art
because it is an artwork that places important on:
l Formal instruction
l The concept rather than the art objects
l The event and audience participation
l An interest in random events and/or chance
l Borrowing or appropriation
1. Formal instruction
There is formal
instruction for the use of Shredder. After you input the link of website
browser, there is an instruction: “Click to launch the Shredder”. Then, you
enter into the page of Shredder. If you don’t follow the instruction, you can’t
do and experience anything from the Shredder.
2. The concept rather than
the art objects
Shredder
emphasizes on the concept rather than the art object. The concept of shredder
is to transform the original website into new, rearranged and messy website. It
destroys the tidy and neat design of the original webpage. You can’t click the
link button. The picture is lengthened and distorted and repetitive. The word
and link are overlapped and readers are failure to read the content. It is
similar to the circle of the destruction and reconstruction of the artwork.
3. The event and the audience
participation
The event is under the control of the user.
The action of pressing the button of “enter” is totally relied on the user. The
audience is participation is 100%. The audience can input any website link and
transform and distort the website. For example, I have tried the link of Google
and Free Porn. Eventually, the original design of those webpage is completely
changed.
4. An interest in random events and/ or chance
Shredder shows an interest in random events.
In the website, there is a “bookmark” and a blank area. You are choose the
prepare website and to look for the powerful transformation of Shredder. There
are around over 20 links for you to choose at random.
5. Borrowing
or appropriation
The other feature of Shredder is borrowing
or appropriation. The creation of the new webpage design is not start form
zero. It is obviously to borrow from the original website and adopt the
transformation by its pre-designed formula. For example, the website of You
Tube.
Blog for the ethnic of digital games
A) Discussion
1.
According to the film, what are
some pros and cons of playing videogames for individuals and societies?
There are
some pros and cons of playing videogame. Playing videogame is a good chance to
learn and an effective channel for education. For example, the introduction of
army game in USA teaches the basic technique of shooting. Some game players are
interested in the real training of army after they play that game. Also, it is
a golden opportunity to earn big money. In South Korea, the professional
players gain well respect from the public and earn huge income.
However,
there are some disadvantages of playing videogame too. The excessive time of
playing videogame cause different kind of health problems like the back and the
muscle are painful. The videogame can gradually change the way we think. Even
the professional game players earn a lot, they have to isolate from their
family and feel lonely.
2.
According to the film, is there
any evidence that digital games can encourage aggressive values and anti-social
actions in the real world? Do you agree?
There is
no evidence show digital games can encourage aggressive values and anti-social
actions in the real world. The digital game can arouse the aggressive feeling
when you play the game. However, the game players are wise to distinguish the
game from the reality. There is no proof for aggressive feeling during the play
of game can stimulate aggressive action in the society.
I agree
with this view. A rational person can easily distinguish the game and the real
world. Many people like to play the violent game (shooting game/ fighting) as
it helps to relieve their pressure. Therefore, it shows that playing digital
games properly that can help to maintain the balance of mental health. There
are many tragedies of shooting classmate in USA school. Then, some people may
blame this for the negative influence of the aggressive digital games. It is
may be true. However, this claim leaves out a number of complexities such as
the mental condition of the criminal, the accessible of gun in USA and the
accumulated conflicts between the criminal and classmates which are also the possible
reasons to trigger off the misfortune.
3. Should governments have the right to ban a certain game or place age restrictions on it? Why?
Yes,
governments should have the right to ban a certain game or place age
restriction on it. There are some games emphasized on the content of sex and
violent. It would definite have a bad influence on children as they are too
young to distinguish the right from wrong. The game contains the elements of
sex like exaggerate the female body and sexy clothes will distort the image of
female which should place age restriction. The violent game likes shooting and
fighting shows a bad way to solve the problem and dispute. It creates an
illusion that violence can solve all problems and conflicts. Also, some game
may include racial discrimination like shooting the other races should be
banned.
B) Interview a Classmate
Vivian Ho likes the Sim City very much. She
likes to design all the custom and the plan of the city. Everything is under
her control that can create an ideal city. She claimed this game as an artwork.
You have to communication with other citizens. The design of the game is attractive
and beautiful. The game is similar to the real life which is fun and exciting
to pursue your personal goal. The advantage of the game is you have to learn
how to get well with others and improve your interpersonal skill.
Reading Exercise: Art in the age of digital distribution
1.
Dada
and New Media Art both described as “reactions”. What did they “react” do?
Dada reacted to the industrialization of warfare
and the mechanical reproduction of texts and images. New Media Art reacted to
the information technology revolution and the digitization of culture forms.
2.
What
are some similarities of New Media Art to Dada, Pop and Video Art?
New Media Art reuse the strategies of Dada artists,
such as the photomontage, collage, the readymade, political action and
performance-as well as Dada artist’s provocative use of irony and absurdity to
jar complacent audiences.
Similar to many Pop painting and sculptures, some
New Media Art refers to and is engaged with commercial culture.
The introduction of new technology catalyzes the popularization
of Video Art and New Media Art as an art movement. The invention of portable video
camera and PortPak are relatively inexpensive and affordable to artists. As a
result, it encourages the artist to develop Video Art. The introduction of the
Web browser intensified the birth of New Media art as a movement. Therefore,
this two art forms aims to make use the accessible artistic tool (Web Browser
or portable camera) to explore the changing relationship between technology and
culture.
3.
When Net
Art was first included in a major exhibition: Documenta X in Kassel, Germany?
Net Art was first included in the Documenta X
exhibition in Kassel, Germany since 1994.
4.
Is new
media art focused in one country? Why or Why not?
New Media is not focused in one country.
New Media Art is world-wide movement. E-mail and
Web Sites served as alternative channels for the discussion, promotion and
exhibition of New Media art work, enabling artists to form an online art scene
that is available to worldwide contemporary art and digital culture. Its
worldwide nature can be indicated by the proliferation in the 1990s of
international biennial exhibitions, including the Johanneburg Biennial and the
Gwangju Biennial.
5.
Why
were many artists drawn to new media art from other disciplines?
Advances in personal computing hardware and
software attract many artists drawn to new media art form other disciplines. In
the mid-1990s, the personal computers becomes affordable and able to manipulate
images, render 3D models, design Web pages, edit and mix audio with ease. Also,
the first generations of artists have grown up with personal computers and
videogame was coming of age. They are familiar with the new net technology.
2013年10月17日 星期四
Group Discussion of required reading and Comments on Super-Mario Clouds
Group Discussion of required reading
A) In your opinion, what are some key feature of the kinds of things we call "art"?
1. Inspire people to
think
2. Visual
enjoyment
3. Beauty (harmonious
arrangement of formal element: color, forms, style)
4. Meaning or
artist's expression
5. Creativity
6. Educational
value
B) How does Adams define art in your reading? Do you agree with his definition?
~The definition of Adams
1. Arts last: People
preserve arts as they are aesthetically interesting.
2. Arts conveys
message.
3. Art has content.
4. Art has an
Aesthetic.
5. Arts contain
ideas.
6. Arts make you feel
something.
7. Art is not
formulaic.
~Group response
For example, the
famous artwork Fountain by Duchamp which is ugly and vulgar. However, it
challenged the traditional value of art. It raised a question that whether
everything can be art. Then, it becomes an ironic example to criticize the
conservative value of arts in 19 century. Can the Fountain be an artwork even
if it lack of attractive appearance but contains a message? On the other hand,
the luxurious golden toilet cannot be classified as an artwork. In spite of
attractive visual effect, it does not have any useful message. So, if the
artwork conveys significant or important messages but against formal elements of
arts, can that artwork still be claimed as Arts? Or Arts have to include a
message and attractive visual effect at the same time?
C) Can video games be classified as art? What does Adams say? What do you think?
Yes. Adams
believes that video game can be classified as art. It needs promotion that let
the public and the press to accept it as an art form. Also, there are six
steps that the game developer must take. Games must to seek to do more
than provide fun. There must be an aesthetic for games and game player. Games
developer should explore the medium which may take artistic risks and break new
ground. Video games should challenge their players and provide a way seeing
things. Prizes and award must recognize aesthetic merit and not merely
technological prowess or craft. Games must be the subject of genuine criticism,
not merely product reviews. Games developer should be well-respected and
treated as “artist”.
I
agree with the comment of Adam.
Firstly, no matter
the media and public need time to accept that videogame can be classified as
art. Videogame often just treated as a leisure activity. It needs the
publication to promote its aesthetic and artistic quality to convert the
impression of majority people. As a result, public may raise their respect to
game developers and designers and treated them as artists.
Secondly, in term
of artistic value, many videogames achieve an excellent standard already.
Because of the advanced technology, videogame can present in 2-dimensional or
even 3-dimensional space perfectly. Its possibility to explore the sense of
space from the 2-dimensional LED screen is much powerful than the traditional
paintings. The pictorial quality is realistic and vivid. The online game
characters often have a good modeling and shading which is a common
characteristic among videogame. Many videogames fulfill the requirement of art
in aspects of artistic value.
Thirdly,
videogames should exceed fun which is most important thing to achieve. In the
reading, the writer shows an example: The Balance of Power, Chris Crawford. The
game reveals the actual constraint and strategy of USSR and USA during WWII. It
provides a new perspective to understand the war history. Also, Cooking Mama
developed by Office Create exceeds fun and provides a basic concept for
cooking. Nowadays, many people don’t know how to cook because of the busy life.
Cooking Mama simplified the cooking steps and guides the players to cook step
by step. As a result, game players can be more familiar with cooking, or even
arouse the interest of real cooking. Therefore, videogame can be popular and
claied as “art”, which is not only being fun, but also contains ideas.
In conclusion,
videogame can be arts in the future. However, it needs time for public to
convert their traditional impression of videogame. Also, videogame developers
need to improve the inner quality of videogame like maintaining the outstanding
artistic elements and instill a meaningful idea to the videogame.
1) The Background of the Artist- Cory Arcangel
Cory Arcangel (born May 25, 1978) is a Brooklyn, New York post-conceptual artist who makes work in many different media, including drawing, music, video, performance art, and video game modifications, for which he is perhaps best known. Arcangel often uses the artistic strategy of appropriation, creatively re-using existing materials such as dancing stands, Photoshop gradients, and You Tube videos to create new works of art. His work explores the relationship between digital technology and pop culture.2) Super Mario Bros
It is a 1985
platform video game initially developed by Nintendo R&D4 and published by
Nintendo as a pseudo-sequel to the 1983 game Mario Bros. In Super Mario Bros,
the player controls Mario and in a two-player game, a second player controls
Mario’s brother Luigi as he travels through the Mushroom Kingdom in order to
rescue Princess Toadstool from the antagonist Bowser. The game has been highly influential;
popularizing the side-scrolling genre. It was the best-selling game of all time
for approximately three decades. Nintendo released special red variants of the
Wii and Nintendo DSi XL consoles in re-packaged, Mario-themed, limited edition
bundles in late 2012 as part of the 25th anniversary of the game’s
release.
3) Super-Mario Clouds
It is a game
transformed from the Super-Mario. The artist rearranged the game by removing
all the characters and keeps the blue sky and cloud. Compared to the original
version, there is none of the obstacles and magic tools like the ghosts,
tortoises and super-power Mushroom. The game just includes the scene of floating
clouds in various sizes. The sky is in simple blue.
It is a game transformed from the Super-Mario. The artist rearranged the game by removing all the characters and keeps the blue sky and cloud. Compared to the original version, there is none of the obstacles and magic tools like the ghosts, tortoises and super-power Mushroom. The game just includes the scene of floating clouds in various sizes. The sky is in simple blue.
C) Personal Comment
I do not think the
Super-Mario Cloud is art.
Neither has it
fulfilled the requirement of a game nor art. For game, it should be interactive with the game players. I am shocked to see the constant moving
clouds that just feel bored after three seconds and want to switch off the
video. You have nothing to control in the game. There is none of the character
under your control; none of the enemy for you to defeat; none of any goal or
destination for you to achieve. The essence of the game is totally lost.
For art, Adams
claimed that should contain message and idea, aesthetic quality and arousal of
different feelings. First, it just arouses my negative feeling towards this
game. Some may claim that it helps to cool down their emotion with the constant
picture which provides a room of reflection of the fast movement of video or
online game. However, I cannot connect in this channel. It is a wasting of time
to read the boring game and I will turn it off in three seconds. Feeling of
being bored leads me to reject to understand or examine the intention of the
revised game. It just creates a negative impression to me, so what is the point
for it to claim as art?
Secondly, it does
not contain any aesthetic quality. Aesthetic quality means the composition of
background, the design of character, the setting of the game which can create
the sense of pleasure and beauty to the audience. It is ironical that some flat
clouds and pure blue sky created a sense of aesthetic feeling and contained
pleasure in reading it. The removal of the character, the beautiful scene or
background eliminated the sense of beauty and pleasure.
Thirdly, it did
not contain a message or idea. For the original version of the game, at least
it showed that if you want to upgrade yourself, you may have to deal with
different challenge or potential opponents. The challenge in the higher level
will be more difficult to achieve. Just like in our life, the person in senior
position would have to bear greater responsibility and duty. However, the
revised version of the game was blank to tell you anything. The message is
repeated movement of clouds and you cannot change it but just look at it and
accept it. If this is a new idea or message, I have to say thanks to the hard
work of the artist.
In conclusion, the
Super-Mario Clouds would not be art as it doesn’t fulfill the basic requirement
of the art: contain message and idea, aesthetic quality and arousal of
different feelings.
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