Ok so this is my first attempt a a blog type communication.As a group we were asked to formulate our thoughts on the first weeks reading and subsequent discussion. I found the discussion on the humanities manifesto piece interesting as there were several elements to this that were totally new to me. For example I did not know who Shepard Fairey was and therefore did not get the refference. It was good to hear from someone (Olivia I think) who did. Even though a lot of people, myself included, had issues with this piece, I have since looked at it again and do find it informative in its aspirations and definitions. I did take issue with its somewhat eliteist terminology aimed at higher accademia whilst preaching of a very socialist ethos.It talks of various pathways although with the ever increasing accademic standards of applicants for all levels of employment, especially in education and research it is nigh on impossible for anyone without a masters degree to even get an interview for most positions.
The article on Hastac also I laerned a great deal from, not least what Hastac is.This article did not generate a lot of discussion but time was short. Again I was struck by the collaborative tone of the ethos and thinking behind this organisation, and will follow a number of threads mentioned.
The Cronicle piece resonates with me as I feel it is important to develop an idea for any visual piece of work through the process of try and try again. I dont consider any stage of the process a failure it is simply a step along the way towards a conclusion. Then we got on to blogs and tweets. This caused me to evaluate the processes in far greater detail than I have done to date. Some of the points raised I had no problem aggreeing with and seeing the potential for communication and developing thought process. I do however have some issues with Mike's analogy of a present day blog being equivalent to the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci's sketch books/note books. Ì feel there is a definate distinction between the way an artist uses a sketch book and the way anyone uses a blog. Firstly an artist sketch book is produced first and foremost for their own reflection, and idea development. It is not generally for anybody elses benefit. It is a place where ideas develop over time as the process of critical analysis and reflection is engaged in by the artist. It doesn't look for outside opinion or comment untill the work has developed to a point where the ideas have substance.
A blog to my mind at least is quite different. It is composed to communicate with the wider community even if that is quite a limited community. Because it is aimed at an audience it has a different voice and a different intent. It is communicating something to someone out side of yourself.
In many areas of the arts I feel the process of independent reflection of ideas through shetch/note books is essential. Outside voices responding to this stream of thoughts may only serve to dilute and certainly alter the eventual outcome. When we use a figure an universally recognised as Da Vinci I think it raises other issues too. We only have the evidence of the work Da Vinci and many other masters of their arts produced in sketch books because they were produced on a material that is able to stand the test of time. Hundreds of years in fact. And we are able to marvel at the specific strokes laid down by their unique hand. I dont feel that yet applies to anything produced via digital media. The modes of recording change that fast that everything has to be constantly re formatted. Only 10 years ago floppy discs were a common means of storeing data, today you can't even get a computer to read one. In 100 years how much of todays data will still exist? Leonardos sketch books will.
I was reminded of an interview with Mark Pincus by one of your final lines. You asked how much of today's data will exist in a hundred years time.
ReplyDeleteIn the context of his "digital skyscraper" and "forever brands" interview, Pincus uses the words "people can't imagine life without...can't imagine life before". When I ask myself if I can imagine a world of the year 2112, where the digital has endured or even reigns completely, I remember that I would never have believed in the possiblity of an iPad ten years ago and when I was a primary school pupil, I would have scoffed at the futuristic notion of mainstream classroom human/computer interactive learning. Having embraced both, I now cannot imagine a life without them. Therefore, I have to give credence to the possiblity of the current data and formats standing the test of time. Once the world, as a whole, has acclimatised to the digital form, it may become as organic as the hardcopy. Eventually, we may not be able to imagine a life before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pv_WRWZWw10
Hi Dan! I was struck by what you were saying about Da vinci's notebook. I too had a difficult time in comparing this to the blog. While I understood what Mike was saying, like you I agree that the artists journal of Da vinci's age was not a device for sharing, unlike the blog of today. However I do take into account that most people who write a journal in their lifetime or use a sketchbook etc. undertake this format with the hope of it being read, so as to share their experiences. A journal which instantly springs to mind is the diary of Anne Frank.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed your closing debate on the historical expiration date of these digital materials. It made me think about whether online data is still stigmatized with lacking the same import as the physical page.