Reflections

Initially my goals for this class were to get over my fear of technology that had raced along while I still listened to my LPs (that’s “long-playing records” for you youngsters) and to expand my vocabulary and basic tech skills. Being a theatre major, I also desire to be able to dialog with sound designers and have some ability myself.

The question of the role of art in a current social / political context leads me to these:
http://www.palinaspresident.us/
and
ATT1889960.jpg

I would have to add David Byrne as one of my favorite contemporary artists. He is also interested in sound outside the realm of traditional music:
http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/art_projects/playing_the_building/index.php

I still hold that the technology that has the most dramatic societal impact is the web. For me, I am thrilled to have gotten a digital camera for my birthday after having so much fun with my project 2. I would still like to have an iPod. I look forward to taking Theatre Sound Design with Obie-winning sound designer Robert Kaplowitz next semester.

As for my projects, I find that my art is personal. Even when it’s someone else’s script I may be performing or directing, it still has my personal flavor to it. I found it troubling when Thomas would ask if anyone else would find my project (or other students’) interesting. It indicated to me a need to look toward commercial success, which probably wasn’t Thomas’ point, and not at all my consideration, until I was asked to consider it. Upon such consideration, I hold that it is interesting whether you know me or not. There is a universal in the personal of the human experience and I think my projects reflect that as well.

Project one was an exercise in humility. Project two was a boost because I felt it came out well and I loved frolicking around taking pictures with the freedom of digital. Project three and all the listening we were required to do was refreshing in that it perked up my awareness to sound. Project four was a victory and vindication over project one and all four projects have moved me closer to 21st century art, thinking, feeling and skill-set.

Response

The internet in my room went out this Saturday.  If I want to go online I have to move to another area in my house or use the computer lab. I have noticed that my intrenet use has decreased significantly because of this. BUT it has been a major pain, I find myself not checking things like the weather online (I consult the weather channel not weather.com) or looking up phone numbers of people that live in my house, I go directly to their room.

I think that technology is deeply incorporated into our daily lives.  The internet’s abscence in my room has made me realize just how many times a day I go online and how my study breaks have changed.  I now cruise perezhilton.com instead of reading a book.  I am not entirely sure if that is a good thing.

Paul left the end of her book somewhat ambiguous: she was not sure how the future of technology would change and what its place would be in a gallery/museum setting. I feel somewhat similiarly.  I know that at the end of this class, I am overwhelmed by the wealth of work by tech artists acessible on the internet but I am not certain that it will ever be mainstream.  It will take some time for technology to be incorporated in its entirety into the museum system, but there has been some progress.  Most of the photography currently produced includes a digital component and that is show in museums.  Inclusion will come in time but maybe not of all the different interpretations and forms of technological art.

I am glad that I was introduced to the world of hypertext and html, I learned many useful and important skills.  I am certain this will ultimately be my benefit and I hope to eventually add to this knowledge and skill set.

Reflection

Having completed this course, I’m actually pleasantly surprised. I remember first reading the survey questions and panicking ever so slightly at the “three favorite contemporary artists” bit and the assumed judgment that would follow depending on who I named. I think that now I am far more confident about how I define “art” or “artists” and that question doesn’t seem as daunting. The people that I did choose did end up playing some part in the projects that I chose to do. As soon as I knew that we had to complete a sound project I knew I would be making a mash-up, no question about it. I love Girl Talk, I think some of the music he combines sounds amazing and is smart on an artistic level. I would try to do the same with my sound project. I’m really glad that I chose to take this course for a lot of the reasons that I stated in my initial questionnaire. I’m grateful that I got the chance to actual create something other than a piece of writing and became familiar with a range of different technologies and programs. I feel like I learned enough to be curious about what else I can do, specifically with Soundtrack Pro and Final Cut. I had no idea I would be as interested in sound art and sound manipulation as I was and I regret not being able to fit Sonic Art into my next semester. I do fully plan on taking John Slepian’s interactive course next semester and again, regret that I don’t have anymore semesters left to continue exploring this subject.

-Kristin

Reflection

This class introduced me to new mediums that I can now explore.

I’m starting to feel more tied down to the visual art path.  Although I like learning about music, astronomy, and biology, I’m ready for a subject that I feel really confident in. 

I am incredibly exited about sculpture I.

I don’t think I know enough artists to have favorites.

I feel much more confident in my computer skills now than I did then.

Many of my original answers to the questioners I still maintain today.  One semester at Smith must not be impactful enough to completely turn a persons world around.

How to upload via Fugu

Hi, All:

Wonder of wonders, my hyperlinks work and I’m ready to upload to Sophia.  Unfortunately, I’ve forgotten how.  I’m here in the lab until 5 if anyone is interested in walking me through it.  I’ll be in early tomorrow to try again if not today.

Thanks!

~Penney

Project is up

Hello,
My final project is online. Take a look.

Kaylin Lapan

Reflection

While going over this questionnaire after taking this class I can
say that some answers wouldn’t change (my major) but some others
take much more time than at the beginning. This class over the
course of the semester became a way to communicate and express
myself.  I always take classes that I consider “practical.” I want
my classes to clearly relate, build off each other, and help me in
the real world, in my head sometimes this is analogous to No Fun.
This class totally became an outlet for me. For once I felt like an
artist. While taking Drawing I I didn’t feel like an artist until
the end, but still not worthy of really showing what I did to
nyone. In this class all I ever wanted to do was show people what I
was working on. This class took into account media art,
instillation, and so many other hybrid forms that made creativity
endless.  In a way this did relate to my engineering education
because we are taught that with the knowledge we are taught the
options are endless. Can’t find what you want? Create something new!
This class totally embodied that in a new twist which made me think
so much more outside the box than most classes.

The two biggest questions in this questionnaire that affect me in a
different way now, are What is the role of art in our current
social / political context? and Who are three of your favorite
contemporary artists?  For the latter, I think my original answer
still holds true but I really had to think about it. in this class
we were introduced to so many new artists that I had to go through
and think, what did I find interesting? Who did it? What else did
they do? If nothing else I am definitely draw to John Slepian’s
work. His visit to class was, to borrow a word from Ali phenomenal.
His work was really interested and is wicked computer based and so
behavior oriented which is really cool. So if anything I would add
him to the list, but as I go out into the world on my own now I
definitely have a desire to keep up with these aretist and search
for new media art to research.

Pertaining to the social/political context I still agree with my
original answer but I would want to add that there is so much in our
world that is art, and more specifically media art that is kind of
under the radar.  This art can simply be part of our everyday trying
to bring us information in a new way.

I’ve also decided that the last question needs to be added to as
well.  What technology has had the most dramatic societal impact (in
the last one hundred years)? While the computer as a calculator is
still my top answer, the computer is also so much more now. The mass
communication aspect of the computer is overwhelming. The television
has been a great form of that as well but is overall run by the
government.  The internet is an infinite space expression where
anyone who tried hard enough could get it, use it, and do what they
want with it whether it be communicate across continents, research
media art, look up the news, or look up porn. Any and all
information is now available at our finger tips. A giant endless
book of knowledge. And we all have the same one. SO COOL. I never
really had thought about it before this class. Thank you.

Whitney

Thinking about the class…

In the beginning of the semester, on the question “Why are you interested in this class, and what do you hope to get out of it?” I answered: “I have taken Art Appreciation and Art History courses which helped me understand better the world of artistic expression. ARS 166 will cover fields of creativity and reason to which I have not been previously exposed in such width and depth. My native and personal background is full with art presented in much different way, so I am interested in broadening my knowledge in this new technology mediated art. I also regard the class as rendering useful skills applicable in other spheres of study and work.”

I think that what I actually obtained from the class is quite close to my preliminary expectations. Indeed, I obtained interesting information about contemporary art, its fields and topics of exploration, and its various ways of manifestation. I received a better view of the development of the art world today. This knowledge made me question my ideas about art and its purpose.

Through ARS 166, I appreciated even more the various opportunities that computers offer to the artistic world.With the various art works we read about and saw in class, I did broaden my knowledge of the new technology mediated art. The new ways of expression presented by the computer technology lead people to new ways of thinking about art, art creation and consumption.

The programs that I had to use for the production of the projects also supplied me with useful skills that I can apply in any future use of similar programs. Especially challenging and interesting was the sound program because I had not had much experience with sound organization and creation before. Another useful outcome of the projects was that I learned how to find my way and work with Macintosh computers.

The focus in class on the best way to present an artistic idea with regard to the viewer made me think about the importance of production and presentation of an artwork. The first-hand experience of the process made me even more appreciative of the work artists do.

Class Reflection

After a semester in Media & Technology, there a few highlights that I will surly take away from the class.  First, I appreciate the learning experience of coming up with an idea and seeing it come to fruition.  Experiencing the learning curves of all the various project mediums as well as the general comprehension of how imagining, creating, and fine tuning a project works was very rewarding overall.  I have also developed a new appreciate for art.  Both in terms of a better understanding the breathe of experience and commitment it takes to be an artist.  Secondly, being exposed to interactive art has made me feel eager to visit interactive pieces and experiences them for myself in a way that I didn’t feel before this class.  Lastly, I will take away from this class a working knowledge of Photoshop which I will likely use after graduation. And if not, I still feel satisfaction from my comprehension.  Thank you for a fun semester everyone!

Best,
Megan

And why would you speak directly to the person?

I live in King. To get to my stairwell from the dining room you must cross through a loggia and another corridor. There is also an open sitting room attached to the loggia. This evening as I walked from my room to the stairs I saw this girl sitting in an arm chair ichatting. I could hear an echo from the other side of the hallway- where the opening sitting room is located. As I walked further I saw another girl with an open mac ichatting with the girl I had just passed!

It was one of the most singularly odd moments I have ever experienced. It really gave me pause. I was really not able to understand why these two girls WHO WERE SITTING BASICALLY ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SAME ROOM needed to use a computer to communicate.

In class we have talked about whether or not the internet has always been a positive. In this instance the poignancy is almost tangible. I feel as though there is no reason these girls needed to use laptops as intermediaries. They were literally twenty feet apart, if even. They could have shouted across the room or moved chairs. It made me really uncomfortable to watch them and as I thought about it later sad. There is so much speculation about the lonliness of our generation, I cannot help put feel that this is a contriubting factor. Now that visits have been replaced by phone calls and phone calls have been replaced by im and IM has been replaced by skype, what’s next? Like Paul I can speculate about the changes technology has wrought but I cannot be confident that these changes are always positive.

On another note. There was a great video on youtube that went through the UN Declaration of Human Rights put out but HRC. The animation is amazing and I thought I would share.