Recently I went to go see a play that heavily incorporated new media. It was a version of Moliere’s “Misanthrope” at the New York Theatre Workshop. The stage was very modern, only consisting of a low, wide grey table, and a low grey bench. The stage itself was gray, with black, one way windows surrounding the sides. On the back wall there were three flat screens positioned vertically next to each other. What was interesting about the play is that there was a live feed of the performance on these screens. It added a new dimension to their performance. And sometimes they would play video clips of the characters that were in contrast to the performance, and one time they showed a second-life character. There were times when the stage would be empty, and the actors would be acting backstage in the dressing room. The play then broke the wall of the cage surrounding them, and ventured into the audience, then even into the street where a cameraman followed them.
I thought it was really interesting how this play reinvented this classic script. The use of the cameras and flat screens did not feel forced. I think that Marshall McLuhan would have appreciated it because it involved so many different mediums, which to him would have given a strong message. I appreciated how it created new layers to a theater production. I will admit that I have not been to many successful theater shows recently, but this one helped me appreciate them again.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
TIMELINE
1940-45 - Vannevar Bush – Primary organizer of the Manhattan Project. Created groundbreaking analog computing projects at MIT. 1940 got grand by Franklin Roosevelt for funding and research between military, industry and academic “iron triangle” which led to new media. 1945 wrote As We May Think.
Doug Engelbart – Inspired by Bush’s “As We May Think”, he invented the mouse, word pressor, and the hyperlink.
1950 – Alan Turing worked to decrypt encoded language. He wrote an essay, Computing Machinery and Intelligence, which discusses the many aspects of artificial intelligence.
1952 – “Grace Murray Hopper programmed the first compiler, computer languages began to take shape.”
1954 – Norbert Wiener began working toward cybernetics, which is “the science of communications and automatic control systems in both machines and living things.” (Apple Dictionary). Wrote the essay Men, Machines, and the World About.
1957 – Allan Kaprow established a new trend in performing arts where the audience became more and more involved with the performance, these were called “happenings”.
1959 – Brion Gysin was an artist who made popular the “cut-up” technique, where he would cut newspapers into sections and rearrange the text.
1960 – J.C.R. Licklider was an American computer scientist famous for his publication of “Man-Computer Symbiosis”. This article describes the need for the symbiosis of computers and man-power.
1962 – Doug Engelbart invented the computer mouse.
1963 – Ivan E. Sutherland – Sketchpad was created, which is a three dimensional communication program.
1966 – E.A.T. (Experiments in Art and Technology) was founded. Which led to the development of the relationship between artist and engineer.
1967 – Negroponte founded the Architecture Machine Group at MIT.
1968 – “The mother of all demos” Douglas Engelbart and others demonstrated the research behind ARC (Augmentation Research Center) about interactive computing. This led to an explosion of interest in the field.
1974 – Augusto Boal writes “Theater of the Oppressed”, which brought about ideas of interactive theater, further blurring the line between audience and actors.
1975 – Nicholas Negroponte publishes “Soft Architecture Machines”; an article that depicts the importance of humans being empowered by computers, allowing for creative experimentation.
1976 – Joseph Weizenbaum writes “Computer Power and Human Reason”; which brings up concerns about the effects human relations have with the advance of computer interaction.
1977 - Burroughs and Gysin publish “The Third Mind,” a collection of cut-up writings and essays.
1977 – Myron Kreuger publishes “Responsive Environments”. He is the godfather of virtual reality, and interactive computer spaces.
1977 – Alan Kay and Adele Goldberg publish “Personal Dynamic Media”. They developed the ideas that led to the development of the laptop and desktop computer.
1988 – Ivan Sutherland won the Turing Award for his invention of the Sketchpad”
Doug Engelbart – Inspired by Bush’s “As We May Think”, he invented the mouse, word pressor, and the hyperlink.
1950 – Alan Turing worked to decrypt encoded language. He wrote an essay, Computing Machinery and Intelligence, which discusses the many aspects of artificial intelligence.
1952 – “Grace Murray Hopper programmed the first compiler, computer languages began to take shape.”
1954 – Norbert Wiener began working toward cybernetics, which is “the science of communications and automatic control systems in both machines and living things.” (Apple Dictionary). Wrote the essay Men, Machines, and the World About.
1957 – Allan Kaprow established a new trend in performing arts where the audience became more and more involved with the performance, these were called “happenings”.
1959 – Brion Gysin was an artist who made popular the “cut-up” technique, where he would cut newspapers into sections and rearrange the text.
1960 – J.C.R. Licklider was an American computer scientist famous for his publication of “Man-Computer Symbiosis”. This article describes the need for the symbiosis of computers and man-power.
1962 – Doug Engelbart invented the computer mouse.
1963 – Ivan E. Sutherland – Sketchpad was created, which is a three dimensional communication program.
1966 – E.A.T. (Experiments in Art and Technology) was founded. Which led to the development of the relationship between artist and engineer.
1967 – Negroponte founded the Architecture Machine Group at MIT.
1968 – “The mother of all demos” Douglas Engelbart and others demonstrated the research behind ARC (Augmentation Research Center) about interactive computing. This led to an explosion of interest in the field.
1974 – Augusto Boal writes “Theater of the Oppressed”, which brought about ideas of interactive theater, further blurring the line between audience and actors.
1975 – Nicholas Negroponte publishes “Soft Architecture Machines”; an article that depicts the importance of humans being empowered by computers, allowing for creative experimentation.
1976 – Joseph Weizenbaum writes “Computer Power and Human Reason”; which brings up concerns about the effects human relations have with the advance of computer interaction.
1977 - Burroughs and Gysin publish “The Third Mind,” a collection of cut-up writings and essays.
1977 – Myron Kreuger publishes “Responsive Environments”. He is the godfather of virtual reality, and interactive computer spaces.
1977 – Alan Kay and Adele Goldberg publish “Personal Dynamic Media”. They developed the ideas that led to the development of the laptop and desktop computer.
1988 – Ivan Sutherland won the Turing Award for his invention of the Sketchpad”
New Media Reader 339-439
Theatre of the Oppressed
Augusto Boal created interactive performances that confront problems of the ordinary people. These performances led to the Brazilian government killed his colleagues, tortured him and told him to get out of the country. His work involves techniques for therapeutic purposes. He later returned to Brazil after it was safe for him, and became a politician. His methods of interactive theater are still used around the world, blurring the line of actor/audience.
Soft Architecture Machines
Negroponte brought about the idea that the user be empowered by computers, rather than complying with machine experts. The ‘soft architecture’ he talks about is the concept of network or software systems as spatial. He founded the Architecture Machine Group at MIT in 1967. He began to manage data spatially, rather than in the form of numeric or textual lists. He argues that the computer should not be used only as an expert with special knowledge, but as a tool for individual experimentation that would lead to new ideas.
Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation
Joseph Weizenbaum wrote one of the most famous chatterbox in the history of computing, and then perceived the dangers of some of the uses that can come from it. He then demanded that scientists and technologists take responsibility for what they develop. One of the concerns was that machines would take over jobs as well as emotional functions. He is worried that people will not be able to differentiate the difference between a computer program and real human interactions. He brings up good ideas, but they are fairly outdated by now. I think that we have been able to distinguish that computer therapeutic programs are not a substitute for the real, human therapy.
Responsive Environments
Myron W. Krueger is often referred to as the father of virtual reality. His essay begins with observing that man-machine interaction is limited to poking at a machine with his fingers”. His essay goes from this initial observation to his development of VIDEOPLACE. This program provides a tool for devising interactions. I wonder what he thinks about the development of Secondlife, where the interactions and environment have been developed to such a degree that there is an entire world that people can live in.
Personal Dynamic Media
Alan Kay and Adele Goldberg published this article in 1977, which introduced the idea of a notebook computer. They developed the idea while working at Xerox PARC. They worked to develop the “Dynabook”. They believed that people other than businessmen should use the computer, and that it could be used creatively. With their vision, Xerox PARC developed the notebook as well as the personal desktop computer. Along with the vision of being able to carry a computer with them, they stated the importance of wireless communication, which didn’t come about until a few decades later. They led the way to the development of the computer I enjoy every day that I am able to take with me and use for many purposes.
A Thousand Plateaus
Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari used creative writing styles to illustrate ideas. For example they used “rhizomatic” writing to describe hypertext. They introduce a new way of thinking about writing, and this form of rhizomatic writing changes our perception and challenges our Western thought.
Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas
The 1980s brought about the home computer era, with it the idea of using computers as a learning device for children to use. Computers were not wide spread at the time the essay was written. Seymour Papert develops an idea of “constructionist education” which is an education system designed to look closely at the idea of mental construction. He designed a program, LOGO, which allows children to take control of the computer and learn mathematics.
“Put-That-There”: Voice and Gesture at the Graphics Interface
Richard A. Bolt’s essay brought about multimodal interfaces, which is a combination of speech and gesture input. They allow a person to communicate with a computer using speech and gestures. This can be arranged by setting up a three-dimensional space with screens and speakers. He created the program Put-That-There that includes this type of multimodal communication. This is in contrast to the notion at the time that the computer revolutionized textual purposes.
Augusto Boal created interactive performances that confront problems of the ordinary people. These performances led to the Brazilian government killed his colleagues, tortured him and told him to get out of the country. His work involves techniques for therapeutic purposes. He later returned to Brazil after it was safe for him, and became a politician. His methods of interactive theater are still used around the world, blurring the line of actor/audience.
Soft Architecture Machines
Negroponte brought about the idea that the user be empowered by computers, rather than complying with machine experts. The ‘soft architecture’ he talks about is the concept of network or software systems as spatial. He founded the Architecture Machine Group at MIT in 1967. He began to manage data spatially, rather than in the form of numeric or textual lists. He argues that the computer should not be used only as an expert with special knowledge, but as a tool for individual experimentation that would lead to new ideas.
Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation
Joseph Weizenbaum wrote one of the most famous chatterbox in the history of computing, and then perceived the dangers of some of the uses that can come from it. He then demanded that scientists and technologists take responsibility for what they develop. One of the concerns was that machines would take over jobs as well as emotional functions. He is worried that people will not be able to differentiate the difference between a computer program and real human interactions. He brings up good ideas, but they are fairly outdated by now. I think that we have been able to distinguish that computer therapeutic programs are not a substitute for the real, human therapy.
Responsive Environments
Myron W. Krueger is often referred to as the father of virtual reality. His essay begins with observing that man-machine interaction is limited to poking at a machine with his fingers”. His essay goes from this initial observation to his development of VIDEOPLACE. This program provides a tool for devising interactions. I wonder what he thinks about the development of Secondlife, where the interactions and environment have been developed to such a degree that there is an entire world that people can live in.
Personal Dynamic Media
Alan Kay and Adele Goldberg published this article in 1977, which introduced the idea of a notebook computer. They developed the idea while working at Xerox PARC. They worked to develop the “Dynabook”. They believed that people other than businessmen should use the computer, and that it could be used creatively. With their vision, Xerox PARC developed the notebook as well as the personal desktop computer. Along with the vision of being able to carry a computer with them, they stated the importance of wireless communication, which didn’t come about until a few decades later. They led the way to the development of the computer I enjoy every day that I am able to take with me and use for many purposes.
A Thousand Plateaus
Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari used creative writing styles to illustrate ideas. For example they used “rhizomatic” writing to describe hypertext. They introduce a new way of thinking about writing, and this form of rhizomatic writing changes our perception and challenges our Western thought.
Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas
The 1980s brought about the home computer era, with it the idea of using computers as a learning device for children to use. Computers were not wide spread at the time the essay was written. Seymour Papert develops an idea of “constructionist education” which is an education system designed to look closely at the idea of mental construction. He designed a program, LOGO, which allows children to take control of the computer and learn mathematics.
“Put-That-There”: Voice and Gesture at the Graphics Interface
Richard A. Bolt’s essay brought about multimodal interfaces, which is a combination of speech and gesture input. They allow a person to communicate with a computer using speech and gestures. This can be arranged by setting up a three-dimensional space with screens and speakers. He created the program Put-That-There that includes this type of multimodal communication. This is in contrast to the notion at the time that the computer revolutionized textual purposes.
Eric Rosenthal's Lecture
I really enjoyed Eric Rosenthal’s lecture. He seems like he’s going to be one of those people we have been reading about in the New Media Reader, and one day there will be a Wikipedia site for him and his accomplishments. He’s one of those professors that blow you away with their intellect and research. I really admire how he’s pursuing his research and making actual innovations in the digital world.
He was a very good speaker, and even though he was very smart, he knew how to convey his information in a rational way that we could understand. I always heard that the camera sees differently than us, and we have to take that into consideration when taking photos, but I never knew why that happened. I didn’t realize that our eyes had a 1:1,000,000 contrast ratio, and cameras only have a 1:1,000.
The main problem with contemporary digital photography is that it is based on a very outdated theory that we see with red green and blue rods and cones. His research indicates that that is not true, and his new cameras are being produced that are based on an entirely different theory, one that is a more accurate representation of how we see things.
Another problem is that JPEG and MPEG files are based on a compression algorithm based on mathematics, which takes out lots of information and creates artifacts into the image. I’m very intrigued about the layered compression he was talking about. I wonder where it is in its stage, and if it will ever go commercial. One of the main problems is the amount of space large photos take up, the new compression formula would negate that problem.
I am very interested to see where his research goes, and if it will ever become commercial (I’d want to pick up some of that stock as soon as I can). It sounds like it would completely revolutionize the photographic community; in research, fashion, and overall documentation.
He was a very good speaker, and even though he was very smart, he knew how to convey his information in a rational way that we could understand. I always heard that the camera sees differently than us, and we have to take that into consideration when taking photos, but I never knew why that happened. I didn’t realize that our eyes had a 1:1,000,000 contrast ratio, and cameras only have a 1:1,000.
The main problem with contemporary digital photography is that it is based on a very outdated theory that we see with red green and blue rods and cones. His research indicates that that is not true, and his new cameras are being produced that are based on an entirely different theory, one that is a more accurate representation of how we see things.
Another problem is that JPEG and MPEG files are based on a compression algorithm based on mathematics, which takes out lots of information and creates artifacts into the image. I’m very intrigued about the layered compression he was talking about. I wonder where it is in its stage, and if it will ever go commercial. One of the main problems is the amount of space large photos take up, the new compression formula would negate that problem.
I am very interested to see where his research goes, and if it will ever become commercial (I’d want to pick up some of that stock as soon as I can). It sounds like it would completely revolutionize the photographic community; in research, fashion, and overall documentation.
Scratch
The documentary, Scratch, was very entertaining, with lots of quick cuts and editing techniques. These effects served to reflect the nature of the music it was telling about, often quickly cutting back a few frames and replaying them over again like a DJ would do with a record. What I think is interesting is how it is a precursor to the new DJ technology with DJs scratching live music videos.
I really enjoyed watching this documentary because it helped me understand the world of hip-hop a little better, like the one guy distinguishing the difference between hip-hop and rap. I didn’t understand how all the sub-cultures worked with each other, like the relationships between the DJ and the MC, and break-dancing. I liked seeing how some of the DJs emerged, playing in their garages and kitchens at first. I’m not sure who the guy was, but there was some studio recording guy who was talking about outer space and alien music, it was all a bit of a stretch I think, but entertaining nonetheless.
I really enjoyed watching this documentary because it helped me understand the world of hip-hop a little better, like the one guy distinguishing the difference between hip-hop and rap. I didn’t understand how all the sub-cultures worked with each other, like the relationships between the DJ and the MC, and break-dancing. I liked seeing how some of the DJs emerged, playing in their garages and kitchens at first. I’m not sure who the guy was, but there was some studio recording guy who was talking about outer space and alien music, it was all a bit of a stretch I think, but entertaining nonetheless.
Bill Viola
I really enjoyed the work of Bill Viola. I liked how he used a variety of equipment to suit the specific needs for a project. The piece that involved jump cuts in a desert and then someone walks and throws a puddle into a pond was really interesting. I like how it played with ideas of time, space, and movement.
I thought his slow motion greeting was great. I like how he got the inspiration from a painting and turned it into a video installation. Before I stated that I was not a fan of video art, but this piece really intrigued me. This is completely opposite from Nam Jun Paik. The fluid, 100 frames per second, captured every moment, and made you contemplate each movement and touch. I actually thought that the piece may have been stronger without the sound, or at least it was completely different. The first time I saw it without the sound I felt something completely different than when he put the creepy noises and slow talking in.
I thought his slow motion greeting was great. I like how he got the inspiration from a painting and turned it into a video installation. Before I stated that I was not a fan of video art, but this piece really intrigued me. This is completely opposite from Nam Jun Paik. The fluid, 100 frames per second, captured every moment, and made you contemplate each movement and touch. I actually thought that the piece may have been stronger without the sound, or at least it was completely different. The first time I saw it without the sound I felt something completely different than when he put the creepy noises and slow talking in.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
New Media Reader 247-338
The 1970 Software exhibition was on the whole, a big failure, but it did have an influence on artists, technologists, theorists, and the public. They tried to have an exhibit where people used the computers, but they crashed, and gerbils attacked each other. Ted Nelson created a new media installation that created ‘gerbil art’ where they would push blocks around, then a machine would arrange them into a grid-like pattern. Another instillation new media art was turning a glass window into a speaker playing poetry.
Burnham stated that, “the goal of Software is to focus our sensibilities on the fastest growing area in this culture: information processing systems and their devices.”
Constituents of a Theory of the Media
Media is a big business, and it hopes to make lots of money. Enzensberger states that in order to effect change, we must not turn away from media, but instead work at the media to where unjust culture is vulnerable. He proposes a new organization of media should take place, where tools of media are not only open to those who can afford it, but to everyone, so that they may be wherever there is social conflict. He wants a ‘mass newspaper’ where it is written and distributed by its readers (Wikipedia, Blogs). Although he doesn’t just want open forums for media distribution, he would rather instead of Rodney King being discussed on the web, that there was a massive rally of video tapes and a built network for a social movement opposed to police violence.
Enzensberger relates Benjamin to his necessity for a structure of society that is free from “the forces which destroy culture”, which is made closer by the mechanical reproduction of art, where there is no historical labor or shroud of aura surrounding a piece of art. He also addresses McLuhan because of his importance in stating and articulating the quote “the medium is the message”. This is important to Enzenberger’s statement becaue he declares that “the burgeoisie does indeed have all possible means at its disposal to communicate something to us, but that it has nothing more to say.
Requiem for the Media
Jean Baudrillard argues against Enzensberger and McLuhan, stating that media serves a social function. He also states that (just like Enzensberger) simply making everyone a producer will not will not improve the situation, but that unlike Enzensberger, the effect of making media reversible does not make it reciprocal. Instead he proposes that the problem lies within the very underlying model of communication. What we have now is the ‘simulation’ model of communication. His solution lies within joint production and genuine interaction.
The Technology and the Society
Raymond Williams introduces the concept of ‘flow’ with regards to television. Flow is characterized as the primary organizing principle of television. It is the combination of programs, commercials, and other material that makes up our experience of watching television. He states that new media is not created out of ‘thin air’, but that it is an ongoing process, and that the internet did not spring from J.C.R. Licklider’s head. It was created by ongoing social processes interacting with technical processes.
Computer Lib / Dream Machines
This is the most important book in new media history, according to NWF. This book Computer Lib predicted the oncoming of the personal computer. It also challenged the idea what the computer will be used for. The Dream Machines side of the book perhaps has even greater significance for new medias development. The message of this book is about media and design. The fundamental essence and importance of computers lies in its ability to enable new generations of media.
He proposed that coputer experiences should be designed for creative purposes and with the user in mind. He also proposes that new designed media should be placed in open publishing networks.
Burnham stated that, “the goal of Software is to focus our sensibilities on the fastest growing area in this culture: information processing systems and their devices.”
Constituents of a Theory of the Media
Media is a big business, and it hopes to make lots of money. Enzensberger states that in order to effect change, we must not turn away from media, but instead work at the media to where unjust culture is vulnerable. He proposes a new organization of media should take place, where tools of media are not only open to those who can afford it, but to everyone, so that they may be wherever there is social conflict. He wants a ‘mass newspaper’ where it is written and distributed by its readers (Wikipedia, Blogs). Although he doesn’t just want open forums for media distribution, he would rather instead of Rodney King being discussed on the web, that there was a massive rally of video tapes and a built network for a social movement opposed to police violence.
Enzensberger relates Benjamin to his necessity for a structure of society that is free from “the forces which destroy culture”, which is made closer by the mechanical reproduction of art, where there is no historical labor or shroud of aura surrounding a piece of art. He also addresses McLuhan because of his importance in stating and articulating the quote “the medium is the message”. This is important to Enzenberger’s statement becaue he declares that “the burgeoisie does indeed have all possible means at its disposal to communicate something to us, but that it has nothing more to say.
Requiem for the Media
Jean Baudrillard argues against Enzensberger and McLuhan, stating that media serves a social function. He also states that (just like Enzensberger) simply making everyone a producer will not will not improve the situation, but that unlike Enzensberger, the effect of making media reversible does not make it reciprocal. Instead he proposes that the problem lies within the very underlying model of communication. What we have now is the ‘simulation’ model of communication. His solution lies within joint production and genuine interaction.
The Technology and the Society
Raymond Williams introduces the concept of ‘flow’ with regards to television. Flow is characterized as the primary organizing principle of television. It is the combination of programs, commercials, and other material that makes up our experience of watching television. He states that new media is not created out of ‘thin air’, but that it is an ongoing process, and that the internet did not spring from J.C.R. Licklider’s head. It was created by ongoing social processes interacting with technical processes.
Computer Lib / Dream Machines
This is the most important book in new media history, according to NWF. This book Computer Lib predicted the oncoming of the personal computer. It also challenged the idea what the computer will be used for. The Dream Machines side of the book perhaps has even greater significance for new medias development. The message of this book is about media and design. The fundamental essence and importance of computers lies in its ability to enable new generations of media.
He proposed that coputer experiences should be designed for creative purposes and with the user in mind. He also proposes that new designed media should be placed in open publishing networks.
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