New Media Reader Chapter 21 - 25

Chapter 21

Timeline:

• 1974: Theodor H Nelson publishes Computer Lib/Dream Machines - predicted the effects of the first personal computer kit.

Summary:

• Computer Lib/Dream Machines two books conjoined and in the middle, the two texts meet.
• Computer Lib: predicts the impact of the personal computer, challenged what a computer was for.
• Dream Machines: Nelson recognizes the comptuer, as a new form of media
• Computer = media to be designed. Therefore, it should be both creative and acknowlge its audience (the user)
• Nelson suggested new media experiences be published in a public network --> Internet

Chapter 22

Timeline:

• 1974: Theater of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal is published in Brazil
• 1992: Augusto Boal runs for public office as a political/theatrical act - surprisingly he becomes elected in Brazil

Summary:

• Augusto Boal = went to jail for practicing his interactive techniques and was eventually exiled from Latin America to Europe
• Boal = one of the first to consider the physical body in conjunction with new media

Chapter 23

Timeline:

• 1967: Negroponte founded the Architecture Machine Group at MIT- developed methods of managing data spatially
• 1975: Negroponte publishes "Soft Architecture Machines"
• 1985: Negroponte opens MIT Media Lab with help of MIT President Jerome Weisner

Summary:

• Structures for human activity = basis for architecture and human computer interaction (example: virtual reality applied to architecture)
• Nicholas Negropnte = a user should be empowered by a computer
• MIT Media Lab - researches future applications of technologies via academic disciplines
• Negroponte = co-founder of Wired Magazine ("sought to chronicle the digital revolution and promote it as a concept" pg 353)

Chapter 24

Timeline:

• 1964-1966: Weizenbaum invents Eliza - system which can interact and respond to humans via a script called Doctor

Summary:

• Joseph Weizenbaum - criticizes the dangers of new media
• Weizenbaum = computer programmer who invents a chatterbox system, Eliza
• Weizenbaum - the influence computing has had on how we use language

Chapter 25

Timeline:

• 1977: Myron W. Krueger publishes "Responsive Environments" about virtual reality

Summary:

• Myron Krueger - worked on virtual reality concepts and was both praised and rejected by the art community. "Father of Virtual Reality"
• The technology Krueger invented gained a lot of critical response for its lack of humanism
• Critical Technical Practices (CTP) - coined by Phil Agre of MIT - creating technology within the traditions of art & studies of culture

Microcosmos, Burroughs and Cage

Microcosmos

Other than the uber-graphic snail copulation scene, I was utterly enchanted by Microcosmos. Growing up, the only "late-night" TV I was ever allowed to watch was on the Discovery Channel. Needless to say, this was right up my alley.

The imagery was whimsical and playful and the soundtrack suited the piece. It took me a few minutes in to realize what I was watching actually was real and not fabricated. I think because we're so accustomed to digital, I had assumed the images of the insects were fake, again adding another layer of amazement to Mircrocosmos. The attention to detail in the film was unreal. The film itself took over three years of shooting and then an additional six months in post-production to edit.

While watching, I was reminded of Disney films of my childhood, particularly "Alice in Wonderland." In one particular scene of the film, Alice becomes smaller than the insects crawling around on the ground. With Microcosmos, we (the audience) are taken back to that moment when insects become life-like and fantastic. Check out the film's trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76R2EKEnoJQ


William S. Burroughs

Okay, so I think like most of the class, I have previously encountered Burroughs. For me, the first time I interacted with him and his work was in my sophmore english class in high school when we did a unit on beat poets. From there, I went on to read "Naked Lunch" and half of "Junkie" (the text was a little intense for my liking at sixteen, I need to try it a second time).

The video itself, for me, was a bit intense. The poems that emerged were also intense, however, I understand that wasn't the purpose of writing them. The goal of the project was to shake things up, simple as that. To play with narrative and text in new ways and experiment language. This, of course I liked.

Although I do not consider myself by any means an artist or writer, I appreciated the way in which new technique was applied to the creation of poetry and language. Via this method, Burroughs invented new words, which he then used in his writing. I wonder if Erin McKean knew about Burrough's experimentation with word play....


Cage

I have been engaged with classical music since I was five so I really appreciated John Cage's prepared piano. In high school, I had a quartet leader who was all about shaking things up. We played "bohemian rhapsody" on our violins and she was always experimenting with new kinds of composing and ways to play our instruments. She would often augment her cello in various ways and now I know her muse.

Cage is relevant for us now because of the omnipresence of remix culture. He was the inventor of the original mash-up. I just wish the video we saw focused more on Cage, his life, his inspirations, and some of the music he has influenced.

New Media Reader, Chapters 16-20

Chapter 16

Timeline:

• 1968: Fall Joint Computer Conference in San Francisco, "mother of all demos." Demonstrated Augmented Research Center (ARC)'s work to date

Summary:

• Demonstration = important within the world of tech for success in order for the public to understand new technologies --> "demo or die."
• Douglas Engelbart - demonstrates ARC technology with Bill English
• Live demos in public of interactive tech never occured before
• ARC eventually sold by Stanford Research Institution
• ARCs team eventually went to PARC --> Xerox/Apple/Microsoft ideas we currently have today about computing --> "user friendly" interface
• Engelbart's goal = multiple people working on problems simultaneously. Engelbart thought network was necessary (his ideas appreciated later on creation of Internet)

Chapter 17

Timeline:

• 1970: Software exhibition at the Jewish Museum in NYC organized by Jack Burnham. Visitors invited to demo computers
• 1970: Labyrinth: An Interactive Catalogue - Ned Woodman/Theodor H. Nelson
• 1969-70: Seek - The Architecture Machine Group, MIT - human interaction w/ computers using Gerbils
• 1969: Systems Burn-off X Residual Software - Les Levine

Summary:

• Computers at Software exhibition were buggy however, the exhibit was the first of its kind, and therefore a landmark in tech
• Exhibition had a catalog titled "Labyrinth" by Ted Nelson - first publicly accessible hypertext
• Goal of exhibit = focus on information processing systems
• "Burnham laid out a vision of new media art much more in line with how it is viewed today - neither a celebration of technology nor a condemnation, but an investigation, through implementation, of new shapes for the processes brought into the culture via computation." (248)

Chapter 18

Timeline:

• 1970: "Constituents of a Theory of the Media" - Hans Magnus Enzensberger

Summary:

• Theory of Media + New Left socialism - media without "intellectual property" and "heritage"
• Base = forces and relations of production, Superstructure = institutions (political systems, media etc.)
• Enzensberger - medias as "consciousness" industry. In order to promote positive change, he suggest we work with the media, as opposed to against it
• Enzensberger proposed a NEW kind of organization of media in order to create change

Chapter 19

Timeline:

• 1972: "Requiem for the Media" - Jean Baudrillard

Summary:

• Jean Baudrillard responds to Enzensberger's "Consituents of a Theory of the Media" - media serves a social function --> similar to McLuhan's "the medium is the message"
• true potential for change = refusing to a accept a model of producers and consumers

Chapter 20

Timeline:

• 1990's on: US overnment involved in privatizing the Internet in order to promote competition - the opposite happened

Summary:

• Flow - combination of commercials, programs, etc that make up the experience of watching tv - Raymond Williams
• Technological determinism - framing of tech's impact on culture (McLuhan)
• Doug Engelbart - "bootstrapping" = users constantly participate in in the definition and consturction of tools they as community use
• ICANN = "world trade org. of internet" - involves primarily corporate interests

Scott McCloud's TED talk and Marshall McCluhan DVD

Scott McCloud

Yes! I am very supportive of TED and all of the awesome projects/individuals/ideas that are fostered via this conference. (Admittedly, I am biased) However, I think the committee at TED does a stellar job of picking out individuals that are both entertaining and innovative. The lectures are always accessible, even if you're not a tech-oriented person and I think Scott's lecture was yet another representation of this.

The thing about TED, and the people who lecture, is that regardless of the topic, your interest is held. I don't know anything about comics beyond the illustrated picture-book versions I read to the kids I babysit for and the one graphic novel I read (Fun ) over winter break last year. That's it. Yet Scott's narrative and engagement with the topic allowed me to understand/appreciate it. I seriously have a major crush on all things TED and am always willing to consume more TED lectures. Keep em' coming.


Marshall Mcluhan

To be frank, although I appreciate Mcluhan, his ideas, and his contributions to new media and contemporary mediated contexts, I did not at all like/enjoy the way the first thirty minutes of the documentary was set up. Call me old school, but I honestly perfer hyper-traditional style documentaries and was more interested in Mcluhan, his biographical life story and the contributions he made to the way we understand media.

What I really was interested in that they addressed fairly well was his influence and figure as an academic within the mainstream media. Now within various forms of media, we often see professors/academic figures/theorists used as a source of commentary to interject/interpret various happenings occuring in contemporary culture but it seemed like Mcluhan was one of the first to do so. I mean, you know you've made it when you get a cameo in a Woody Allen film...

Lasers at Landmarks, Life-Logs

Lasers at Landmarks

I am a big fan of projects like these. This is particularly relevant because it (in some ways) addresses some of the issues we talked about last week during Eric's lecture about preservation of culture. The landmark project is yet another way for us to document our own anthropology and create a legacy and remembrance for the future. What may be problematic about it is that like everything else digital or recorded, it has the potential for being lost.

I think the most fascinating aspect of a project like this though, is the multi-dimensionality of it. Kimmelman notes that the laser not only creates an exceptionally accurate representation of the monument/landmark, but also can be used to help prepare for natural disaster and destruction of the monument. Additionally, in Scotland it is being utilized as an urban planning device to create more accurate representations of urban space and (hopefully) lead to more successful, and consequently more economic buildings. Architecture, especially large public works projects is exceptionally expensive and having the ability to implement technology like this can drastically alter the cost of these kinds of projects.

Life-Logging

Like many of the technologies/gadgets we have examined in this class, life-logging has the potential for criticism. I think a lot of people will be weary of this because it is yet another digital removal from physical life experiences and a filter through which we examine ourselves and lifestyles. Another concern with this technology is privacy. Figuring out who controls these mediated digitalized diaries and what they will/can be used for is an issue that is being constantly grappled with and asessed within the realm of this class.

I do, however, think this can be used with positive outcomes. I think analyzing data via Twitter is exceptionally useful/interesting and I think examining individual behavior like this can be yet another way in which we perserve and document ourselves anthropologically for the future.

Rosenthal, Piano Stairs, McKean

Eric Rosenthal

Okay, not to overly criticize but Eric is certainly a super-bright individual but most of his lecture went wayyy over my head and was far too technical for me. Not to mention it was far too long. I'm sure it would be impossible for Eric to demonstrate some of the photography innovation he did but if the class could see the outcome of all of his hard work, I think it would have made the presentation a little more engaging.

What did interest me though, was how Eric brought in our data systems and method of storage into the presentation at the very end. I think this engaged the class exponentially more and led to a productive discussion towards the end of the class, and, evidently got everyone thinking about what would happen to all of our data. This is such an anthropological question but Eric tied in technology, namely the Internet into the issue. The discussion made me nostalgic for the time capsules I used to make with my siblings growing up that we would bury in the back yard. And raises the question of how will the future remember us? Too heavy of a question for me tonight but something to think about moving forward.

Piano Stairs

I think more initiatives like this should be implemented to make Americans more active. Wasn't this a video from an experiment done in Europe? In New York, we don't really have this problem as much because we're all forced to walk often but I know that in high school, I drove everywhere and I think this gives individuals some incentives. Also, if implemented in large consumer spaces (a mall is the first thing that comes to mind) it may encourage children to stop being so lazy. Piano stairs sort of has the reverse Project Natal effect...I'm a fan.

Erin McKean

Okay, so first off although we no longer work with Erin McKean I chose to send this to Cynthia because I think it's a really interesting fusion of old/new media.

In a few days, when everyone is finished with their blogs I am going to check out everyones thoughts/ideas/criticisms. Obviously, Wordnik is a startup and the technology is nowhere near perfect but I think Erin has a pretty good idea of where she wants to take the service.

I REALLY appreciate everyone's feedback on this and also hope that some of you implement Wordnik into your studying/online habits. *I know I'm gushing, but this is a major passion project for me so I'm glad everyone (seemed) engaged while watching Erin's video and enjoyed her talk. MOST IMPORTANTLY I urge you all to get in touch with your inner word-nerd!

wordnik.com

New Media Reader Chapter 13-14

Chapter 13

Timeline:

• 1962: "The Galaxy Reconfigured" is published by Marshall McLuhan
• 1964: "The Medium is the Message" and "Understanding Media" are published by Marshall McLuhan

Summary:

• "the medium is the message" term coined by Marshall Mcluhan in 1960's. "That media themselves overwhelm the importance of their content"
• Some of McLuhan's main concepts: How media extends human abilities/body, difference between hot/cold media, and that culture moving back towards tribal configuration
• Jean Baudrillard = critic of McLuhan
• McLuhan = celebrity academic - made a cameo in Annie Hall
• McLuhan plays with old/new model eg. uses William Blake in "The Galaxy Reconfigured"
• McLuhan says of literature, "The vision will be tribal and collective, the expression private and marketable"
• Role of literature into consumer commodity
• Not content of of media but medium (McLuhan uses example of electric light)

Chapter 14

Timeline:

• 1960: EAT (Experiments in Art and Technology) begins, though unofficially. Fosters movement between artists and engineers.
• 1960: Kulver, engineer at Bell Labs helps Jean Tinguely to create "Homage to NY" a performance sculpture that self-destructed
• 1966: Billy Kluver, Robert Rauschenberg, Robert Whitman and Fred Waldhauer officially form EAT
• 1968: "The Garden Party" by Billy Kluver published

Summary:

• EAT started with performance art, also made newsletters, competitions, discussions, etc. and at had 4,000 members (half artists, half engineers)
• Kluver gathers group of Bell Labs engineers and downtown NYC artists in early 1960's
• Kluver - machine as a spectacle
• John Cage & Cecil Coker: Variations VII - piece of music composed via performance of household items and communication items (telephones, microphones)
• Lucinda Childs & Peter Hirsch: Vehicle - Dance performance using animate, inanimate and air supported materials
• Yvonne Ranier & Per Biorn: Carriage Discreteness - dance performance controlled by mechanical elements
• Robert Rauschenberg & Jim McGee: Open Score - implementing tennis game and timing motions to tennis racket and lights to create visual simulation performance

K. Perlin's Where The Wild Things Are

I have yet to see Where the Wild Things Are yet (I know, I am sooo culturally behind right now!) so Ken's treatment of the subject has further inspired me to get tickets this weekend.

Per usual, Ken does an awesome job on his blog of making hyper-technical language accessible to everyone (although I admit, I was lost a little during the middle). I really enjoyed the history/background of Pixar and how some of the animation techniques used in Toy Story came about through his work with John Lassefer.

Ken mentioned that via a restructuring at Disney, John was cut from the team and moved over to the company that would eventually become Pixar. I feel like often, in areas of technology innovation this kind of thing happens frequently. For me, the dot com failures of the late 90's come to mind, which for some, transformed into amazing opportunities and led to incredible developments in technology.

I feel like within the next few years, with all of the failed businesses and layoffs still occurring from the recession, this may happen again with a new restructuring of positions. If anything positive has come out of this recession it is that it's forcing businesses to think creatively. I digress, I know but I just took a marketing midterm and my mind is stuck in business-land.