Ted Nelson--Hypertext

Ted Nelson's piece is all about hypertext, hypermedia, non-sequential storytelling and the like. Anyone who has seen Pulp Fiction (one of my all-time favorite movies) can attest to the success of non-sequential storytelling. However, there are certain mediums which are better suited to this technique than others. For example, Nelson describes several books which were written in the non-sequential model. The reader decides where he wants to go by choosing from several different page numbers offered. It's an interesting concept, but not the most efficient way to read a book. The reader would constantly be flipping between different pages and sections of the book--I imagine the reader would eventually get lost. Computer technology changed all that. The internet is an incredible network of media (pictures, text, etc.) all tied together by hyperlinks. All one has to do is click on a link to end up somewhere completely different. This system is much more conducive to non-sequential storytelling than a printed book, for example.

David Ross Lecture

According to David Ross in his lecture at San Jose State University, the internet and net.art are all about breaking down barriers, blurring the boundaries between creator and audience, and casting off authority. It is certainly true that the internet has allowed art to spread to a much wider audience than it otherwise would have with the creation of Rhizome and other art sites. I found his description of what happened with cable television to be very interesting, how people thought 70 channels would mean enough room for anyone who had something to express, but that it became an “economy of scarcity” and most people were left out. Now the internet is the medium by which these people express themselves, but what does the future of the internet hold? Maybe it will go the way of cable and some entirely new medium will have to be developed. And while the future of art may be digital, the past isn’t going anywhere. I believe there will always, always be a place for museums. And there will always be artists who choose to create sculptures or paintings by hand, instead of creating art with a mouse and a computer. No matter how popular internet art becomes, the great thing about it is that now there really is room for everyone.

Visual Music @ Hirshhorn Museum

I really enjoyed the Visual Music exhibit at the Hirshhorn Museum. I found it fascinating because it presented several forms of artistic expression I had never seen (although I must admit I had absolutely no experience with the concept of multimedia until this class). Nevertheless, the blending of sight and sound was a unique experience to go through. I was also shocked at how long ago some of the pieces were created. When one thinks of “modern art,” the 1930s do not immediately come to mind. But Oskar Fischinger created many of his films during this period. I really was surprised that I had never heard anything about these artists. My overall favorite was Jennifer Steinkamp’s installation (Below). Even though it nearly gave me vertigo, I felt I could have sat there watching it for hours. It was an incredibly immersive experience.

"Overture"

Coming into this class, I had very little knowledge of multimedia from an academic standpoint. Of course, I've been exposed to multimedia all my life—I just didn’t really know or pay attention to it. From reading the Overture I was hoping to get a clear answer, but after reading it I discovered that a clear answer isn’t really possible. Multimedia is many things, but it is very hard to pin down exactly what those things are, especially because some forms of multimedia haven’t been invented yet. I was also surprised to learn that the concept of multimedia isn’t new and doesn’t necessarily have to utilize computer technology (opera, for example, has been around for centuries). I look forward to exploring this new world more closely.