Art 101 Chapter 8

The Transformation of Art through New Media

Introduction

  • Art continues to evolve due to the impact of new media.

  • Emphasis on the interaction between time and digital arts.

New Media as an Artistic Medium

  • Time as an Artist’s Medium

    • Reference to Eadweard Muybridge and his contributions to stop-motion photography.

    • Example: "Sallie Gardner at a Gallop" or "The Horse in Motion", 1878, commissioned by Governor Leland Stanford.

Key Innovations in Motion Photography

  • Zoopraxiscope

    • Recognized as a precursor to modern cinema.

  • Stop-Motion Photography

    • Introduced anew method of creating motion through still images.

Historical Development of Motion Pictures

  • Kinetoscope (1892)

    • Developed by Thomas Edison and William Dickson.

    • Forerunner to the motion-picture projector presented in a peep show format.

    • 1800s advancement by Eastman Co. with the development of 35mm film.

    • Blair Camera Co. and John Carbutt further developed emulsion-coated celluloid film.

Filmmaking in Paris

  • Paris as the Capital of Filmmaking

    • Historical significance in the development of early cinema.

  • Lumière Brothers

    • Auguste and Louis Lumière pioneered cinema by introducing the Cinématographe.

    • 1895 marked the year of the first public screening of projected films.

  • First Films

    • Lumière brothers' films showcased scenes of ordinary life leading to a rise in popularity for comedic, fantastical, and dramatic genres in the early 1900s.

Iconic Filmmakers and Their Influence

  • Georges Méliès

    • Known for "A Trip to the Moon" (1902), blending magic with cinematic narrative.

    • Introduced special effects like fades and time-lapse, recognized as the father of narrative filmmaking with a focus on sci-fi themes.

  • Alice Guy-Blaché

    • 1st female filmmaker who directed and produced over 1,000 films and founded a solar film studio in the USA.

    • Notable film: "The Cabbage Fairy" (1896).

    • Pioneered techniques like color tinting and close-up shots along with synchronized sound in her works.

  • The Introduction of Sound in Film

    • "Don Juan" (1926) and "The Jazz Singer" (1927) regarded as the first talkies.

    • Warner Brothers introduced films with pre-recorded scores and synchronized sound effects, utilizing the Vitaphone sound-on-disc system, allowing dialogue to be heard.

The Rise of Video Art

  • Nam June Paik

    • Recognized as the first video artist (1974), known for works like "Electronic Superhighway" that comment on telecommunications and mass media impact on perceptions of America.

    • Critiqued media stereotypes through thematic representations of individual states.

  • Global Groove (1973)

    • Satirical take on media roles, drawing attention to its influence on reality.

    • Forerunner to the music video form.

  • Bill Viola

    • Focused on fundamental human experiences including birth, death, and consciousness through immersive video art.

The Artist and the Computer

  • Emergence of Digital Arts

    • Ivan Sutherland developed "Sketchpad" in 1963, which was pivotal in computer graphics.

    • Birth of computer-aided drafting and digital art as a new medium.

    • The advent of personal computers with Apple Macintosh (1976) enhanced usability and design applications like MacDraw and MacPaint.

Image Editing and Digital Collaboration

  • Maggie Taylor’s collaboration using Adobe Photoshop signified the merging of computer technology with artistic expression.

    • David McLeod showcased work exemplifying color flow and artistic moods.

  • Andreas Gursky

    • Noteworthy for his digitally edited conceptual art, demonstrated through the piece "Rhein 2" (1999) that sold for $4.3 million in 2011.

  • INSA

    • Introduced app "gif-iti", designed for public viewing online, showcasing art from a global perspective (e.g., "Looking for Love, Brazil, 2014").

The Internet and Collaborative Art

  • Peter Edmund’s "SwarmSketch"

    • Engaged collective global participation in art-making.

NFTs and Blockchain in Art

  • Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)

    • Digital art supported by blockchain technology for ownership verification.

    • Example: Mike Winkelmann ("Beeple") and artwork "Everydays: The First 5000 Days" auctioned for $69.3 million at Christie’s.

AI in Art

  • Refik Anadol’s work "Machine Hallucinations" utilized artificial intelligence to reinterpret over 200 years of art, on view at MoMA (2022).

  • Artificial Intelligence and Identity

    • Lynn Hershman Leeson's work "DiNa" (2000-2006) explored identity and technology, predicting a future where AI may gain consciousness.

    • Films that delve into human and AI relationships include "Metropolis" (1927), "Ex Machina" (2015), and "Her" (2013) exploring philosophical ideas about existence.

The Future of AI

  • AlphaGo's Victory

    • AlphaGo, developed by Google DeepMind, defeated world champion Lee Sedol in Go (2016), prompting discussions about AI roles in society.

    • Broad applications of AI technology include ChatGPT, the stock market, and advanced systems exemplified by Sophia (2015), capable of engaging in complex conversations and interactions.