NMA 2050

“A new media object is not something fixed once and for all, but something that  can exist in different, potentially infinite versions.”

In his book, “Principles of New Media”, Manovich talks about the Variability of new media. I found this idea to be rather interesting because of how it makes you think of every element in the new media world as different versions of something original. It seems to be a way of understanding media in terms of updates and constant change. Although, it is a principle of media that is meant to be consistent. The idea can lead to the extinction of the original, which in some way could be detrimental and in another way actually useful. For example, if we take a simple software like that of the one used for any Apple  device. Apple has constant updates with their software, which  means there are a lot of things that they have to change in order to sell a product good enough to replace the already existing one. But even the Apple software has the possibility of obtaining some sort of a glitch. When Apple came out with the 4s, the consumers expected a lot, little did they know that their would be a glitch with something as simple as the maps. The maps element failed to function the way the users were used to. Every apple user knew that they in some form or another rely on the maps app, which in actuality only began because a former apple device worked to its full potential and satisfied the consumers in that very aspect. Therefore, in my opinion, I think there might be a slight problem  in having constant changes and updates in certain software, as it could lead to the actual loss of trust for the original software (or the software that obtained a form of trust in the first place). Nonetheless, variability is a principle that works in other ways. Regardless of the problems that any form of new media may come across along the way, the idea of it being variable is so it betters itself with respect to these problems.

 

Annu Palakunnathu Matthew uses her talent as an artist to satirize a society’s generalized perceptions, mainly that of race and gender. The images below are obtained from a portfolio she call Bollywood Satirized.
In the context of the reading “Digital Technologies as a tool,” Annu is an example of how there was a point in the development of media where artists began to go against the norm and advertize images that were not perfectly constructed or structured as advertisements should be.She uses posters from Bollywood movies, distorts and reconstructs them to convey a message that relate to the movies but yet ridiculed the very ideals of the Indian society. Her technique is unique and being an Indian helps understand her stance. She puts forth in her work a series of stereotypes from the culture and challenges the perception of the onlooker.

For example, the recent rape cases in India are a matter of great disgrace to an Indian women and society knows that, but yet there is so little that society does to change it.  They feed on conservative concepts and fail to see what the real issue is, instead they settle for the easiest possible solution which is to make women wear long dresses or rather cover themselves up. Through Annu’s work there is a clear understanding of this very notion of sticking to conservatives principles, she contradicts them in a sense.
The idea that she tries to convey through her work challenges cultural norms and tradition and makes people wonder if it is important to be slightly more open minded about certain aspects in society.
Her work is an example of how society is being confronted by digital media on a daily basis. Artists wake up everyday to oppose the norms, to come up with ideas that will not only have society think but also wonder what will come next.
As an onlooker of her work as well as her perspective, I think that Annu ideally communicates to us the true meaning of digital media today. Despite the constant criticism and opinions of the way media is at present time, there is still a sense of wonder as to how media will change the way we perceive certain concepts  for the better.

The project that we did last class was challenging in the sense that it had me thinking about something I would have brushed off on a regular day. The idea of plastics being dangerous to the environment is something I’ve come across before, but never really thought of it as something I could change because of how immense and vast the usage of plastic is in the twenty first century. Regardless of this notion, the project might have changed my very outlook on plastics.

I guess being able to break down every element and knowing what these elements do to me as a human being as well the environment around me, sticks. But what was mostly intriguing about the project was the fact that we weren’t doing the research as scientist, but rather as artists and that makes all the difference because of a whole other perspective.

In my opinion, it somehow conveys that there is a possibility that we as artists can change the way people  look at how important it is to not use plastics. We know what is aesthetically pleasing the human eye, we know what people want to see or want to hear. So with this simple talent and technique it seems so much easier to spread awareness about something so enthralling yet so  ignored in today’s day and time.Therefore the project teaches us as students that our role as artists should not be taken for granted because we have the same impact, if not more,  on society as a scientist  or any oner credited figure might have.

Overall it seemed interesting to be able to understand the break down of various plastics and its impact on present day as well as the future, but most importantly how it probably has no way of leaving the surface of the earth. So as artist it is important to find ways for everybody to understand the importance.