“Just as a fractal has the same structure on different scales, a new media object has the same modular structure throughout. Media elements, be they images, sounds, shapes, or behaviors, are represented as collections of discrete samples (pixels, polygons, voxels, characters, scripts). These elements are assembled into larger-scale objects but continue to maintain their separate identities.” pg30

Unlike traditional media, where parts are fused into a whole like paint strokes in a painting, new media content is composed of separate elements that can be edited or reused. Modularity explains why we can drag and drop photos into a website layout, remix videos from clips such as TikTok. This principle speaks to the flexibility and reusability that define the digital age. Modularity is a foundation of the remix culture we live in today. It supports both the creative freedom and technical efficiency that characterize our engagement with digital media.

This stood out to me because today’s media, such as TikTok, is a great example of Modularity. Every TikTok video consists of at least two primary modular parts. The video content and the audio track. These elements are stored separately on the platform. That’s why users can reuse the same sound clip for different videos. TikTok made it easy to remix; people can grab one piece of a viral video and plug it into their own creation.