User:Lauren Porter

[[1]]

fav page

User:Jason Wilson

Contents 1 Annotated Bibliography 1.1 Multimedia Art 1.1.1 Books 1.1.2 Online Sources

Annotated Bibliography

Multimedia Art

Books

Frohne, U. (ed.) (1997)Contemporary Art. Munich: Prestal Verlog, ISBN 3791318691.

This source discusses Multimedia Art as a movement in contemporary art and talks about how new technology has changed how we produce art. It talks about how the new media technologies that we now possess have made a new range of tools available to artists, in particular it discusses how the computer and it’s infinitely varied software are able to replace the traditional tools such as brush and canvas or hammer and chisel. It lists the many new categories of art that have been made possible by the computer such as videotape,computer animation, sound sculpture, laser art and electronic installation, all of which are classified as Multimedia Art. This source also discusses video art and how it originated and gives a brief discussion of some relevant pieces, as well as talking about the progression of video sculpture towards interactive artwork.

Graham, B. (2003) Directions In Art: Digital Media, Great Britain: Heinemann, ISBN 0431176469.

This book is relevant to the topic of Multimedia Art because it discusses digital media and the role of new technologies in relation to evolving artistic trends and culture. The first section of the book briefly discusses the use of different media in art througout history, from the development of technologies that could create different pigments of ink through to 'new' media technologies like the video camera.

It draws attention to the fact that artists have always used 'new media' as they have become available. This is an important point because it highlights the relationship between artists and the development of new technologies, specifically the link between how artists often find new and different ways to apply or use these 'new' technologies. The book offers descriptions of 'new media' and how they offer more and more ways for the artists to express themselves. It highlights the fact that artwork no longer has to be viewed in a gallery, that 'new media' in particular digital media has opened up a whole new forum for artists, one that can be interactive, touchable or untouchable, on the web or installed in a park.

This book is also useful as it has a full list of websites belonging to influential 'new media' artists as well as a list of references pertinent to the subject.

Packer, R. & Jordon, K. (2000) Multimedia: From Wagner to Virtual Reality, New York: Norton, ISBN 0393323757.

Of particular relevance to the topic of Multimedia art is the section of the book titled 'Overture'. This section discusses the development of the personal computer and the importance of the computer in today's media and multimedia. In summary this section disucsses the history of multimedia, the precedents and development of technology that have led to the formation or development of multimedia art. It covers the development of computer interface software and its implications of interactivity and increased potential for creativity. The development of the internet as a medium for communication and eventually for artwork. This source lists Wagner as a pioneering multimedia artist and discusses his theory of the 'total artwork'. His total artwork being the "unification of music, song, dance, poetry, visual arts and stagecraft" (Packer & Jordon, 2000, pg xviii). Packer and Jordon also discuss how artists employed multimedia in order to heighten viewer's experience by the integration of different media, and highlight the fact that the times we live in and the technology we have, have influenced the art which we produce.

Rush, M. (1999) New Media in Late 20th-Century Art, New York: Thames & Hudson, ISBN 0500203296.

This book deals with the beginnnings of Multimedia Art. It discusses the integration of different new media into artwork over a period of time and the social reasons for it. In particular it details how objects were used to change meaning and challenge the accepted artform of painting. It goes on to talk about the explosion of technology and how it has become part of art, signifying a new era of art.

The first chapter looks into a number of different topics involving the use of new technologies in performance art, of particular relevance is the section on 1960's Multimedia Performances this section details some of the early artists' "Intermingling of art and technology" (Rush, 1999, pg 36) and talks about some of the earliest multimedia staged events. In particular this source makes reference to the works of Billy Kluver, an electronic engineer who helped create one of the earliest multimedia staged events. The piece called ‘Hommage a New York’ was a self destroying machine that sprayed nuts and bolts everywhere as it destroyed itself.

Chapter 4 also talks about digital art and its almost limitless applications: "The sometimes uneasy alliance between art and tecnhology has come of age: the inexorable march of the world towards a digital or computerized culture has included art in its step." (Rush, 1999, pg 168). It also questions the use of image in digitally assisted art, questioning how if an image can be reproduced so easily where is the uniquness of the piece and how is it art?

Online Sources

Angelis, N. (2004) “Flashart: Art in the 3rd Millennium� Newtopia Magazine, [Online], Available: http://www.newtopiamagazine.net/content/issue17/newart/flashart.php [2004, August, 08].

This source discusses how art generally changes as a result of new technologies, and how the use of these new technologies and experimentation has brought an immense change to the art world. Angelis discusses how contemporary art is no longer defined by previous mediums and modes of expression such as painting. Because these mediums have been changed and expanded upon to produce new ‘hybrid’ mediums which are sometimes better able to express the artists’ desires and intentions. Here he refers to the use of Multimedia and technology and highlights the development of 21st century new technology in relation to the proliferation of new art forms such as ‘Digital Art, Multimedia Art, Internet, Animation etc’.

He also discusses the fact that art is still a commodity, either available to a select few or to the thousands for mass consumption. Indeed the question of how we value art in today’s society is also raised in this source. There is reference to the more minimal engagement and consumption of art as a result of its availability and the new mediums it occupies. It cites the internet as an important tool in the availability and consumption of art in today’s society.

Jarvis, J.D. (2002). “Towards a Digital Aesthetic�, Museum of Computer Art, [Online], Available: http://moca.virtual.museum/editorial/jdaesthetic.htm [2004, August, 10].

This source poses the question of what digital art is, it is important to the topic of Multimedia Art because digital art is one of the many computer based art forms which are encapsulated under the term Multimedia Art. This source questions some preconceived notions that exist as a result of the convenience of technology. It questions the notion of whether digital art requires skill or not, and discusses the connection between pop art and digital art. Describing how the use of borrowed images in digital art is similar to the style used in pop art.

Jarvis also discusses how the tools that are now available in the form of new media technologies, in particular digital tools change the way we produce artwork and the way we consume it.

Jarvis describes digital art as an illusion, this is an important point as common perception of Multimedia Art is that because it is generally considered to be computer based, it is simply binary code and hence inherently untouchable.

Once again it refers to the use of current technology and discusses the stereotypical idea of an artist toiling long hours to produce a fine artwork. It discusses how, in contrast the 'new media' artist may sometimes only take a relatively short amount of time to create a digital art piece, as a result of technology specifically designed to save time, this point highlights the changing trends in society and the implications of new technology on art. This particular point is important because this is an issue in Multimedia art, in particular it’s new found place in today’s technologically dependant society.

Packer, R. (1999) "Just What is Multimedia, Anyway?", Artful Media,[Online], Jan-March, pp. 11-13. Available: http://www.zakros.com/bios/ReadingA.pdf, [2004, August, 6].

This article questions what multimedia is, at once attempting to define it as a "term used to describe the variety of applications that integrate media types, from CD-ROM to live performance to the internet"(Packer, 1999, p.11). The article is pertinent to my topic because it gives a brief overview of the events and important people in the development and implementation of multimedia and its associated technologies. It also establishes that multimedia is not an entirely new concept but one that dates back to the days of the caveman. The article begins by establishing that multimedia is not simply limited to digital media, describing a prehistoric event which involved visuals, sound, smell and performance. Packer moves on to discuss Richard Wagner's Opera, and his theory of the 'total artwork', discussing his use of different media in his opera, pinpointing him as being one of the important people in the development of Multimedia Art. In addition to this Packer also highlights the importance of the development of the memex and hyperlinking. Marking the birth of the personal computer as one of the most important points in the development of Multimedia Art.

Seligmann, D. (1999) "Artful Media - Celebrating Art and Technology", Artful Media, [Online], Jan-March, pp. 11. Available: http://www.zakros.com/bios/ReadingA.pdf [2004, August, 6].

This short article details the relationship between art and technology and draws attention to the explosion of technology and its impact on the art movement, in particular the breakdown of barriers between art and technology, a concept inherent in Multimedia Art. It highlights the fact that although artists often use new technologies in their art, they are generally not responsible for the creation of new technologies, but rather the innovation of them. This is important to the topic of Multimedia Art because it discusses the collaboration between artists and engineers, an idea instrinsic to the development of Multimedia Art.

(2004) Multimedia,Wikipedia.com,[Online], Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia [2004, August, 8].

I thought it would be a good idea to include a reference that described what multimedia actually was. This entry in the wikipedia gives the definition:

Multimedia is the use of several different media to convey information (text, audio, graphics, animation, video, and interactivity). Multimedia also refers to computer media.

Interestingly the source refers to multimedia as being in general digital, this is a common assumption. Indeed many Multimedia artworks are digital however this source also recognises that in art multimedia can often simply mean more than one type of media, not necessarily more then one digital medium.

As well as giving a broad definition of what multimedia is it gives a number of multimedia’s applications including computer based training, games, use in presentations and the entertainment industry. This source also discusses the potential for multimedia to be interactive, briefly discussing virtual reality and multimedia games. It discusses how the use of several media can result in the experience of the viewer being enhanced. This is a relevant point in relation to Multimedia Art as the purpose of using multiple media in art is to enhance the artistic experience.

Lauren Porter 11:04, 9 Aug 2004 (EST)

Lauren Porter 12:38, 12 Aug 2004 (EST)

Lauren Porter 22:30, 12 Aug 2004 (EST)

Multimedia Art - History