Exploratory Writing
9A

Exploratory Writing 9A

Exploratory Writing 9A I cant help but wonder how art history will reflect upon the digital/internet art movement. In many ways contemporary art itself has been challenging for art historians to catalog in any traditional manner. Graduating with a degree in Art and Design I found myself taking a slew of art history courses. And through that time I found that much of the content was reliant on traditional VERY LARGE textbooks. Textbooks that would fortunately be fairly up to date, and provide a great history for art throughout a large span of time. Yet, most of that content would encompass art that would be fairly easy to categorize, catalogue, examine, and discusses in a neutral academic setting. I can see how incorporating digital art will be fairly difficult for the future compilers of these art history text books, and the potential issues of effectively conveying the magnitude of their impact. (At least not without making this section regarding internet art the largest of the future art history text book)

The text post internet Art after the Internet is a great text and briefly discusses some of these concept in art history. One particular part that stood out to me reads “Art history is less the peculiar beast it looks like, and more simply beastly. In its all-too-often restrictive, self-congratulatory, near-sighted life cycle, all a piece of writing in this genre must do is simply regurgitate the historiographic origin myths that preceded it, and perhaps embellish itself with a new exemplary kernel or two.” (62) I agree that art history is restrictive, and I wonder how it will accommodate internet art that thrives to be un-restricted. Not to mention that unlike other art forms explored in art history, Internet art is continuously evolving, and will continue to do so log as the internet exists to accommodate creators. For example Japanese Jamon pottery has a more definitive beginning point, and surely a more distinct ending, much like many other artistic forms of expression one may find throughout an art history text book. While compared to internet art, we find that this artistic expression continues to morph to fit the needs of its users, and exists in a state of constant flux.

I find the term post internet art to be quite fascinating, and perhaps a tad funny. I only find it comical because in some regard I cant help but find such a notion to be rather delightful considering how relatively new the internet itself is for all of humanity. And yet post internet art is here to stay, and as we finally create more accommodations to feature such artwork in traditional venues we are also embracing this strange new form of expressive intent. I also find that most if not all of internet art finds itself always relating the concept of the human itself, or sometime the human condition. Perhaps this is due to the nature of internet art, and how it exists as a form of creative bridge between user and technology. I must also acknowledge how significant it is that internet art has allowed so many artists to express themselves in such a uniquely human but powerfully machine based/guided way.

I am also reminded that technology itself is still growing, to fit the demands to humans. We are constantly pushing forward towards better/more optimal outcomes for our creations, desires, and digital presence. How will we reflect on internet art? How will we remember Internet art for future generations? How does post internet art adapt itself as technology becomes more advance/sophisticated? These are questions that only time will tell and provide answers. And we as current users can only speculate about the more significant outcomes such creations will have for a hopefully more advanced future.