Exploratory Writing 2A
The internet has had a profound effect on my life, and I think its easy to see how it has also had a major impact on the entire world. The internet seemed to have such a humble beginning, and I doubt anyone would have been able to predict its true significance in the future. The influence of the internet will be ongoing, and we as humans continue to grow and evolve along with it.
The videos had been quite interesting to watch, and I appreciated the attention to detail in both. The first video “A Brief History of the Internet”, was very informative and provided a lot of critical background knowledge to the history of the internet itself. The Internet clearly always had the potential to be a key component in everyday life, but it was innovations/creativity from people that would allow the internet to be what it is today. The plethora of uses the internet has come to be known for started as rather simple or primitive, but would eventually evolve to be more sophisticated internet tools.
The first video also did a wonderful job at showcasing the variety of uses that have made the internet famous. With the vast networking of the internet we are able to share information, communicate thoughts and ideas, seek collections of information, express emotions, preserve important digital artifacts, and so much more. Yet, I am also quite moved by the videos key points regarding the impact the internet has politically, economically, and legally. One normally does not consider how vital the internet has become in our daily lives, and the regulations that are in place that directly effect the internet and how we interact with it. I believe that the internet will always continue to evolve, but so will how we interface with the internet as well and this may be directly related to larger decisions made by government bodies.( I cant help but wonder how the internet will influence future social, and cultural issues. And how the government will respond as technology continues to become in many ways more personal as well as more invasive)
The second video “The Early Internet Is Breaking” was also wonderfully put together, and the visuals are well thought out in representing many of the older internet concepts we have all come to appreciate. The video made some great point in regard to the “life” of certain internet content. I cant help but think of my own battle with the internet and archiving various information. As a contemporary artist I find myself tied to the internet whether I like it or not. And maintaining my presence on the internet has taken more work than initially thought. While it seems to be a seamless part of my life as well as my artistic career, I can remember a time when that wasn’t so. I had a lot of trouble accepting the “bond” that exists between contemporary art and the modern world wide web. I personally didn’t feel that my work needed to exist digitally to be valid, but the more I progressed through my career I learned that it wasn’t really a choice, and becoming familiar with the more creative side of the internet was a requirement. Eventually, I came to appreciate this relationship for the good as well as the bad.
I also loved how this video presented all of the older websites. I find the aesthetic of these websites to be simply fascinating to observe and interact with. (At least those created to still emulate that style) I find that these early websites to be forms of expressive art that communicate the significance of the person behind it. The limitations of technology at the time also influenced the aesthetic in such a way that is truly unique for its time.