Digital Arts: An Introduction to New Media

by Cat Hope, John Charles Ryan

Overview

Digital Arts presents an introduction to new media art through key debates and theories. The volume begins with the historical contexts of the digital arts, discusses contemporary forms, and concludes with current and future trends in distribution and archival processes. Considering the imperative of artists to adopt new technologies, the chapters of the book progressively present a study of the impact of the digital on art, as well as the exhibition, distribution and archiving of artworks.

Reflecting contemporary research in the field, case studies illustrate concepts and developments outlined in Digital Arts. Additionally, reflections and questions provide opportunities for readers to explore terms, theories and examples relevant to the field. Consistent with the other volumes in the New Media series, a bullet-point summary and a further reading section enhance the introductory focus of each chapter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780933238
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/19/2014
Series:	Bloomsbury New Media Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.08(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.71(d)

About the Author

Cat Hope is Associate Professor at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at Edith Cowan University. She is an active composer and performer who also works in video art and installation.

John Charles Ryan is Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Communications and Arts at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. He is an internationally published poet with interests in the digital humanities and ecocriticism.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Introduction
What Is Digitality?/ What Is Digital Art?/ Digital Art And Its Relatives: Understanding The Typologies/ New Media Art/ Electronic Art/ Computer Art/ Internet Art/ Post-Media Aesthetics/ Behaviourist Art/ Telematic Art/ Virtual Art/ Unstable Media Art/ Perspectives On Technology, Culture And The Digital Arts / Democratization/ Globalization / Interdisciplinarity/ An Outline Of The Following Chapters/ Summary
Chapter 2: Key Concepts, Artistic Influences And Technological Origins Of The Digital Arts
Interaction, Immersion And Interface: Key Ideas For The Digital Arts / The Digital Arts In Perspective: Influential Art-Historical Contexts / Old And New Media: Technological Contexts For The Digital Arts / Summary
Chapter 3: Dumb Visions And Fabulous Images: Photographic, Drawn And Moving Image
Key Concepts / Historical Precedents For Digital Images / The Challenges And Rewards Of Technological Change / What Is A Digital Photograph?/ Digital Imagery In All Its Dimensions/ The Moving Image: Video Art, Animation And Cinema / Video Art/ Animation/ Cinema/ Installation Art / Summary
Chapter 4:Dancing At The Speed Of Light: The Digital In Performance
Cyberpunks In Cyberspace/ Theoretical Terms/ Remediation/ Abjection/ Theoretical Considerations / History / Technology/ Case Studies / Dance And Choreography/ Theatre And Performance Art / Cyborgs, Robots And Bioartists/ Virtual Reality/ Summary
Chapter 5: From Scratchy To Glitchy: The Creation, Performance And Installation Of Digital Music
A Drastic Change For The Direction Of Music/ What Is A Digital Sound?/ The Tools Of Digital Music/ Composing And Performing With Digital Sounds / Digital As A Means: Collecting And Producing/ Consuming Digital Music/ The Future Unfolding: Interactivity And Liveness / The Fragmentation Of Music / Summary
Chapter 6: The Possibilities Of A Web: Internet Art
What Is Internet Art?/ Interactivity, Agency And Community: Theoretical Considerations / Performance, Chance And Innovation: A Brief History Of Internet Art / Browsing, Coding And Networking: The Technology Of Internet Art/ Summary
Chapter 7: I Want It Now: Finding, Downloading And Distributing Digital Art
Finding And File Sharing: Creative Culture In The Digital Era/ Downloading The Commons: The History Of Digital Arts Distribution/ Distributing The Digital: The Impact Of Key Technologies/ Summary
Chapter 8: Ways Of Belonging: Archiving, Preserving And Remembering Digital Art
The Idea Of Liveness: Preservation As Theory And Contingency/ Scoring The Work: Digital Arts Preservation Through Notation Systems/ Towards Archival Interoperability: Arts Preservation And Technology/ Summary
Chapter 9: Conclusion: Hyperreality And The Digital Art Of The Future
Reality And Hyperreality In Digital Art/ Hyperreality And Postdigital Art/ New Technological Frontiers And The Future Of Digital Art / Ubiquitous Computing And Wearable Technology/ Gaming And Networked Environments/ Social Media/ Mobile Telecommunications/ Open Source And Wiki Projects/ Back To Reality: Activism Through Digital Art/ Privacy And Surveillance/ Political And Social Equity/ Environment And Sustainability/ Moist Media And Living Interfaces/ Final Word: Digital Art Communities
Annotated Guide To Further Reading
Exercises And Questions
Bibliography
Index