Contrasting Readings - Who leads who?

This post is in response to an article from 2005 called "Battle for the Soul of the Internet," about the state of the web at that time, and a chapter called "When Old Technologies Were New."

I think that when all these very brand-new technologies started out, they were leading society. Teaching them what to do until they could do some things on their own. According to the 2005 article, it took a decade or so (I’m estimating) for use of the Internet to become any where near “the norm.” But once it did, like the way electricity lead to communication, the Internet brought about all kinds of new avenues in the tech world.

In the chapter reading, the author explained that new technology alters and reforms group habits. It changed the way we exist in society, the way we relate to one another – the way we contact one another. The Internet did this in its own, unique and revolutionary way. And once it became more and more prevalent – more the norm, easier and more comfortable to use, it exploded. Now it seems, the tables have turned – and these experts are working towards society’s needs. Right now, it’s convenience, space-efficiency, and speed – the right-here-right-now kind of deal. And developers are bringing that to the table. Blackberry’s, iPhones, Kindles and iPad’s – these are all examples of developers working and catering towards the needs of today’s people.

Now, to bring this back to the art world. I feel it’s worked somewhat in the same way. Adobe did something revolutionary when they created Photoshop, and all their design programs. I’m not really sure whom they were marketing to when they first started out, but I doubt it was to fine artists. Most fine artists, at least from my experience, are not highly design-oriented. We think in terms of composition, this is for sure – otherwise we’d be making some horrible works of art. But we don’t think in design.

However, with Adobe out there (and I’m sure other design programs), it allowed for people to play with it, tamper with it, understand what its capabilities were and are. And thus, they carved an inlet in the art world. As more and more people became familiar with the programming, more and more people entered the design world. And with this world growing faster than I can imagine, I’m sure that Adobe and other programmers are working to create programs that fit the needs of today’s designers.

Introduction!

Welcome to Technology in Art!

As an art major, I'm really excited about this topic. I will be addressing my own fears as a budding artist in being pressured to delve into the world of graphic design. I held an internship during the Summer of 2009 at an advertising firm, because I was very interested in pursuing that area. But after realizing that I knew nothing about design programs - and the company did not have the resources to teach me these programs - I really didn't end up learning much about design. Although, I did learn some ins and outs of the advertising world. And while this was a fantastic (albeit, frustrating) experience, I still feel the apprehension in moving into the design world and away from where I feel most comfortable and where I feel I excel - drawing and painting (i.e. the fine arts). I plan on addressing my feelings - both of fear and of curiosity - more throughout the blogging period.

I also want to talk about how graphic design has affected the art world and field. For instance, with the advent of graphics and other technologies in the art industry, has art become more prevalent (but somehow, less noticeable) in our world? And with this prevalence, has art become de-valued? My art history professor last semester would often interject his woes about art today and how he believed that art is in a crisis - that there is no where art can go any more. Is this true? Or is the nature of art just changing? Is there any room for traditional fine artists in this day and age?

I plan on talking to some insightful professors at the University of Maryland, both of the graphic design concentration, and of fine arts classes. I want to know their take on where art is today with all new avenues to create "art." I'll talk to students, both of the art-variety and those with, dare I say it, less creative majors. How do they see art and artists today? Is it just as important as it once was? How has the nature of it changed, if they believe so at all? And, having just installed the Adobe Creative Suite on my computer last night (and in the midst of taking an Intro to Computer Graphics class), I plan on finding out some more information about Adobe, how it started, and its profound effects on artists and art.

Like any piece of art work, this will be a creative process. And like those art works, I may not know what I'll end up with, but hopefully in the end, you may want to look at it, ponder it, and talk about it. So...let's see!