Readings

Amanda Frazier

Assignment two

Digital Art

Digital art and new media is and has been changing art and the way it is viewed, but it impacts much more than that. Art has always been a huge part of culture, including our own. That being said as art changes and evolves some aspects of our culture change right along with it.

One of the biggest impacts on the western culture from art is the way that it is viewed. Art used to be something that was for the privileged to look at or have in their homes.  When technologies such as the camera were invented it meant that there could now be copies of famous art for everyone to enjoy. With the invention of the internet, it meant that these pictures of art could now be shared all around the world. As internet becomes more and more accessible, so is the art. As the art is more accessible that means more and more people can view it and be impacted or inspired by it. Anyone anywhere can post his or her art for someone to see. It kind of goes full circle in that way, You create something that is inspiring or impacting in some way to someone and because of the internet you can share it quickly and effectively. Then those people who see it can then share it and be impacted by it and inspired to do something new. To me this seems like one of the biggest impacts that Digital art has on culture.

Another way digital art is impacting culture is by the new technology. Some of the programs we use in art wouldn’t even be around for everyone to use if it weren’t for the artist before who had the idea for it. One of the things I found very interesting while reading chapter one was the history of digital imaging. In the work, Beauty Composites by Nancy Burson, Nancy merged several different famous and beautiful actresses’ faces to create on single face. What I find so interesting about this is that the technology that she made a huge contribution to is now used to help with law enforcement. Because of this program people are now able to do age progressions on missing children. It is also used to help alter photos of missing people or even create pictures of suspects. This is a great example of one way digital art is impacting culture in a very positive way.

Art also relates to western culture because in a sense it is western culture. For some artist’s art is a way to express themselves about what is going on in the world. Artists have always been able to express themselves this way, but with the Internet and digital art it is so much easier to show it through pictures video and other new ways.  You’re not just limited to doing one thing, like taking a picture, or just painting, now you can combine all of these things.