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Blog Post #3

1. Pick one post from 2016, one from 2017 and one from 2018 that interests you.  Put links to them in your blog posting. http://new-aesthetic.tumblr.com/post/141198368770/the-problem-with-a-technology-revolution-designed http://new-aesthetic.tumblr.com/post/157058062465/intelligent-machine-conversations-from-an-elevator http://new-aesthetic.tumblr.com/post/174815598960/via-michael-margolis-on-twitter

2. Why are these three interesting to you in particular, either individually or as a group?

-These three posts are interesting to me as a timeline. From 2016 to 2017 we see an increase in communication. Siri was one of the first digital systems that could talk back when asked a question or given a command. People were so interested in this type of technology for the exact reason that apple capitalized on it. It shows a new aesthetic in communication and advancement. Now, people could simply ask their phone a question rather than having to enter a search engine and type it in. Next, in 2017 technology is advancing to sending communicative information through a cloud to an elevator system. This progression shows how mechanical operations now have technological factors added to everyday function. The last picture in 2018 shows how the world communicates with technology through "Alexa". This form of communication mimics the original idea of Siri but brings it into your living room, kitchen, or bedroom. An automated system that is always listening to instruction that is welcomed into the home. While the picture does show a glitch in technology it still represents the bigger picture that this new world we are living in produces an aesthetic that relies so heavily on alternative forms of communication.

3. How does this concept of the New Aesthetic relate to Benjamin’s essay and his thoughts on mechanical reproduction?  Can these new objects and items of the New Aesthetic be considered to be “authentic”, or to have an “aura”, in the sense that Benjamin suggests?  Please put some substantial thought into this response, and produce a minimum of 200 words on the subject.

-The concept of the new aesthetic relates to Benjamin’s essay and his thoughts on mechanical reproduction because artists are now reproducing art with a new twist. According to Benjamin, the reproduction of art can make it lose its value. However, in this sense I believe it has gained value and influence by being a part of an entire thread of art. The accumulation of years of work all showcased in one thread makes them more powerful when they stand as a group, rather than on their own. Some of the pieces in the thread of the new aesthetic reflect street art or personal drawings. That art is authentic because it was created and will never be able to be replicated exactly. Though the pictures taken of the art in Benjamin’s eyes, could diminish their aura. I believe that the incorporation of technology in their art reflects the push of society to integrate technology into everything. Some of the work has a very powerful aura because it combines freehand work with technological processes. By joining the two it gives the public a sense of satisfaction that technology can be used for positive forward movement. Instead of dwelling on the past and old ways of reproducing, or not reproducing art at all, the new aesthetic decides to embrace it so that art can be shared on a larger scale.

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Blog Post #2

1. According to Benjamin, what is the historical trajectory of advancements in the mechanical reproduction of visual media?      The historical trajectory of advancements in the mechanical reproduction of visual media is that it will continually advance and there isn't much society can do about that. Initially it, "advanced intermittently and in leaps at long intervals, but with accelerated intensity". Now, it is advancing with small intervals of less intensity. This is because as technology advances each little step is taken on by a new artist. This makes art from one year to the next different but not as influential as it used to be. Before, art went from carving in natural objects to filmography. This advancement was unbelievable for the time. Now the leaps seem to be less and less interesting because it is more of a gradual process.

  2. Describe the way in which photography transforms notions of originality and authenticity in works of art according to Benjamin.      According to Benjamin, the minute that photography and print becomes bigger than freehand art is the minute that originality goes out the window. He believes that in freehand art there is only ever one original piece, whereas with photography you can print multiple of the same picture, therefore losing the single piece of 'original' work all together. To him, this breaks art down from its original intention and turns it into something with more of a political agenda. 

3. When Benjamin uses the term 'aura,' what does he mean? Furthermore, what happens to the 'aura' of an art object, as these objects are increasingly mass-reproduced?      The meaning Benjamin intends to explain of the term 'Aura' is that a single piece of art that can never be exactly replicated holds a certain value to the public eye. Each time something is replicated it loses its aura and value because it is in abundance. The concept can be connected to the value of money. The value of a currency is higher if there is less of it to go around. If the government were to simply print more money whenever they needed it than the overall currency and value of the dollar bill would decrease. 

4. According to Benjamin, what is the difference between 'cult value' and 'exhibition value'?      The difference between cult value and exhibition value is that cult value is more historical in context. Cult value refers to a time where art was meant to be mostly hidden from the public and served as almost a gift to the gods. Exhibition value takes that concept and diminishes it because people want to see art in more accessible places. Most people are not going to fly to a discreet area and search inside of a cave to discover and witness art. They would rather just go to a museum and see it on display. 

5. Finally, find a specific passage from the text that resonates with you and explain why?      A specific part of the text that resonated with me is "Quantity has been transmuted into quality" (p. 16). This resonated with me because I believe that in many aspects of life, not just media, this statement hold true. Society has created a stigma where the more you have the better you seem. People have translated this in many ways to say that the more money, friends, things, or experiences a person has the better off they will be. However, I have found that it is actually quite the opposite. Quality of life is so much more important than having the most of anything and I think this statement has been universally accepted with negative outcomes.  

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Blog Post #1

Growing up my daily life consisted of new technology that was consistently advancing. Being born in 1997 I feel as though I have had influence from both old and new generations when it comes to technology and digital platforms. As a young child I used the original Gameboy handheld games, or leapfrog learning systems. Both only with buttons used on a small screen to provide interactive learning or entertainment. As I grew older I was exposed to Gameboy consoles that had touch screens where specialized pens could draw on the screens. Each holiday it was like I continued asking for the same new version of a game console that I already owned because it was faster or smaller with less buttons and more screen space. For school and learning there was only notebooks and pencils. I used post-it notes for reminders and passed notes to my friends using glitter pens. Old school projectors that the teachers put see through film paper on is the only way I knew how to project things onto a bigger screen. By the time I was old enough to get my own cell phone I had one that was half flip phone half touch screen. If I wanted to text on the touch screen I had to use the old ABC keyboard that was linked to the numbers for dialing. At the time I would have categorized technology as pretty advanced because my parents had told me they never dealt with touch screen cell phones that were pocket sized.

           By the time I was in high school there was talk about every student getting their own personal iPad to perform most school assignments on. At the time it seemed bizarre to me that people could use digital pads to almost completely replace paper and pen. Yet, senior year came and believe it or not every student in the school was issued their own personal iPad for academic use. To me, this changed everything about social structure and class interaction. When pen and paper was required there was no way to avoid eye contact with professors or hide you cell phone. Now, students were not only hiding their cell phones behind the screen but they were also entirely disengaged and even downloading and playing games during class.

           Now in college, there is almost no way to participate fully in a class unless you have access to some type of digital media. Almost every professor uses blackboard and assignments or papers are required to be uploaded for credit. If I did not have my own laptop in college I would most likely find myself in the library constantly trying to keep up with announcements and digital due dates that never even see paper. Similarly, students are no longer engaged in class because they can hide behind their computer screens. Taking notes on a keyboard may be more time efficient, but it deters the digestion of information that occurs when you write something down. Students also can be found shopping, or on social media during class which can distract not only them, but other students as well.

           In terms of social interaction, I find that digital media has created a disconnect between verbal and social skills and an online reality. Sadly enough, I even find myself with my head down on my cell phone when chatting with friends or family. Similarly, I no longer have to use post-it notes to remind myself of tasks because that feature is already built into my iPhone. I believe that social media has hindered many people's ability to interact and communicate in person. I think digital media has a positive purpose in terms of connecting people who are far away, and the spread of news and information. Yet, in most other aspects I find it to be more compromising to society than helpful.