Obviously, the relationship between art and technology is one where the lines are often blurred. Does technology benefit art forms, or is it a hinderance? I think this montage demonstrates the ways technology can advance art forms, but also damage the very existence and practice of art. A large part of Benjamin's initial theses in his project includes the concept of reification, or a habitual mode of existence. Technology, and what many would call an addiction to it, becomes habitual in our daily lives. We barely even think about its impact, and we probably look at much of the art and advertisements that it produces without question. Technology and its presence in art creates a shared ideology more often than not and reveals truths about our lives; sometimes these truths are cultural, societal or political, or reflect the artist's personal, national or global concerns. Benjamin also raises important concerns about "mass media" that, I believe, are more relevant today than they ever could have been in his time. His critique of mass media and mass entertainment concludes, in a basic sense, that both exclude large numbers of the general population. Therefore, we don't see the unspoken majority's presence or hear their voice in our media. This has changed a bit with the digital age, and the presence of internet and social media that I have mentioned quite a few times throughout this project. Large groups of people, and minorities, can share their views on various platforms (like the blog I'm using right now). However, mass media is controlled by a small elite and is often seen as biased. Certain stories are told while others are excluded. We see what the media and companies perpetuate through their monetary presence in our search engines.
|
AuthorMegan Carroll is a junior at Gonzaga University studying print journalism and interdisciplinary arts. This blog contains her reflections on the nature of art. ArchivesCategories |