New Media

How has New Media changed, especially in the areas of:
Artists communication with their medium,
Artist and viewer interaction,
Artist to artist collaboration and
Producer and consumer role?

But first, what is New Media?
New Media is based upon concepts of; global networks, convergence, digital content, interactivity and communication.

Interactivity existed to a limited extent in traditional media, however New Media has enabled a greater degree of interaction and opportunities for complex forms of interactivity.

New Media interactivity can be in the form of basic interaction (blogs, wikis and interactive online environments), or complex (immersive digital environments/virtual reality)

Contempory New Media has a high entertainment content.

How has New Media changed the artist medium communication?

-Instead of communicating through a paintbrush (etc) to the medium, New Media artists communicate through software to create art. There is still a physical manifestation present between the artist and the medium. In both traditional and new media, the artist does not work directly with the finished product; whether the artist works through a paintbrush, charcoal, tablet, or mouse, there is always something stopping the artist from directly working with their canvas.

-The mediation of art by digitization; art is done with digital software, however it is just as different from working in paints, as it is to work in charcoal, or watercolour, or ink. In the end, digitization is just another medium to express yourself in.

-the communication of the idea not the physical representation. People buy art because they connect with the emotions behind the artwork, and the ideas behind a digital artwork are just as valid as the ideas behind a traditional artwork.

but is this really any different from traditional media?

Inclusion and Exclusion

New Media can be seen as an exclusive medium. Factors such as technology, understanding and experience all work to hinder those who wish to break into the field of New Media. The technology required to do New Media can be rather expensive, and if you are new to the technology it can be rather frustrating to understand/work it properly.

Artist/Viewer Interaction

In 21st century art, web presence is a necessity regardless of an artists preferred medium.

Viewers can interact with the artist in these ways:
~Web Art,
~Artist created web pages/web galleries,
~Phone art (film)
~Interactive online environments (such as SIMS, Second Life)
~Online Music releases (such as Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys) & online gig posts,

Having a web presence provides:
~Global access
~Marketing/exposure
~Online sales point
~Communication channels
~Interactive Online Environments

Phones and Films

With the increase in technology and its availability to the masses, there is a growing trend of using mobile phones to creat art (in the form of films).

There are even film festivals dedicated entirely to Phone Films, such as:
~Paris Pocket Film Festival
~Mobile Phone Movie Awards Xi’an, China
~Portable Film Festival
~Future Screen Mobile

New Media Music

A web presence allows budding musicians to sell their music online, as well as through online marketing, online sales, gig updates, communication and exposure through social networking sites. Music placed online can be downloaded (either a sample or a full track), or acessed through software such as iTunes.

Immersive Digital Environments

Immersive Digital Environments are a highly evolving media which includes:
~Virtual Reality environments
~Reactive Environments (Funky Forest)
~‘Smart Furniture’ (Intimate Transactions)
~Simulations (Immersive Technologies)
~Art
~Entertainment
~Training