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MULTI-MEDIATION |
Does CD-ROM have anything to offer other art
forms? Instead of forging a new art form, much multimedia functions as an extension
of traditional media. Does this "spineless" technology have anything worthwhile
to offer its host arts, such as literature, film and visual art? Indeed, does CD-ROM offer
a superior experience to previous media, providing freedom of choice and depth of
understanding, or does it reduce profound feelings to a facile display of information?
This session scrutinises CD-ROM versions of books, films and exhibitions. |
ART ONLINE |
How significant are the
creative possibilities of going online? With promises of wider bandwidth, online
media are championed as the next focus of creative development. What kinds of artistic
opportunities are available online that are absent offline? Is artist the most appropriate
label for a person who designs a web space in which others can participate? This session
explores emerging art forms such as chat games, databases and web art. |
THE FUTURE OF CRITICISM |
Does multimedia bring art
down from the sublime to the cool? The fine arts have distinguished themselves by
sensitivity to the sublime, particularly in nature. Can multimedia contain an
experience of the sublime, and how does it differ from that found in the established arts?
Some argue that multimedia demands a new aesthetic vocabulary completely. The word "cool"
is natural to the experience at the screen interface. This session concerns the usefulness
of the "art" label for works of new media such as Myst. |
STATE OF THE ART |
Does multimedia fit into
the art world? Does multimedia deserve to be taken seriously as an art form?
Multimedia has attracted unprecedented political support, yet official art forums remain
oblivious to it. Despite calls for content, multimedia art remains confined in forums
devoted to computer hardware. Is this due to lack of worthwhile multimedia art, or an
inability to accept change? Is this new art a victim of "technological
correctness"? This session focuses on the attitude of cultural gatekeepers to this
newcomer. |
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