What is media specificity?
An artwork, in order to be successful, needs to adhere to the specific stylistic properties of its own medium.
“Gotthold Ephraim Lessing 1776
Medium/media specificity is a term used in aesthetics and art criticism.
It is most closely associated with modernism, but it predates it. According to Clement Greenberg,, medium specificity holds that "the unique and proper area of competence" for a form of art corresponds with the ability of an artist to manipulate those features that are "unique to the nature" of a particular medium.
Medium specificity and media specific analysis are ways to identify new media art forms, such as Internet art.
Medium specificity can be used as an aesthetic judgement tool, it can be used to frame the question, “ Does this work fulfil the promise contained in the medium used to bring the artwork into existence?”
We now move from descriptions of the properties of specific medium to prescriptions for what the aesthetics of these media should look like.
Pre-modernist idea: 'truth to materials'
In order for a medium to have characteristic qualities it must be grounded in a tradition that has established these qualities as intrinsic properties.
THE MESSAGE IS IN THE MEDIUM
An artwork, in order to be successful, needs to adhere to the specific stylistic properties of its own medium.
“Gotthold Ephraim Lessing 1776
Medium/media specificity is a term used in aesthetics and art criticism.
It is most closely associated with modernism, but it predates it. According to Clement Greenberg,, medium specificity holds that "the unique and proper area of competence" for a form of art corresponds with the ability of an artist to manipulate those features that are "unique to the nature" of a particular medium.
Medium specificity and media specific analysis are ways to identify new media art forms, such as Internet art.
Medium specificity can be used as an aesthetic judgement tool, it can be used to frame the question, “ Does this work fulfil the promise contained in the medium used to bring the artwork into existence?”
We now move from descriptions of the properties of specific medium to prescriptions for what the aesthetics of these media should look like.
Pre-modernist idea: 'truth to materials'
In order for a medium to have characteristic qualities it must be grounded in a tradition that has established these qualities as intrinsic properties.
THE MESSAGE IS IN THE MEDIUM
“Information pours upon us, instantaneously and continuously. As soon as
information is acquired, it is very rapidly replaced by still newer information. Our electronically configured world has forced us to move from the habit of data classification to the mode of pattern recognition.” MM
information is acquired, it is very rapidly replaced by still newer information. Our electronically configured world has forced us to move from the habit of data classification to the mode of pattern recognition.” MM
Technology as Memory extensions
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Footprints
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Drawing, painting and symbol making
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Writing
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Printing
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Photography
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Sound recording
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Silent Film
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Technological convergence of Sound recording and Silent Film
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TV
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Computers (1940s)
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Magnetic tape (Available to the public from 1940s)
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Video tape (Available to the public from 1969)
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Audio-cassettes replace reel-to-reel tape, video-cassettes replace home movies.
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