Author Presentation Reflection

What is an author? How is authorship defined? These are the two biggest questions that I had before my presentation on “the author.” Although I did not get a clear-cut answer to either of these questions I definitely learned that not everything is black and white but this is not always a bad thing.
This presentation taught me that because of the advances in new media the definition of who is an author had changed. Because in today’s society remixing and collaboration of author and user has become much easier new pieces of “remixed” art are becoming more and more popular. When an artist remixes a previous work with their own original work though issues arise about how is the actual author. It is a grey area. It was interesting today to hear the class’ opinions about what makes an author an author and also what makes an author “good” and “original.”
I also thought it was interesting that many students feel that remixes and even electronic music should be in their own category of music. I agree that an artist who solely remixes others peoples work should not be in the same category as a composer. However, this is not to say that both are not a certain type of artist or that one is better than the other, rather just different.
Learning about “the author” has really changed by ideas about what is art, why it is considered to be art, and who is an artist and why. Even though I came out of this presentation with more questions than I had coming into it I feel that I have learned a lot also.

An Author By Any Other Name

How has new media changed authorship?
New media is the collaboration between the author and other groups or individuals:

Collaboration between user & author
Authorship as selection from a menu
Collaboration between company and users
Collaboration between software and author
Remixing
Sampling

Collaboration Between Author and Users
Interactive media suggests that there is a common goal between the collaborators and the users. However, in new media this often doesn’t happen. Often the author does not consider what the user will think of the art. If there is no connection between author and user there can be a miscommunications. To avoid miscommunications interactive feedback on artwork is often used.

For example:
Test Audiences on new movies often make suggestions that ultimately lead to changes being made in the movie.

Blade Runner’s Ending:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fCeH-WnJYM
Changed ending to make it more theater friendly. Used extra footage from The Shining

Authorship From a Selection Menu

Authorship from a selection menu makes the user feel like a real artist by allowing them to create artwork simply by clicking a few buttons. However, is this really art if the software to create this art is already in place?

For Example:
Create your own fairy tale:
http://www.quest4camelot.com/games/writetale.html?val=HANNAH&val=BOULDER&val=MOVIE%20STAR&val=DAD&val=COMPUTER&val=KARLA&val=DOG&val=BENJI&val=FLYING&val=BOB&val=SNAKE&val=girl&

Remixing

The idea of remixing suggest a re-working of an original piece of artwork. Remixing a work of art means that the art as a whole is rearranged systematically to create something new.

For Example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzbH5fRJ0uI&ob=av2e

In Conclusion…

Poscardt: “however much quoting, sampling and stealing is done — in the end it is the old subjects that undertake their own modernization. Even an examination of technology and the conditions of productions does not rescue aesthetics from finally having to believe in the author. He just looks different.”

Discussion Questions

Can interactive artwork actually exist?
Should “art” created from a selection menu or by remixing be considered art?
Do you agree with Poscardt? Do New Media collaborations just change the face of the author or does it change the definition of the author completely?

Articles about various online websites

Stumbleupon.com:

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2007/tc20071022_486241.htm

The article talks about the goal of the new version of stumbleupon. Its goal is to work in the same way as Yahoo or Google as a search engine but also at the same time have the option of a community where you and your friends/acquaintances can create a network.

Farmville:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/fashion/29farmville.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=farmville&st=cse

This article looks at the facebook game Farmville. It speaks to the addictive nature of the game.

 Secondlife:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-20018935-247.html?

The article looks at studies done on designing treatments for addictions and the way in which cues like video games trigger those cravings.