Christina Walker

VSAR 405-01
Dr. Hutton
The Influence of Digital Technology
The advancement of digital technology has had a profound
influence on art and media. It has expanded the capabilities of artists
and users alike. The advantages allow consumers to transcend the
limits of time as well as the constraints of geographic distance. Along
with the advantageous developments, they inevitably create
unintended consequences. Extensive use of these technologies has
instilled and even elevated our constant desire for company, which has
in turn prevented the individual from self-reflecting in a state of
solitude. These opposing consequences call into question the merits of
expanding the use of digital technology.
Prior to the expansion of the Web, people were limited to
communication within the confines of their immediate proximity. Artists
utilized specific locations to showcase their work to an audience. Since
then, the Web has improved and has allowed artists to showcase their
work online, thus eliminating the boundary of physical space. This, in
turn, has expanded the breadth of an artists influence across a virtual
space. Along with the advantages to an artist, the Web has proved to
expand the abilities of its users. Now more than ever, users are
creating their own pieces of work through the use of various online

platforms. These platforms, however, collect, sort, and store data from
its users. All of this data, collectively, becomes convoluted in the
virtual space we call the Web. Examples of these platforms include
Tumblr, Facebook, and YouTube. Even though this data may seem
insignificant, many artists have seized the opportunity to shape this
data into something that evaluates a culture.
Aaron Koblin is an artist that explores this idea of recycling data.
Some of his work includes crowdsourcing, which requires user
participation as described by Tim OReilly and John Battelle in The
Digital Divide. Specifically, his piece called The Johnny Cash Project
asks participants to create their own rendition of an image presented
on the site. This image is then stored in a database that could be
viewed by users. The most interesting aspect of this project is the
product, which is essentially individuals working together to create one
main piece. Each component that makes up the project holds value to
an individual, but the collaborative effort is more meaningful. It
examines the nature of a technologically inclined culture. This culture
includes both digital immigrants and digital natives, uniting them
together through one project.
Another piece by Koblin that utilizes data collection is called,
Flight Patterns. This artwork is categorized as code art. His piece
collects data about aviation flight patterns and transforms it into one
image. The product of this piece is an aesthetically pleasing,

interactive image that clearly outlines the constant movement of

people around the globe. It adds value to this otherwise meaningless
data by dividing it into colors, densities, and patterns. One could then
examine the common travel patterns of a certain country and the
frequency of these travels. Therefore, this project provides insight to
other societies and culture.
Though digital technology has expanded communication abilities,
this global phenomenon is under intense scrutiny. The unintended
consequences of technologies such as cell phones, computers, and
especially the Web are critiqued. Some of these consequences include
privacy concerns, severe dependence on technology, and alteration of
the human condition.
Several artists have criticized corporations and cultures of mass
consumption. They utilize digital technologies as well as mainstream
media to spread a message. One producer of this anti-consumerist
movement is The Adbusters Media Foundation. Such work is called
tactical media and is often created to scrutinize corporate control
over society. See Figure 1. Privacy is one of the fundamental human
rights relinquished to corporations in exchange for entertainment.
There are several companies that require an individual to willingly
allow metadata collection in order to participate. Facebook, Google,
various Apple applications, etc. are examples of companies that collect
vast amounts data from users. This is a reasonable cause for concern,

yet a great number of media users are unaware of the gravity of the
issue. Lev Manovich pointed out that these companies share a direct
interest in the extensive use of their platforms. This is due to the fact
that users inadvertently expose a

Figure 1

great deal of their personal information,

which

is used for marketing purposes by

corporations. The continuation of this

trend will

inevitably result in privacy as a product

sold by corporations.
Mobile technologies like cellphones, tablets, and laptops are
found all over the world, acting as unifying mediums. Manovich stated,
It is only a matter of time before constant broadcasting of ones life
becomes as common as email. Societies increasing usage of social
media is causing a severe dependence on the technologies
themselves. Todd Gitlin expands on this idea often referred to as
nomadicity. He explains that mobile technologies have become
increasingly intrusive. Instead of being comfortable in solitude, we are
trapped in state of constant isolation. Mass media has become a social
media, requiring constant attention and updates about ones everyday
life. These inputs and updates are not important in content, but are
tokens or initiations for communication. With all these ideas,
conversations, images, videos, etc. streaming on the Web, everything
becomes convoluted. Ones voice fades into the noise of the data.

Christopher Bakers work called, Hello World! Or: How I Learned to

Stop Listening and Love the Noise examines this issue about wanting
to feel connected. His piece is an example of digital archivalism. It is
comprised of thousands of videos taken from YouTube, played at one
time, and composited into one screen. Each one of the thousands of
boxes on the screen represents the voice that is longing to be heard. If
one takes a moment to pause and listen they can hear an individual
voice, yet this is not how everyday society absorbs this kind of content.
The dynamics of social media do not allow reflection.
Societys dependence on technology transforms an individual
into a cyborg. The computer, after all, is an extension of our physical
being. We are able to communicate with people from all over the world
using identities we create online. Avatars are utilized to represent our
being, however, they can represent an individual in any way they
choose. This could be completely fictional or non-fictional. Although
many may argue that this is a positive phenomenon that allows
individuals to explore other identities, it also has unintended
consequences. With extensive use of avatars and online identities,
people are missing opportunities to communicate and explore in the
real world. Sherry Turkle presented this issue on a TED talk, which she
calls Alone Together. She argues that people are sacrificing
relationships for online relationships. It is now common practice to
check emails, text message a friend, or snapshot your dinner instead

of engaging in conversation with the person right in front of you. Only

time will tell whether these effects will result in a decreased capacity
for empathy and defective interpersonal skills.
There are many positive attributes connected to the
advancement of digital technology. Artists and users have explored
these mediums and have created meaningful pieces. Such pieces
examine the collaboration that the Web requires between participants.
Other artists use extensive data from the Web and present it in a way
that could connect to individuals. Media has also become an outlet for
self-expression and communication amongst members of societies that
are bound by a geographic distance. These outlets, however, have had
numerous consequences. People that use the Web as a way to present
themselves to society are in turn sacrificing their privacy. Aside from
privacy concern, there are several ways in which digital technology has
transformed our communication preferences. Instead of holding a faceto-face conversation, many would rather text their ideas. Using
technology as an extension of our being is an effective and useful
advancement. We, the cyborgs, still retain control of these
technologies. Therefore, it is important to critique our culture. Artists
and users are exploring the positive and negative aspects of a digital
revolution by evaluating trends, data, consumerism, etc. In doing so,
they effectively weigh the attributes of digital technology.

Citations

1. Hutton,Lisa."VSAR405."Web.06May2015.http://artisnice.net/
2. Bauerlein,Mark.TheDigitalDivide:Argumentsforandagainst
Facebook,Google,Texting,andtheAgeofSocialNetworking.New
York:JeremyP.Tarcher/Penguin,2011.Print.

3. Hutton,Lisa."TheVirtualBody."Artisnice.net.Web.
http://lisahutton.net/reading/THEVIRTUALBODY.pdf
4. Manovich,Lev."ThePracticeofEveryday(Media)Life."(2008):n.
pag.Web.06May2015.
http://lisahutton.net/reading/manovich_social_media.pdf
5. Hutton,Lisa.CultureJamming.Web.06May2015.
http://www.artisnice.net/week91.html
6. Hutton,Lisa.TheFutureandCyborgs.Web.06May2015.
http://www.artisnice.net/week121.html
7. Hutton,Lisa.TrendsinHumanComputerInteractionandthePost
Human Experience. Web. 06 May 2015. http://www.artisnice.net/week13-1.html