The medium as a message is a basic extension of the artistic process: a series of observations and reciprocation. Often, artists and observers alike will expense vast amounts of energy in ensuring that the content of their message is delivered as originally imagined. But this transference of exact content is in itself an illusion: an art piece is relative, wholly dependent on the characteristics of the observer. Often, these messages are not in themselves revolutionary, but the magic of the artist is to capture and transfer this message in a new way, to explain in innovative terms how the message has come and stranded itself into our humanity. As such, the artistic process is the observation and regurgitation of a set of canonical truths in different forms; the message in itself is not irrelevant but rather weak compared to the innovation created in delivering and implying that message.
Is the medium the artist or the canvas. I know it may seem like a stupid question to ask because the answer is spelled out in the link, but really think about it: is the canvas really what creates the message? Or are we as artists the ones convey the ideas of the message?
Yes, I was trying to be artistic and thought provoking haha. Of course, both are necessary, just as light and dark are necessary for the development of darkroom photography. The dark to work in, and the light to produce. It's amazing how much yin and yang stuff shows up in real life.
I think this statement of "the medium is the message" correctly captures what often occurs- an battle over what interpretation of the artwork is "right"- the physical artwork, the artist's meaning or the viewers' interpretations. Which is the right message? The answer doesn't lie within one party, it lies within all... there really is no "right" or "wrong" interpretation of the artwork because either way it is encouraging new thought within all parties.
The quote "the medium is the message" is very well integrated into our class. It basically can point to how looking at the big picture is just as important if not more important than focusing too heavily on each little detail. In our class, the cameras that we use to take pictures are not the ones most people use these days. But that's what makes our photos so unique and special. When you look at a photo one of us has taken with a film camera, you can instantly tell it wasn't just taken on an iPhone. The mediums we use convey a message all their own.
I appreciated your comment regarding our images and i-phone images, that was a great comparison. In regards to the article its self, I would disagree with the idea that the medium is more important than the content. I find that they are equally important, but the medium through which a message is conveyed can greatly change or even distort the content. A light bulb in a room with no electricity does not create a space, it is simply a light bulb in a dark room that offers no further facilitation of an environment than does the darkness in which it exists. It is not until the potential of the light bulb to emit light is engaged in the space and the medium (electricity), is provided to the content (the light bulb), that a message is conveyed.
we are learning to see through using the camera. images from one of these cameras 'look' different because of the optics of the camera. iPhone pics are expedient, cost-less (past the device), and crazy fast. you can carry the phone in your pocket, have it with you always, ready for anything. the problem is that the image itself can only be as good as the device, and we have become accustomed to accepting iPhone quality images as representations of our realities. the hasselblads are specific machines for the recording of images (not texting) and the maching is designed to provide the best image possible for the format, still be reasonably affordable (to middle class consumers) and the image it provides challenges us to think about exactly HOW we perceive reality. How does our eye work compared to the way the lens works? the reality is the same, but it looks different. why?
I like what you were saying about using the cameras that we do even though they aren't the newest or most advanced cameras available. To me this means that we aren't striving for perfection. If we wanted to capture a perfect image of a scene then there are better cameras that we could use. I think that the choice to use film and the cameras we are using is a large part of the message we are trying to communicate. They also give the shots "character" through some of the imperfections from the printing process. This is what also ensures that no two prints, even if they are made from the same negative, will be exactly the same.
This is one of the first concepts I was taught in college art classes. Being intentional about creating artwork involves being familiar with dialogues that your piece may provoke and choosing a medium to convey an idea can be a careful process. Since medium plays such a large part in how a message can be conveyed or received, you have to be aware how different media function within the confines of your concept.
The medium as a message is a basic extension of the artistic process: a series of observations and reciprocation. Often, artists and observers alike will expense vast amounts of energy in ensuring that the content of their message is delivered as originally imagined. But this transference of exact content is in itself an illusion: an art piece is relative, wholly dependent on the characteristics of the observer. Often, these messages are not in themselves revolutionary, but the magic of the artist is to capture and transfer this message in a new way, to explain in innovative terms how the message has come and stranded itself into our humanity. As such, the artistic process is the observation and regurgitation of a set of canonical truths in different forms; the message in itself is not irrelevant but rather weak compared to the innovation created in delivering and implying that message.
ReplyDeleteIs the medium the artist or the canvas. I know it may seem like a stupid question to ask because the answer is spelled out in the link, but really think about it: is the canvas really what creates the message? Or are we as artists the ones convey the ideas of the message?
Deleteboth. think about it.
DeleteYes, I was trying to be artistic and thought provoking haha. Of course, both are necessary, just as light and dark are necessary for the development of darkroom photography. The dark to work in, and the light to produce. It's amazing how much yin and yang stuff shows up in real life.
DeleteI think this statement of "the medium is the message" correctly captures what often occurs- an battle over what interpretation of the artwork is "right"- the physical artwork, the artist's meaning or the viewers' interpretations. Which is the right message? The answer doesn't lie within one party, it lies within all... there really is no "right" or "wrong" interpretation of the artwork because either way it is encouraging new thought within all parties.
DeleteThe quote "the medium is the message" is very well integrated into our class. It basically can point to how looking at the big picture is just as important if not more important than focusing too heavily on each little detail. In our class, the cameras that we use to take pictures are not the ones most people use these days. But that's what makes our photos so unique and special. When you look at a photo one of us has taken with a film camera, you can instantly tell it wasn't just taken on an iPhone. The mediums we use convey a message all their own.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your comment regarding our images and i-phone images, that was a great comparison. In regards to the article its self, I would disagree with the idea that the medium is more important than the content. I find that they are equally important, but the medium through which a message is conveyed can greatly change or even distort the content. A light bulb in a room with no electricity does not create a space, it is simply a light bulb in a dark room that offers no further facilitation of an environment than does the darkness in which it exists. It is not until the potential of the light bulb to emit light is engaged in the space and the medium (electricity), is provided to the content (the light bulb), that a message is conveyed.
Deletewe are learning to see through using the camera. images from one of these cameras 'look' different because of the optics of the camera. iPhone pics are expedient, cost-less (past the device), and crazy fast. you can carry the phone in your pocket, have it with you always, ready for anything. the problem is that the image itself can only be as good as the device, and we have become accustomed to accepting iPhone quality images as representations of our realities. the hasselblads are specific machines for the recording of images (not texting) and the maching is designed to provide the best image possible for the format, still be reasonably affordable (to middle class consumers) and the image it provides challenges us to think about exactly HOW we perceive reality. How does our eye work compared to the way the lens works? the reality is the same, but it looks different. why?
DeleteI like what you were saying about using the cameras that we do even though they aren't the newest or most advanced cameras available. To me this means that we aren't striving for perfection. If we wanted to capture a perfect image of a scene then there are better cameras that we could use. I think that the choice to use film and the cameras we are using is a large part of the message we are trying to communicate. They also give the shots "character" through some of the imperfections from the printing process. This is what also ensures that no two prints, even if they are made from the same negative, will be exactly the same.
Deletenothing is perfect. everything is perfect.
DeleteThis is one of the first concepts I was taught in college art classes. Being intentional about creating artwork involves being familiar with dialogues that your piece may provoke and choosing a medium to convey an idea can be a careful process. Since medium plays such a large part in how a message can be conveyed or received, you have to be aware how different media function within the confines of your concept.
ReplyDelete