Creativity, Influence, Ownership and Art in the Digital Age

Digital Media is important to study and understand because “it changes everything.”  Digital media for my parents’ generation was primarily focused on analog vs digital.  For my generation it’s more about using electronic devices and other technology to transform the world of art and frankly, to transform the world itself.  It’s about taking advantage of the “new media revolution” that we find ourselves in the middle of.  Manovich described this revolution as “the shift of all culture to computer-mediated forms of production, distribution, and communication.”  I’m a young leader in this revolution.  As an artist, the computer and electronic devices play a significant role in how I make music.  I use digital media to do what “I” want to do.  It makes me more creative and seems to give me a sense of ownership for my product.  Being a hands on person, I am more attached to the things that I touch and create.  For example, making music on my iPhone or recording and mixing a CD on my Mac gives me an incredible sense of influence and ownership.  The great thing is that no matter how advanced the device or technology, I still know that “I” am in control…not the device.  The device is not the art, it is simply a method.  I agree with Jonathan Lethem when he said, “digital sampling is an art method like any other, neutral in itself.”   I believe that creativity and ownership are the keys to an artist’s success.  And while, I don’t like the fact that The Universal Music Group came after the mother of an 18 month old, I understand that Prince is a creative artist that owns his unique sound.  I wouldn’t want anyone posting a You Tube video with my music playing in the background, without my permission.  As Lawrence Lessig reminds us we must always be mindful of the copyright rules and wars that have become more prevalent in this new media age.  When thinking of creativity and digital media and the proper use of You Tube, “Girls Talk” comes to mind.  It is a great example of taking something common, a stage, and using it in a creative way to captivate the crowd.  The stage set up was incredible with a two-story, five room house built on stage.  But it wasn’t just the set up…it was the use of new digital media coupled with creativity that transformed the venue.  For example, using a LCD curtain to surround the house and lighting up the kitchen floor to be a disco dance floor was a stroke of simple genius.  There was nothing new about a stage, a house or the music.  I agree with Steven Dixon when he talked about the computer being an agent to remediate old and established artistic forms.  While the tools maybe new and “21^st century”, the art is not.  Digital media both enhances the old and electrifies the new.  It can help the artist to powerfully present his creativity, influence and ownership.

Art and Artists in the Digital Age

Art and Artists in the Digital Age

The creativity that has resulted from technology and the use of electronic devices is exciting!  I was filled with excitement when I saw the video of Atomic Tom LIVE perform on the NYC subway.  Picture this – an old subway, typical rider and riders and all of a sudden a new song breaks out but there are no instruments.  At least there are no traditional instruments in sight.  If you are far sighted you may have not even noticed the iPhones that actually served as the microphone, guitar, keyboard and ultimately the editor for the song.  Or, how about using stick like figures and digital technology to deliver a powerful message about toxins and cosmetics via a seven minute film?  I love these examples of people taking advantage of the digital age in which we live, especially when they are conveying positive social messages or educating the public.  The comic book “Bound by Law” is a great example of creative education.  What a great way to educate the public about law, art, property and their role in the digital age.   As artist we need to understand all of this since we find ourselves performing and producing in a remix culture and a global culture.  Did you know that you are “stealing” work and violating copyright laws when you download an episode of Saturday Night Live on You Tube?  The economy of entire countries are being threatened by people breaking the rules, rules such as piracy.  Piracy has all but killed the film industry in Hong Kong.  Imagine the impact on their film artists.  They are being negatively impacted by the digital age.  Yet, when you consider the story of Issa, you see a woman who is determined to thrive in this digital age.  I’m of the Issa type.  I am making this digital age work for me as a  young artist.  Issa allows downloading of her music for free.  She has become a model of “reinventing the way musicians sustain themselves in the Internet era.”  I will do such creative and smart things when I produce my first CD.  I will be like Progos when he said in reference to his dispute with Disney, “if I have to pay to watch it entertain millions of people, then so be it.”  Now, there are legal and fair-use creative remixes that have captured our attention.  For example, the video “Donald Duck Meets Glenn Beck in Right Wing Radio Duck” has been allowed by Disney.  Apparently they don’t view it as harmful.  As artist we need to know what is considered harmful and lawbreaking vs what is permissible under the law.  Remixing, for example, is a product of the digital age and is popular.  However, it can also be viewed in many cases as violating copyright, intellectual property and fair use laws.  There are pros and cons, benefits and pitfalls, good and bad in this digital age.  As an artist, I am focused on the benefits and becoming educated as to not make a big, costly mistake. 

“Is Digital Media Bad For Us?”

“Is Digital Media Bad For Us?”

While there are many things to worry about as an artist in the digital age, let me begin by making it clear that I believe digital media is good for us.  I admit that there are some things we need to be mindful of and gain a better understanding of some things in order to be respectful and successful in this age of openness and diminished regard for secrecy and privacy.  The social-political worries concerning control of information and the consequences of leaks are real.  People’s reputations can be negatively impacted when their words leak out of context.  Politicians and high profile figures are particularly vulnerable in this regard.  However, on the positive side people have used the Internet and other social media tools to mobilize positive efforts of demanding democracy (e.g. demonstrations in Egypt).  Organizations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation have been established to make sure that we are able to use digital media such as the Internet for free speech, innovation, and digital rights overall.  Democracy Now also champions the same causes via their independent news program.  They are a source of diverse news and information that is needed to address some of our social-political worries.  Then there are the social-interpersonal worries that have been largely proven to be unfounded.  In the early 2000s people were all concerned about creating a generation of isolationists and youth with less than desirable social skills.  WRONG!  Many national studies have proven the contrary.  In fact, the Internet has had a positive effect on relationships and the ability to communicate face to face.  The Parks and Floyd 1995 study showed that on-line relationships were similar to those created face to face.  Another positive aspect has been highlighted by Mizuko Ito – young people are using new media to enhance learning opportunities.  I have used it for that very purpose and for improving my technological knowledge and skills.  I am a part of the Pokemon generation who uses digital media for social engagement and communication.  Most in our generation are not addicted to the Internet or video games and have not yielded  to the psychological-emotional or psychological-cognitive worries.  We can think and analyze even better because of our digital resources.  According to John Grohol’s Internet Addiction Guide, there is no conclusive evidence around Internet addiction.  Yes, people have used search engines, such as Google to do some quick thinking for them, but I agree with Nicholas Carr, Google is NOT making us stupid.  It is enabling us to conduct research quicker and to some degree Google and other search engines have reprogrammed how we process information.  That is not necessarily a bad thing.  I can relate, as a scuba diver and jet skier to Carr’s words, “Once I was a scuba diver in a sea of words…Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a ski jet”.  In this fast moving 21^st century world, that is okay.  While some continue to focus on what digital technology is doing to our minds, there really needs to be more focus on what digital technology is doing to our bodies, especially in light of the childhood obesity problems that are prevalent these days.  Our bodies need physical activity, which one does not get by sitting in front of a computer for hours.  We do get this kind of activity on assembly lines (e.g. the Charlie Chaplain clip on Industrialization).  We also need to be concerned about the dangers of multi-taking (e.g. texting while driving).  Our brains can only do so much.  Ergonomics is also an issue as a study shows that most workplace injuries are caused by the computer keyboard.  Finally, I plan on living a long healthy life with my keyboards – computer and piano.  Technology nourishes me, as discussed by Matt Richtel.  I love technology and I take advantage of all digital resources and devices.  I like this blogging stuff.  There’s a blog born every half second and this is my contribution.  As Wesch points out, I am the machine and the machine is using us in a good way, in my opinion. I don’t know what it all means but I like it!