Over the last two years my work has evolved through a variety of themes surrounding social and political issues in society. All of my work is connected through the means of new digital technology and audience interaction. This semester I have been trying to formulate a concept for the year long project for E-Media 3 and this has been a somewhat challenging experience to pinpoint an exact theme to discuss in my artwork. I have so far explored many avenues of the effects of digital technology on society and our social interactions and relationships we have with family, friends and the Internet.
I began the process of exploration through researching artists that I am currently interested in such as Stelarc, Patricia Piccinini, David Haines, Joyce Hinterding and recently Tony Ousler. All of these artists explore various issues in contemporary culture through the means of technology or explores the issues of technology themselves.
Stelarc
Stelarc is a performance artist who has visually probed and acoustically amplified his body. Ear on Arm is the work of his I am particularly interested in as he successfully grew an extra ear on his arm. Stelarc’s website describes this work as an internet organ for the body. The ear was grafted onto his arm and a Bluetooth microphone was implanted, the audience is then able to access a website and hear everything that Stelarc’s extra ear is hearing. I find it very interesting how Stelarc describes the project “what becomes important now is not merely the body's identity, but its connectivity- not its mobility or location, but its interface. In these projects and performances, a prosthesis is not seen as a sign of lack but rather as a symptom of excess”.
He continues “The body now performs beyond the boundaries of its skin and beyond the local space that it occupies. It can project its physical presence elsewhere”. What I find interesting about Stelarc’s project is the comment he makes about technology that as a society we must adapt evolve and change to keep up with technology. Everything else is improving in the world whilst the human race is being left behind.
Stelarc, Extra Ear: Ear on Arm, 2006, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne 2006 Photo by Nina Sellars Source:
To read more information on Stelarc
See Full Bio
Since my introduction
to Stelarc in second year E-media I have always seemed to be relating to him in
my work. I find the themes he explores in his work fascinating as well as the
extraordinary lengths that he goes to in his practice to explore his ideas. Particularly
his ear on arm project is what has inspired my work the most lately as he
attempted to grow a new human ear on his arm as an extension of the human body.
I have looked at his work more closely in art theory where I wrote a curatorial
essay about his work and the way he employs technology in art. My fascination
with technology I suppose comes from exploring films and video computer games.
I am interested in the possible future of humanity and this has begun various
explorations into technical development. This is why I find myself relating to
stelarc as he uses technology to showcase the potential of where it will take
us in the future. The performance nature of his work also interests me as this
provides a whole new experience for the viewer rather than extensive
documentation. Consumerism has often been a large part of my wok as well as
companies often exploit new technology with consumers by selling products in
stages. An example of this is with apple and the way they market their
products, they will create a new screen for a phone or computer put it on an
existing product and then sell it as a new item. I think Stelarc references
consumerism in the ear on arm project as it is a technological devices that
would require updating with other existing devices. Where in contrast when you
look at the human body it has never needed an upgrade we cant even use the full
power of what we have.
Patricia Piccinini
(Below is a section taken from my catalogue essay on Piccinini which looks into three of her artworks, Game Boys Advanced (Fig 1), Still Life with Stem Cells (Fig 2) and Plasticology (Fig 3).)
Patricia Piccinini’s Game Boys Advanced and Still Life with Stem Cells combat the controversial issues of genetic engineering and stem cell research. Piccinini has been heavily investigating these themes throughout her work over the last decade (Michael, 2003). Working in conjunction with specialists in the fields of animatronics, animation and sculpting, Piccinini creates hyper realistic sculptures exploring these themes (Patricia Piccinini, 2002).
Still life with Stem Cells consists of a child sitting on carpet surrounded by six lumps with hairy skin (Michael, 2003). Stem cells are the cells in the body from which all other cells are generated such as brain, bone and blood cells (Mayo Clinic, 2011). The six mutated lumps are the result of interfering with human stem cells. The child sits contently playing with the lumps, cradling one like she would a toy doll. She is smiling, perhaps she comfortable with an obvious genetic mistake. The work confronts societies attitudes towards physical disabilities and how parents can determine the genetic diagnosis on selected embryos (St James Ethics Centre, 2004). Whilst some people can afford to screen genetic mutations in embryos and discover that a child could have a debilitating disability. The question is raised would society like more control over the genetic decisions involving our children. Technology could possibly eliminate human imperfection and the different features that make us all unique (St James Ethics Centre, 2004). Still life with Stem Cells asks society will we all love the mistakes of new technologies as much’s as we all marvel in their successful outcomes (Piccinini, 2002). Piccinini states that the body has changed from something that is uniquely produced to something that is now easily reproduced by science (Piccinini, 2002). Her work confronts the audience with emotional questions about bioengineering and by giving life to her creature’s shows that everyone is capable of receiving love (St James Ethics Centre, 2004).
Similar to Still life with Stem Cells Game Boys Advanced comments on the associated problems with genetic engineering. The work depicts two adolescent boys playing videogames. However, on closer inspection it is evident something is wrong. The boys are identical, extremely aged with greying hair and have yellow repulsive fingernails (Michael, 2003). Game Boys Advanced is a response to Dolly the sheep that was genetically modified from adult stem cells in 1996 (Piccinini, 2003). Dolly was euthanized in 2003 due to complications and only lived to half her life expectancy (Animal Research Info, 2011). The work alludes that these boys could potentially suffer the same fate as Dolly. Game Boys Advanced demonstrates the possible effects of stem cell experiments and an insight into a future filled with genetic deformities for potential perfection. Similar to Still life with Stem Cells Game Boys Advanced raises the issue of how many mistakes will have to take place before scientists have the potential to cure disease.
Piccinini’s work Plasticology reflects a technological interference with nature. Plasticology comments on society and illustrates a perfect flawless world and queries what is in fact natural. Piccinini through technology has created a plastic environment to reference biotechnology (Piccinini, 1997). Biotechnology is the process when plants, animals and microorganisms are used to produce foods and medicines (Biotechnology Online, 2011). The work comprises of fifty television screens with computer-generated plants swaying in the wind. The installation is interactive with a bird flying off a tree branch when the viewer approaches. The work is its own sustainable ecology even though it is entirely computer-generated. The room is climate controlled and the expansiveness of the environment is suggested through the array of screens. Piccinini has created a parallel world that resembles our own, a world that feels close enough to almost reach out and touch (Patricia Piccinini, 2001). Plasticology demonstrates a unique interference with an environment that was non- existent without the aid of technology.
(Fig 1) Patricia Piccinini, Game boys Advanced, 2002, silicone, polyurethane, clothing, human hair. Source:
(Fig 3) Patricia Piccinini, Plasticology, 1997/2000, 57 TV monitors, motion-sensors and computer digital modeling and animation. Source:
Piccinini is another
artist that I have been following for quite some time throughout my degree, as
I am interested with her work and her explorations using technology. I find the
way she creates scenarios and experiences for her viewers through the creation
of hyper-realistic creatures fascinating. I relate to her work in various ways
as she is expresses the negative effects that technology is having on people
and animals through her work. Where in my previous works I have explored the
effects new technology has on people and consumers. Though our themes are
similar she uses sculptures to engage with her audience where as I use screen
based media.
References:
Animal Research Info 2011, Cloning Dolly the sheep, Viewed 14 October 2011, .
Biotechnology Online 2011, What is biotechnology, Viewed 14 October 2011, .
Michael, L 2003, We Are Family: Catalogue Essay, viewed 1 September 2011, <http://www.patriciapiccinini.net/wearefamily/we_are_family.pdf>
Mayo Clinic 2011, Stem Cells: What they are and what they do – MayoClinic.com, Viewed 14 October 2011, .
Patricia Piccinini 1997, Plasticology, Viewed on 12 October 2011, .
Patricia Piccinini 2001, Patricia Piccinini: Ethical Aesthetics, Viewed 14 October 2011, .
Patricia Piccinini 2002, Patricia Piccinini: Still Life With Stem Cells, viewed on 10 October 2011, .
Patricia Piccinini 2003, Patricia Piccinini: Public Lecture – Tokyo Art University, Viewed 12 October 2011, .
St James Ethics Centre 2004, hybrid life: the art of patricia piccinini, Viewed 14 October 2011, .
Tony Ousler
I was informed on the works of Tony Ousler early this semester and I have been encapsulated in his video art. He particulary said something that really stood out to me and that I really related to. In a interview he said "Video art is about of throwing the conventions of cinema out the window and finding new ways of representing ideas".
Website:
www.tonyoursler.com/
Ourlser creates
stunning video projection works and one of the first artists to project onto
surfaces other than a screen. What captivates me about his work is his ability
too engage the audience through video in new exciting ways. His work does not
explore technology directly through themes however I find his work interesting
by the way he uses technology in new ways. His latest work False Colour Actions (below) explores the nature of human
relationships and he incorporates these through composed synchronised video
projections.
Source: http://www.tonyoursler.com/individual_work_slideshow.php?navItem=work&workId=251&startDateStr=Mar.%208,%202012&subSection=Installations&allTextFlg=false&title=False-Color%20Actions
Many of his new works
like this one use a range of techniques included frozen animated sculptures
glass projection, photographic prints and painted objects. Ourlser also uses
scale to his advantage in his work and his installations use projections
ranging in scale from micro screens to filling entire spaces. Ourlser is an
artist that I see relating myself with closely throughout the semester as I
find his work to have a great balance between video filmmaking and art.
David Haines and Joyce Hinterding
(Below extract from my catalogue essay)
Haines and Hinterding’s 2008 project Earth Star explores the mythical properties of the invisible energies surrounding the sun (Kiss of Art, 2010). The images of the suns chromo-sphere were captured using a Hydrogen-Alpha telescope. The telescope enables to capture the wavelengths of hydrogen from the sun filtering out the sunlight (Sun Valley Research, 2011). Accompanying the images is a real time soundtrack of the sun, which is received using a custom built VLF antenna. The frequencies are then converted from the sounds of the electromagnetic spectrum into audible sound (Sun Valley Research, 2011). Haines and Hinterding have given the work another dimension by chemically reproducing the smell of the ozone layer, described as the smell just before a thunderstorm (Sun Valley Research, 2011). Earth Star is not only an amazing scientific achievement but also a beautiful artwork. The artists have brought something back to earth that normally wouldn’t be audible or even visually possible without the aid of technology.
David Haines & Joyce Hinterding, The Earth Star, 2009. Video projection HD, live ve sound, from Custom VLF antennae, graphite and polyethylene coated copper wire, audio filters, mixing desk and powered stereo speakers. Two Ozone fragrance accords consisting of synthetic aroma molecules including Helional (alpha-methyl- 1,3-benzodioxole-5-propanal ) and Ozonil TM in a base of ISO E Super (1-(2,3,8,8- tetramethyl-1,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydronaphthalen-2-yl)ethanone) and Hedione (methyl 3- oxo-2-pentylcyclopentaneacetate), Peltier refrigeration units, glass containers with paper smelling strips.
Source: < http://www.sunvalleyresearch.net/?p=340>
Haines and Hinterding use technology in a unique way where they bring experiences to the viewer where in real life these experiences would be merely impossible. I find their work absolutely fascinating how they use cutting edge technology and blur the boundaries between art and science.
More of their work such as the Levitation Grounds which was made in Tasmania can be found at:
http://www.sunvalleyresearch.net/?p=340
References:
Kiss of Art, Hallucination and Landscape Vol2, 2010, video recording, Australia, Distributed by Contemporary Arts Media.
Sun Valley Research 2011, The Levitation Grounds, viewed 17 August 2011, .
Concepts
1. Digital Garden
This concept was inspired by Patricia Piccinini's Plasticology the idea of this concept is to use computer screens to grow plants from seeds in a completely black room. The images on the screen have yet to be decided but it will be interesting to see if different colours effect the growth of the plants.
The basis o this concept is to comment that nature must rely on technology for a light source in order to survive.
Researching this further lead me to an interesting article:
http://beyondthecurtain.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/microwaved-water-kills-plant-in-home-grown-experiment/
This article stated that by watering a plant with boiled water for 9 days had no detrimental effects to the plant. Whereas watering the plant for 9 days with microwaved water killed the plant completely.
Concept 2.
From the first concept whilst trying to decide on what to put on the computer screens I began again heavily thinking about the effects technology has on society especially with the new forms of communication. Observing research further this began to formulate into the idea that contemporary society would struggle without the internet as a form of communication. I don't know if this was because at this stage in my research i was without the internet for a week and I was beginning to have withdrawals myself? I began visualising such situations as people having no mouths and mobile devices that were glued into their hands. Other images such as people hooked onto life support looking machines but were actually computers that were logged into facebook etc. From sitting back and looking at just my own local community it was weird to stop and realise how many people had there heads down and just staring at their mobile device whilst walking to work or school.
Concept 3.
The more i thought about concept 2 the more complicated and literal my perceptions of the piece of work began to come.
Image: Niece's iPod
I saw my nieces iPod and noticed it had been dropped and the screen was shattered and somehow it was still functioning as a useable device. To me this just showed how disposable technology was, this was my nieces third ipod in as many years. Their was something interesting about a device that has been designed to look so desirable to be smashed to smithereens and her to not really care because there will be a new one just around the corner. Seeing the ipod reminded me of my first semester E-Media 2 assignment where i made a project with QR Codes relating to consumerism and people needing to buy the latest new products. This gave me the concept to get people to destroy there unwanted gadgets and old technology as it is now deemed useless.
Researching into Artists destroying technology i came across the artist Michael Tompert, who once was the head designer for apple and recently shown an exhibition of destroyed Apple products.
The Exhibition can be found here:
www.tompert.com/12LVE/art
Source: www.boxedindesign.com/tag/destroying-apple-products
Project
This project will focus on peoples unwanted technologies as they have or are updating to the latest product. The project will involve the owner of the device to destroy the object as they wish and then the device will be documented being destroyed. The destroyed device image will be displayed as a high resolution image or projection alongside the video footage as an installation.
The first test involved a camera test of my nephew destroying his iPod with a hammer. He decided to destroy this device as he has gone through 3 iPods in the last two years. My sisters family has gone through eight in total in 4 years. So this test was to look at the capabilities of the camera and document the destruction of the iPod.
Testing
The first test involved a camera test of my nephew destroying his iPod with a hammer. He decided to destroy this device as he has gone through 3 iPods in the last two years. My sisters family has gone through eight in total in 4 years. So this test was to look at the capabilities of the camera and document the destruction of the iPod.
iPod Smash Slow Motion from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
Below is the result of two high resolution images of the iPod before it was smashed and after it was smashed the two images were then stitched together and a motion effect was applied to them to make them see less one dimensional. I thought that this piece was very successful in demonstrating the destruction of this technology and how that over time these devices break and can easily be replaced. In the Crit it was mentioned that it could be good to maybe try look at discussing the stories behind how all of these devices were destroyed it could be a different path to look down.
Each of the objects will be titled by the object that is replacing it.
(Title) Ipod 5th Generation
Destruction Technique - Hammer
Reason- ipod was dropped in water and has been replaced
iPod slowly cracking from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
The second thing that was decided to be destroyed was a book that my partner was quite attached to and i got her to burn it. She was happy to do this as she had recently bought it on her Kindle (E-Reader). So I thought a good way to destroy the book was to burn it in slow motion so the viewer would see the pages slowly turn to ash. Like the iphone being smashed I wanted to have the book positioned with a void space in the black box so i set up a green screen outside.
Green Screen Set Ups
The video outcome can be seen below. At the class Crit it was discussed that the book looked somewhat like the burning bible. It was also discussed that the two items did not seem to link visually that well as they were completely different types of technology. The projectors that were tested in the Black Box room did not seem to show the image that well as they were not bright enough so this was a good test.
(Title) E-Reader
Destruction Technique - Burning
Reason- Book is now a digital version on E-Reader
E-Reader from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
Interesting comment i found from a article about iPads:
http://dailyimprovisation.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/treating-ipads-with-respect-and-cheap.html
viewed: 22/04/2012
What is interesting here is that the price of something does have an impact in the way we think with it. If something is cheap, we don't worry about breaking it, and are prepared to take risks. If something is expensive, we treat it with respect. With iPads, "treating things with respect" is the real problem. Indeed, being told to treat anything with respect can be a problem. In the middle ages, books were to be treated with respect. Of course, they were very beautiful, but the 'respect' was also a way in which power structures were created around knowledge. Treating iPads with respect creates and reinforces similar power structures: the "rules"of using the technology, the warranty conditions of the manufacturer (I'm sorry, but you dropped it and that's not covered!). This is the generalised creation of new risks through the technology - and that is the real business model of Apple.
I would prefer to see technology not treated with respect. Only then I think can it really unlock human creativity. "Respect" for expensive, branded technology only creates the conditions for realising the visions of technology manufacturers. And we should be really worried about them!
Consumer Driven
http://daggle.com/enough-with-the-disposable-technology-368
viewed: 22/04/2012
Consumer Driven
http://daggle.com/enough-with-the-disposable-technology-368
viewed: 22/04/2012
Over the years, I’ve had a number of conversations with friends concerned
about how disposable (and wasteful) technology has become. Case in point — the
new printer I bought for less than the price of ink cartridges.
about how disposable (and wasteful) technology has become. Case in point — the
new printer I bought for less than the price of ink cartridges.
Until last week, I had three printers — a fairly modern HP all-in-one unit,
a Brother laser printer and my old HP all-in-one, a G95.
a Brother laser printer and my old HP all-in-one, a G95.
The first two we shipped, since we use them routinely, and they’ll work in
the US just fine. The G95 I figured we’d use until we moved for the odd print
job or copying we might need.
the US just fine. The G95 I figured we’d use until we moved for the odd print
job or copying we might need.
Unfortunately, I failed to check if the Mac supported it. Mac running Leopard
does not. Oh, HP will lie to you and say that Gutenprint makes it work. I bet
no one from HP has actually tried it. I know thatmany report the same issue
I had. It would send the print job out but nothing would come back.
does not. Oh, HP will lie to you and say that Gutenprint makes it work. I bet
no one from HP has actually tried it. I know thatmany report the same issue
I had. It would send the print job out but nothing would come back.
Annoying. I couldn’t believe I’d need to buy a new printer with weeks to go
here. But, I did need to print something. So, I started checking prices.
here. But, I did need to print something. So, I started checking prices.
The local Argos had an HP printer for 19 pounds — about $40. Really? So cheap?
Absolutely, and complete with two regular print cartridges, too. I snapped it up
– it’ll get donated before we go.
Absolutely, and complete with two regular print cartridges, too. I snapped it up
– it’ll get donated before we go.
It’s so cheap because it’s discontinued. Discontinued no doubt because some
other model with some incremental change has replaced it. And that model will
probably be cheaper than the print cartridges that go into it, since that’s
where the makers get their money. And it all seems so wasteful.
other model with some incremental change has replaced it. And that model will
probably be cheaper than the print cartridges that go into it, since that’s
where the makers get their money. And it all seems so wasteful.
In about a week or so, the new 3G iPhones everyone is expecting will come
out. Suddenly people will want to dump their old phones, and plenty will. There
was probably no good reason a 3G iPhone couldn’t have come out last year — so
more waste. And no doubt in six or nine months, Apple will roll out some
slightly updated iPhone designed to make all the accessories that worked with
the old ones useless. And more iCrud will become iPollution.
out. Suddenly people will want to dump their old phones, and plenty will. There
was probably no good reason a 3G iPhone couldn’t have come out last year — so
more waste. And no doubt in six or nine months, Apple will roll out some
slightly updated iPhone designed to make all the accessories that worked with
the old ones useless. And more iCrud will become iPollution.
A friend of mine said a few months ago that they "want to take better care of
my gadgets I’ve got." I loved that phrase. I especially love it after going
through an office full of outdated gadgets.
my gadgets I’ve got." I loved that phrase. I especially love it after going
through an office full of outdated gadgets.
Do I really need that new thing? Do we really need to be so consumer-driven
that perfectly good stuff just gets tossed out. Why does everything have to have
a different power supply? Why do we need so many memory card formats?
that perfectly good stuff just gets tossed out. Why does everything have to have
a different power supply? Why do we need so many memory card formats?
Sigh.
I know, it’s nothing new that hasn’t already been said and better by others.
I just feel lost having no control over it. I can refuse to buy stuff, sure –
but then a Mac upgrade or something else makes it a necessity. Still, I’m going
to try.
I just feel lost having no control over it. I can refuse to buy stuff, sure –
but then a Mac upgrade or something else makes it a necessity. Still, I’m going
to try.
Does cheap mean disposable?
http://www.thecooler.info/technology/85.html/
Viewed: 22/04/2012
Reading DVD player for £9 at ASDA in thisislondon.co.uk, this quote "A DVD player is to go on sale for just £9, demonstrating that gadgets have now become as disposable as an old shirt and cheaper than a night at the cinema." caught my attention.
Is it part of the human condition that anything that does not cost us much effort to acquire is of no value?
Just because the DVD player costs less than the media it is playing, does not mean that if it develops a fault, it should be thrown away.
In these days of "Global Warming", wars being fought for natural resources and the ever increasing human population, shouldn't we, as consumers, be more focused on the real cost of products as opposed to the price tag?
Consumerism is the action or practice of consuming. To consume is to destroy or expend by use, to spend wastefully. A consumer isone who or that which consumes. (Macquarie Dictionary 2000) Consumerism is a pattern of behaviour that helps to destroy the physical environment, our personal financial health, the common good of individuals, and human relationships and institutions. Consumerism has environmental, economic and social costs.
There is enough on earth for everybody's need, but not for everyone's greed. Mahatma Gandi.
When we engage in consumerism we are engaged in chronic purchasing of new goods and services, with little, or no, attention to whether we need them or not, or to their durability, product origin or the environmental consequences of manufacture and disposal. We don't look at the ecological footprint of the product nor do we consider it from a lifecycle analysis perspective. Consumerism fuels the destruction of the productive economy by supporting and encouraging the sale of the goods or services without examination by the purchaser of the quality, origin, environmental degradation or traditions of manufacture.
Consumerism is driven by manipulation. We are being manipulated but deny that manipulation, thinking we really need the goods and services we buy. We are probably all aware of the blatant manipulation of our children's desires by advertising and marketing companies, but we feel we are more 'mature' and are not influenced or manipulated in the same way. Consumers are puppets of the marketing industry.
Consumerism robs us of precious time. Time is exchanged for money to buy things that there usually is less and less time to enjoy. We spend our time working for 'things' and in the little time we have to relax, spend that time in front of the television where we watch mediocre filler programs inserted in between ever-more-spectacular commercials whose purpose is to create more desire for more things - that we have to work longer hours to purchase. By robbing us of time, consumerism has a deleterious effect on family life.
He who buys what he does not need steals from himself. Unknown Author.
Television does not exist to entertain us. It exists to sell to us. The job of people who program television is to capture the public's attention and hold it long enough to advertise a product.
Children were once an ignored demographic for advertisers, but today's children and teenagers have become the most marketed-to generation in history. They have spending power – their own disposable income is enormous. They have future clout as adult consumers – preprogramming their minds and attitudes pays off later. They influence their parents’ buying decisions – they use many tactics to badger or guilt-trip their parents into purchasing goods and services.
Children see one hour of commercials for every five hours of commercial television they watch. Our children are handed over to the advertising companies to be convinced they are hungry, bored, ugly and unpopular and they need to spend money to change this.
Parents are willing to succumb to their children's demands for consumer goods and services because of the trend to smaller family size, dual incomes, and postponing children until later in life meaning families have greater disposable incomes.
Branding is a concept that started in the mid 1980s. This resulted in corporations changing their focus from producing products to creating an image for brand names. By moving their manufacturing operations to countries with cheap labour and other production costs, these corporations freed up money to create their powerful marketing messages. Branding has led to some of the most wealthy and powerful multi-national corporations of all time.
Advertising companies aim to plant the seeds of brand recognition in very young children, because if successful, these seeds will grow into lifetime preferences, attitudes and purchasing decisions. It has been shown that babies as young as six months of age can form mental images of corporate logos and mascots.
Schools are no longer free from commercialism and consumerism. Many companies exploit schools funding restrictions to ensure they have a captive audience, with the apparent sponsorship of the state education authorities. Corporations will sponsor educational materials; provide contests and incentive programs with rewards from their company; sponsor school events; and supply schools with technology in exchange for high company visibility.
Dazzling dreams
http://dazzling-dreams.net/
I found this article very interesting as I am studying visual communication and many parts of the course involves marketing and selling which cause the main problems of consumerism. Branding is something that is shown to young as a young child and brands grow up with you like mcdonalds, apple and most major corporations. They target children as they ultimately will become the consumer and if they keep them as a customer they will keep them for life.
Matrix DVD in Microwave
The Dvd was decided to be destroyed as blu-ray players and discs have now surpassed the quality of dvd's which only support standard definition. I thought it was only fitting to destroy the disc by an electrically device and though a microwave was a good option. The disc was placed in the microwave and photographed at intervals of 10 seconds for up to 40 seconds and these high resolution images were then stitched together and masked to create a seamless video of the destruction of the disc. The DVD I destroyed was one of the first DVDs i owned the matrix as i now own a copy on blu-ray. When the disc was spinning in the microwave it made the most fascinating sound and yo could here the data disintegrating when the microwave was on. This destruction was very successful and one of the most dramatic looking ones on screen.
Creating the Consumer
Author And Page Information
The want to consume is nothing new. It is has been around for millennia. People need to consume resources to survive. However, consumption has evolved as people have ingeniously found ways to help make their lives simpler and/or to use their resources more efficiently. Of course, with this has come the want to control such means. Hence, the consumption patterns have evolved over time based on the influence of those who can control it. As a result, there is tremendous waste within this system, to maintain such control and such disparities. (This will be discussed in more detail later as well.)
Lavish Consumption Used To Be For The Highly Privileged
The full-blown commercialized consumption that most in the wealthy nations (and the wealthier in poor nations) partake in today is not something that has always been around. It has been largely expanded in the twentieth century. Even in the United States, England and other European nations around the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century, consumption by most was based on necessities. Saving and being frugal was the norm for most, and spending on “luxuries” was typically frowned upon and seen as wasteful. Of course, the wealthy elite of the time would spend heavily and extravagantly, as they had done for centuries.
On the one hand, religions and other belief systems that promoted limited consumption were supported by the wealthy elite to help sustain disparities and maintain control over the majority of people. (In many cases, those aspects of certain religions that were useful for the wealthy were promoted over other aspects.) For example, J.W. Smith in his book,Economic Democracy; Political Struggle of the 21st Century, describes in detail how Christianity was used in Europe in the Middle Ages for such purposes.
Yet, at the same time, other religions and belief systems that also promoted more limited, but careful consumption for all, also sprung up in partial protest at disparities and so forth, such as Jainism and Buddhism in Asia (as did Christianity and most other major religions and belief systems). So restricting consumption was a political tool for dominance in the past, while the problems of excessive or conspicuous consumption were nonetheless recognized centuries back.
Another aspect of limited consumption in the past was due to the scarcity of resources. Not in the sense that there were necessarily less resources in the past than today, but more that the ability to extract and use them made them more limited. With new technological advancements and so on, additional resources became accessible that were not available before.
Accompanying this though, was the want to dominate and control both the access to these resources and the means to produce from these. As city-states evolved and further became nation states, such domination was used to protect the lifestyle and dominance of the wealthy. While all would like to be able to afford a more comfortable living standard, in the past, there was harsh control over oppressed and poor people, so the wealthy could lavishly consume in comparison. Benefit from expansion of new trade routes, military conquest, technological developments, etc. would lead to further suppression of the ruled subjects to keep and attain more wealth and power. Those patterns also continue today, as we shall see later.
The website has other interesting articles it can be found at: http://www.globalissues.org/article/236/creating-the-consumer
Consumerism: The Dazzling Dream
We have become dazzled by the dreams created by sophisticated marketing that sells consumerism. These dreams dazzle us and hide from us our true, innate dreams for connectedness, fulfilment, family, community and spirituality.Consumerism is the action or practice of consuming. To consume is to destroy or expend by use, to spend wastefully. A consumer isone who or that which consumes. (Macquarie Dictionary 2000) Consumerism is a pattern of behaviour that helps to destroy the physical environment, our personal financial health, the common good of individuals, and human relationships and institutions. Consumerism has environmental, economic and social costs.
There is enough on earth for everybody's need, but not for everyone's greed. Mahatma Gandi.
When we engage in consumerism we are engaged in chronic purchasing of new goods and services, with little, or no, attention to whether we need them or not, or to their durability, product origin or the environmental consequences of manufacture and disposal. We don't look at the ecological footprint of the product nor do we consider it from a lifecycle analysis perspective. Consumerism fuels the destruction of the productive economy by supporting and encouraging the sale of the goods or services without examination by the purchaser of the quality, origin, environmental degradation or traditions of manufacture.
Consumerism is driven by manipulation. We are being manipulated but deny that manipulation, thinking we really need the goods and services we buy. We are probably all aware of the blatant manipulation of our children's desires by advertising and marketing companies, but we feel we are more 'mature' and are not influenced or manipulated in the same way. Consumers are puppets of the marketing industry.
Consumerism robs us of precious time. Time is exchanged for money to buy things that there usually is less and less time to enjoy. We spend our time working for 'things' and in the little time we have to relax, spend that time in front of the television where we watch mediocre filler programs inserted in between ever-more-spectacular commercials whose purpose is to create more desire for more things - that we have to work longer hours to purchase. By robbing us of time, consumerism has a deleterious effect on family life.
He who buys what he does not need steals from himself. Unknown Author.
Television does not exist to entertain us. It exists to sell to us. The job of people who program television is to capture the public's attention and hold it long enough to advertise a product.
Children were once an ignored demographic for advertisers, but today's children and teenagers have become the most marketed-to generation in history. They have spending power – their own disposable income is enormous. They have future clout as adult consumers – preprogramming their minds and attitudes pays off later. They influence their parents’ buying decisions – they use many tactics to badger or guilt-trip their parents into purchasing goods and services.
Children see one hour of commercials for every five hours of commercial television they watch. Our children are handed over to the advertising companies to be convinced they are hungry, bored, ugly and unpopular and they need to spend money to change this.
Parents are willing to succumb to their children's demands for consumer goods and services because of the trend to smaller family size, dual incomes, and postponing children until later in life meaning families have greater disposable incomes.
Branding is a concept that started in the mid 1980s. This resulted in corporations changing their focus from producing products to creating an image for brand names. By moving their manufacturing operations to countries with cheap labour and other production costs, these corporations freed up money to create their powerful marketing messages. Branding has led to some of the most wealthy and powerful multi-national corporations of all time.
Advertising companies aim to plant the seeds of brand recognition in very young children, because if successful, these seeds will grow into lifetime preferences, attitudes and purchasing decisions. It has been shown that babies as young as six months of age can form mental images of corporate logos and mascots.
Schools are no longer free from commercialism and consumerism. Many companies exploit schools funding restrictions to ensure they have a captive audience, with the apparent sponsorship of the state education authorities. Corporations will sponsor educational materials; provide contests and incentive programs with rewards from their company; sponsor school events; and supply schools with technology in exchange for high company visibility.
Dazzling dreams
http://dazzling-dreams.net/
I found this article very interesting as I am studying visual communication and many parts of the course involves marketing and selling which cause the main problems of consumerism. Branding is something that is shown to young as a young child and brands grow up with you like mcdonalds, apple and most major corporations. They target children as they ultimately will become the consumer and if they keep them as a customer they will keep them for life.
Matrix DVD in Microwave
The Dvd was decided to be destroyed as blu-ray players and discs have now surpassed the quality of dvd's which only support standard definition. I thought it was only fitting to destroy the disc by an electrically device and though a microwave was a good option. The disc was placed in the microwave and photographed at intervals of 10 seconds for up to 40 seconds and these high resolution images were then stitched together and masked to create a seamless video of the destruction of the disc. The DVD I destroyed was one of the first DVDs i owned the matrix as i now own a copy on blu-ray. When the disc was spinning in the microwave it made the most fascinating sound and yo could here the data disintegrating when the microwave was on. This destruction was very successful and one of the most dramatic looking ones on screen.
(Title) Blu-Ray
Destruction Technique - Microwave 40 seconds on high
Reason- Matrix dvd is now owned on Blu-Ray
Above: Set up of DVD microwave destruction (Green Screen).
I began thinking about the objects in this project and the relationship each person has with their object and their stories behind it. I began thinking is someone discovered these objects in the next 1000 years they would be more like ancient relics something that would be displayed in a museum of history ancient technology. This began to make me think could this be a way to display these pieces in glass cabinets like you would see in a museum.
Artist Research
Nam June Paik - Paik is considered to be one of the first video artists. Paik uses technology in his work and uses television sets in various pieces. In a exhibition know as 'Exposition of Music-Electronic Television' Paik scattered televisions everywhere and used magnets to alter and distort their images. In 1971 he made a cello out of three television sets and he got a famous cellist to play them as well.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nam_June_Paik
Paik is a relative artist to my project as he engages with technological objects as his medium to express his ideas about society. I find his sculptural mediums very interesting as he uses objects that we associate a purpose for and changes their purpose to express his ideas.
Ant Farm
Cadillac Ranch 1974
This particular artwork is very relatable to my project as it describes an eerie cirque of consumer excess. The artists Ant Farm and hippie collaborative group supposably busied themselves wrecking cars and blowing up tv sets as there critique on consumerist culture.
Reference: http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/09/ant-farm-documentary/
Media Burn 1975
In 1975 Ant Farm, dressed as astronauts, drove a space-age Cadillac full speed through a wall of flaming TV sets in the parking lot of the Cow Palace, San Francisco. Media Burn offered a critique of media and technology. Their video of the performance was also styled after news coverage of a space launch, including melodramatic pre-stunt interviews with the artists.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant_Farm_(group)
Cultural Consumer
The cultural consumer describes a person who avidly consumes art, books, music, and live cultural events within a society. With the rise of expressive technologies, cultural consumers have harnessed the Internet to fuel their own creative efforts.This new type of consumer values creativity, design and the power of personal values. These consumers will look toward companies that can “present an offering that solves a problem, does some good, and delivers aesthetically” . They also look for products that engage the senses as a way to discern truth. In other words, they believe what they can experience. Authenticity is paramount, and stories and images are powerful means for communicating messages.
Although cultural consumers may have once represented a small segment of the population, this group is rapidly expanding through access to technology and the Internet. Recent research indicates that these consumers are connected, active in their communities, and creative.Additionally, they “aspire to be viewed as thinking, expressive human beings rather than mass market targets.”
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_consumer
Consumerism
Humanity is becoming a race of consumers. The entire economy of the ‘developed’ world is geared to consumption - a process that is driven by saturation advertising. We consume more and more but we do not get any happier. This is hardly surprising as advertising is designed to keeps us dissatisfied.
Reference: http://www.afairerworld.org/_The_global_economy/consumerism.html
Effects of Consumerism
William Rees, an urban planner at the University of British Columbia, estimated that it requires four to six hectares of land to maintain the consumption level of the average person from a high-consumption country. The problem is that in 1990, worldwide there were only 1.7 hectares of ecologically productive land for each person. He concluded that the deficit is made up in core countries by drawing down the natural resources of their own countries and expropriating the resources, through trade, of peripheral countries. In other words, someone has to pay for our consumption levels. [Emphasis Added]
Our consumption of goods obviously is a function of our culture. Only by producing and selling things and services does capitalism in its present form work, and the more that is produced and the more that is purchased the more we have progress and prosperity. The single most important measure of economic growth is, after all, the gross national product (GNP), the sum total of goods and services produced by a given society in a given year. It is a measure of the success of a consumer society, obviously, to consume.
However, the production, processing, and consumption, of commodities requires the extraction and use of natural resources (wood, ore, fossil fuels, and water); it requires the creation of factories and factory complexes whose operation creates toxic byproducts, while the use of commodities themselves (e.g. automobiles) creates pollutants and waste. Yet of the three factors environmentalists often point to as responsible for environmental pollution — population, technology, and consumption — consumption seems to get the least attention. One reason, no doubt, is that it may be the most difficult to change; our consumption patterns are so much a part of our lives that to change them would require a massive cultural overhaul, not to mention severe economic dislocation. A drop in demand for products, as economists note, brings on economic recession or even depression, along with massive unemployment.
— Richard Robbins, Global Problem and the Culture of Capitalism, (Allyn and Bacon, 1999), pp. 209-210
Reference: http://www.globalissues.org/article/238/effects-of-consumerism
Laptop Destruction
My sister has three children and in their home they have 5 computers and one extra computer that has been discarded as it no longer has any battery life. Since the computer was no longer seen as the latest technology it was recently updated laving no other use for the device. The new laptop purchased was a new net book which was half the size and cost as the previous model. The concept behind this destruction was to cut the laptop in half and create a animation where the laptop would fall in half off the screen then come back and on the screen and join together. This would represent the change of technology showing that computers are just ultimately the same device but just becoming smaller and faster.
My initial concept was to have a cut line gradually move through the laptop and then separate the computer and it would fall off the screen. Unfortunately this did not work as well as planned as by cutting the laptop gradually and photographing the laptop in another location became difficult as the laptop kept moving from its original position and became a jump cut in the animation.
I also photographed the laptop in different positions to see if i could use them in the final edit.
Below is a video of the laptop.
(Title) Netbook
Destruction Technique - Angle Grinder
Reason- Battery no longer worked and laptop was replaced by smaller net book
Untitled from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
From class discussion that by having the windows logo the work seemed to be a bit more focused on the software rather than the hardware. I took this feedback and board and removed the logo and tried another video which looked much better. It was also noted that the works should involve some sort of sound as them seem static at the moment so I used the recorded track of the grinder cutting the laptop and slowed it down to 10% of its original speed.
Below new video with no logo and sound.
Untitled from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
I was given a printer by Jessica Norton from art school as she her family had upgraded from this printer a while back and it was just gathering dust under her house. I began playing with the thought of why her family had upgraded the printer was it too slow was the colour not great etc. I did some research into the printer and found that i could only print 12 pages of black and white ink a minute which is pretty sub standard to printers that are available now for under $50. This idea got me thinking about maybe experimenting with the idea of manipulating an image of the printer to show it working the same speed as a new printer would her family have kept the printer if it could do this?
To manipulate the image in after effects firstly I had to take some high res photographs of it and I layered white A4 paper under it to make it easier to colour key.
This image was then imported into after effects and i began playing with a pendulum motion of the printer trying to simulate the passing of time and each full swing represented the speed a new printer of the same brand would print an A4 black and white page. This was the replicated over the course of a minute to show how many more pages a new printer could print making it obsolete.
The video is available here.
(Title) Epson MC215
Destruction Technique - None
Reason- Printer was replaced by new model as pages printed too slow
Untitled from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
The class feedback for this destruction was quite positive and people believed that it was a successful way to show how this printer was now outdated. However I do not know if this destruction fits well within the rest of the destructions as it is really not being destroyed.
The next destruction took me to a household phone and I found that this was an interesting item as the person who gave it to me stated that they do not use their home phone anymore they just use the phone line for the internet and their mobile for all phone calls. I found this quite intriguing and thought a good way to show this would be to melt the receiver part of the phone and just leave the keypad. This would symbolise that voice communication has been taken over through other ways of communication such as texting and social media.
To film this destruction I decided not to use the green screen because I found with the book that flames extremely were hard to colour key like I found out with the book. So what i did was set up a similar set up outside and use two sheets of white A0 sized paper to create the film set so there was no color keying needed. The phone was set alight using a blow torch held closely to the phone out of frame and the urned off once the phone started to melt. In production the film went for 1:08 seconds and it was slowed down to 1% of the initial footage as it was showing the amount of time it has taken for people to start disregarding voice communication. The sound was created from the guide track of the video and is in sync with the original footage. I really like how effective the sound of the blow torch is and this creates a sense of immense aggression towards the change in technology and how this form of communication is changing so quickly.
Below is the video of the blow torch:
(Title) Texting
Destruction Technique - Blow Torch
Reason- Home phone is no longer used because they now use mobile phone, only have the phone line still because of the internet
Untitled from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
The next destruction I attempted was to destroy the printer I found a beset block in the shed and thought that it could be an interesting way to destroy the printer by dropping it from a large height. I created another set using A0 paper again outside and placed the printer in a safe position. A ladder was used to gain the height as the was the safest option available. The camera was set up in front of the printer in video recording mode as my intention was to just slow down the footage to 1% in the footage. The block was then dropped several times on the printer until it was significantly damaged. The soundtrack for the piece is the guide track of the video footage and this was slowed down in sync with the footage.
Below is the final video.
(Title) Epson MC215
Destruction Technique - Besser block dropped from top of ladder
Reason- Printer was replaced by new model as pages printed too slow
Untitled from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
The last destruction i completed was using an old VCR that was laying under someones house as now they have no use for it because of DVD's. For this destruction i wanted to create an absolute obliteration of the technology because it is so outdated i wanted to symbolise that it is never coming back. I decided that it would be a good option to use a heavy implement to destroy the object in a few hits so i used a axe. The same style set was used to perform the destruction with two A0 sheets as the background and i placed a plywood board underneath the VCR so i did not damage the pavers. When i was hitting the object i did not notice that i was in fact hitting to a rhythm and when this was slowed down in post production I found this quite a nice effect. I believe by having a rhythm in the edit it created a sense of un ease for the viewer as the video felt like it was going to fade out and then it kept on going which i think is a nice addition. The sound track of the video is the guide track to the video footage.
Below is the final video.
(Title) DVD Player
Destruction Technique - Pick Axe
Reason- This device is now two generations old surpassed by DVD player and now Blu-Ray player
Untitled from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
With all of the final videos having sound i thought it would be good to revisit the other clips and create a track to accompany the vision. For the DVD a simply re-recorded the sound of a DVD in a microwave as the sound is very interesting. I found this sound amazing as it was slowed down as you can hearing the data of the disc disintegrating as it is spinning in the microwave. This was then synced with the footage to complete the video.
Blu - Ray final video.
Untitled from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
For the book soundtrack i thought it was appropriate since the book was set of fire by matches that the sound of match being struck and burning was a suitable sound to have with the vision. When listening closely to the sound you can hear the flames burning.
Below the final video of E-Reader.
Untitled from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
For the ipod soundtrack I had not previously recorded sound with the vision so i had to emulate the sound of the screen breaking. I covered a beer bottle with a blanket and then smashed it with a piece of wood and then when the sound was slowed down to match the footage it worked perfectly. I tried the same effect i used with the VCR and hit the bottle at equal times apart to give the soundtrack a sense of rhythm.
Below is the final video of the ipod 5th Generation.
Untitled from Robert Harrison on Vimeo.
Installation
For the installation of the project I have discussed with the class to project on the front windows of the art school. I think that this is a very appropriate place to display this work as I want passers by to be able to stop and look at the videos similar to the would a shop front advertising. I think that it is also a great place to install the work because universities are generally the location where new technology is often created making the previous technology redundant.
Initially what i wanted to do was use six of the windows and display all of the video simultaneously however it was noted in class discussion that it would probably look better to have the six videos running on three windows as videos would overlap and interact with each other. So now what I am going to do is test various ways to project onto glass. I was first thinking that I could stick paper on the windows and project onto that but it was stated that I should look into chalk paint and projecting on to that.
Projection Research
3M supply projection film though it is very expensive like the other retailers it starts at around
1500 USD for a 84" diag. 16 x 9 holodark
The surfaces look great though exactly the look I am after
This site suggested if you want a quick fix, then thin tracing paper from an art shop.
Spray the window (fine mist) with water and a few drops of washing up liquid,then apply the tracing paper. Slide into postion, then dry with a hairdryer. This will help capture the light rather than losing it through the glass. This is a quick fix though.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/projector-screens/1120387-projection-glass.html
I will definitely try this out.
Theres some vinyl that you can stick onto glass etc that sign writers use to give a sandblasted effect, and is used to fog bathroom windows. Have a look for that, I've used some but didnt buy it, but it works very well.
Could just lightly sand the perspex, to give the photons something to grab onto. or how about spraying one side with two coats of hairspray?
THE good solution : screen goo RP
from Rosebrand
http://www.rosebrand.com/A_Com/showdetl.cfm?&DID=6&Product_ID=4306&CATID=12&ObjectGroup_ID=321
manufacturer website
http://www.goosystems.com/
http://vjforums.com/archive/index.php/t-19757.html
http://sethsandler.com/projects/projection-screen-tests/
http://www.bigscreenforums.com/forum_topic.cfm?which=12356
You might be able to but there are obstacles to overcome.
1. Rear projection glass (or acrylic) has special coatings on both sides. The projection side has a coating for the image to project on, the viewing side has a non-glare coating for easier viewing. You can all about these on Da-Lite's website. They manufacture rear projection glass.
2. I question the actual viewability during daylight hours. I don't believe it will be effective except at night.
3. The rear, or projection area must be completely enclosed so as to eliminate any stray light from washing out the image on the projector side.
4. Physical limitions...even a really short throw lens with a 1 to 1 ratio is going to need a distance equal to the diagonal measurement of the screen plus the length of the projector.
The projectors you were given have a lens ratio of 1.3 to 1, which means that for a 6' diagonal image, the projector would need a space of about 12'. You could use a first surface mirror to bounce your image, and reduce the distance, but that complicates things.
It would be far easier and more effective to hang a large flat panel in the window. It would be viewable regardless of lighting conditions and take up far less space behind the window.
Video tests on acetate and glossy paper
After looking at this video i will try using some glossy paper as I think this may work well as the projector will be a few metres away from the windows.
Goo Central.net has spray paint that can be applied to glass that will give you 70% image and 30% opaque though this is very expensive at around $300 USD just for base coat.
http://www.goocentral.net/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=8&Itemid=11
Video of screen goo being applied
I think after look at all of these options the best thing will be to try glossy paper, tracing paper and acetate.
Installation testing.
I began testing the projection for installation and unfortunately I found that the space did not have enough room to project large enough with the projector I had. The idea I came up with around this was to use three projects and turn the vertical so they would fill the entire space.
To do this though i had to change all of the videos so they would flip with the projector. Also I had to come up with an idea to get all of the media to play on the projectors. The solution for this was to use three DVD players on a loop for each projector and have these play simultaneously. I found from testing that tracing paper was the best material to project onto and so I bought a 4m x 1m roll. This was the cut into three lengths and attached to the glass with masking tape.
Below is just a few sample images of the technology advertising that we are subject to on the facades of buildings daily.
Times square New York is a prime example of the consumerist culture that the developed world are subjected to. These advertisements are put in prime positions on buildings almost like an authority figure stating that you must have these objects in order to be happy. Everything that you already have is outdated and if you want an easier life buy our new product. The installation was chosen to be projected onto the windows of the art school because i wanted to replicate the methods that these large corporations undertake to gain the attention of the public. I wanted to replicate the clean minimal backgrounds of expensive products like apple and show that there products had already been outdated. The paradoxical view of this though was that being projected onto the windows of the art school the project had a link to a place where new technology was often created.
The image below is a shot of the set up of the installation, the installation works by three computers sending a video signal to each projector. The audio is set out of each computer to a mixing desk and then outputted to two speakers.
To get the projectors to stay still and project onto the windows without creating hotspots i created individual projection boxes and these worked really well
The speakers we placed on the window ledge of the building so the sound could project to the street.
