Technology and Society

From an invention as a result of scientific and technical research, to a medium of entertainment and news, television has come a long way. After reading a article by Raymond Williams titled "The Technology and the Society", published in the book "The New Media Reader", I obtained so much more information on technology and how it relates to society. Williams wrote that television was no single event or series of events when it was invented, but instead, it depended on a complex of inventions and developments in electricity, telegraphy, photography & motion picture, and radio. Many people can make the argument that television influences our society. Television shows people how to feel, how to kiss, the different joys and hells that come with life. So in this aspect, technology is influencing society everyday, showing us how to react to different situations from a television set. This goes beyond television, though Williams article is perfect justification for my argument. What do you think?

There were several videos I viewed that related to technology and the society. Stan Brackhage created short clips of abstract objects by placing these things on a reel of film. I found it to be clever and interesting to see what his perception of art can be using film. Last week I wrote about how dreadful and god awful the film "Decasia" was. Ironically enough, Brackhage's films were much more enjoyable and they come from the same style. Perhaps it was the length of the films and the fact that they were silent. The silence gave his work much more of an opportunity for his viewers to create their own interpretation. If music was added, it would have been too much for one to absorb. Here is a video of "The Garden of Earthly Delights".

Although I can appreciate the belief that everyone is an artist and art can be created just by different things in your environment, William Wegman's work did not stand out as art, in my opinion. Sure, his videos were hilarious and original, but is that really all it takes to be an artist today? And if that is true, is it all it takes to be considered a damn good artist? I feel like there is a difference. What do you think? On a different note, I enjoy his photography. Here are a few photos.