The Sound Of Silence

In our day to day life, we have 5 senses; sight, smell, taste, touch and of course our hearing. Sound is a very important element when it comes to communicating with each other. Sound also lets us visually interpret things; I for one find this quite intriguing and somewhat magical.

Today in Class it was pointed out that sound, yes sound is a vital “visual” aspect of most things in both everyday life and indeed the digital world; take music and video for example.  A fair point was made that in the film industry a lot has to be said about the type and sound of the music being played. In a way it almost adds special effects to the film, you can tell by the sound of the music which way you will react. The sound gives us reactions! We also have such modern devices that work on voice command. This is just another example of how sound affects our everyday lives and a glimpse into the future of our technology being able to operate without the touch of a button.

Is there a difference between sound and silence? Some of us classify silence as no sound, I for one as well as many others beg to differ. I think the sound of silence is one of the most natural and most peaceful sounds. You may be shocked to hear that the sound of silence is different almost everywhere. There are many different environments spread out over different places, different creatures living in different places, and of course though out different generations.

This brings me on to my next point which was indeed talked about in class – John Cage’s famous masterpiece, The 4’33. This is a composition that some argue is 4.33minutes of unique sound and others argue it is 4.33 minutes of silence. The is a full orchestra, that you would think to look at, ready to play a musical masterpiece. Although this is a very controversial piece of art, and probably the biggest reasons for its fame; but in a way I can see were cage is coming from. The beauty of the environmental sound around us as cage performed this is most unique.  I’m sure he had no idea how the audience would respond to it nor the sounds that they would make, this is another aspect to its beauty. Whilst discussing this in class, there was many valid points made about this certain composition, after 4 minutes some claimed they could hear music playing into their ears, others, as you could tell by their reaction were board out of there mind, then a number of people like myself, not knowing what to think or where to look whilst the video was being played, I was just constantly waiting impatiently for the performers to play a piece of music. 

Technology Continued!

Today's blog is a continuation of last weeks lecture as we began again to talk about various aspects of modern technology and the impact it has today. 

We went back over various different topics such as how the younger generation or the name Paul gave to it “digital natives”, adapted to modern day technology so quickly and how we can see this sort of virtual world forming around our day to day lives.

As our lecture began, we were introduced to a 12 year old kid giving a TED talk – who would have thought he would have that under his belt at the age of 12? He basically taught himself or possibly was taught how to use programming systems such as java to invent an app.  His most famous app being “Bustin Jeiber”. Well now we have spoken a bit about that can I just say, I truly do find it incredible a child having this much ability and that is just a glimpse into the future of what is to come from our modern day children – well that’s if your asking me. I think that it would be fair to say that us "digital natives"  are so used to technology today that we are not afraid to play around with technology, growing up playing video games, interacting with computers, and other digital equipment that you don't even think twice about using technology and quite frankly we don't even put much thought into it. I am beginning to think this could well be the difference between us "digital natives" and the "old folks".

I would like to extend on the interesting topic, virtual space. A couple of points were raised that we indeed live a part of our life in a virtual space, for example online newspapers and magazines and more interestingly through social networking sites, take facebook as an example. At first I didn't quite understand what Paul was trying to say then I soon came to realise! Take a girls night out for example, realistically, you would think a girls night out is all about the night out, drinking, dancing and having fun, yes it is but it was soon pointed out that indeed the night out still goes on to exist in photos that are uploaded onto facebook, it was not long after this lecture that I find myself doing the same thing, putting Pauls words into actions. The night still lives on in my virtual space. 

In this day and age we can choose which way we even want to view our news papers and magazines, as I said before, online, we can download them on to Smartphone’s and Ipad’s or we can go up-close and personal and buy the real thing to hold it in your hand. I for one am a fan of buying the real thing, but I also have to agree I have bought several downloads and I haven’t been disappointed, in a way it can tell the story two different ways, the difference is the virtual machine!

Wow, Technology is Growing!

I am going to talk briefly about technology and its growing influence on today’s society. So over the past 40 years or so technology has been increasing in popularity and dependence. Today's best technology includes devices such as the internet, mobile phones, for example the BlackBerry and the iPhone, Sky+ etc. For the average person’s daily life in our world, both work and personal space, one would be lost without several devices that we use in order to peruse our daily routine. The big question I suppose is could we live without technology? The use of technology comes almost second nature to us folks and I know that I for one would be lost without it!

I suppose over the past years that yes our generation have become, as you say “Digital natives”. In a way that we have been almost custom-made to work and interact with this modern technology. I myself find it incredibly easy and thrilling to try out and find myself perfectly capable to work the latest gadgets, sometimes with the manual but mostly not.

I do find this incredible just how much more advanced the children of today are when it comes to technology. I have heard several different stories and have saw with my own eyes how simplistic today’s generation of children as young as the age of two for example make technology look. They seem to be able to do all sorts of things such as play video games, play on iPhones and so on. It was pointed out in our lectures that there is this all new virtual world happening, and I truly do believe this!

Throughout the years, firstly it was a novelty to have a computer, only those who truly needed a computer or those who of course could afford a computer or laptop. This has most defiantly changed whereas in our virtual world today, without access to a computer some things may be considered impossible! People don’t even have to leave the house to get the basic necessities such as grocery shopping, clothes shopping, gadget shopping and best of all even education.

This brings me to my next point, that our social life now indeed has a more virtual way of working. Due to technology we have lost the sense of visiting to one another and the good old pen and paper. Indeed phone calls, video calls, instant messaging and social network sites are a quicker and efficient way of reaching one another. Another question on the end of the stick occurs, is all of our confidential information safe? Do we share too much with computers and technology is there too much to risk. It is old news that social networking sites may not be the safest of websites, take facebook for example. Some individuals using these sites may be vulnerable and others use these sights as a form of bullying. Yes there is always a danger of internet websites, we may get caught up and have this virtual world created in our heads. We can never be too careful with the on goings that happens on social network sites. Is this growing and constantly changing technology good or bad for our society? Some say good and others bad. It is out of our arms reach today to say so. 

Art?? What is it??

Well, I am going to start off with the question, ‘What is Art’, I find this question exciting and the answer somewhat intriguing.

Well the answer is; well, we struggle with the answer! We struggle with the visual side of art which grows from symbolic creativity. Although some people would like to define art with what they think should be an actual definition, take the Wikipedia for example, it gives the definition as follows; "the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others.”

First time in modern art, our feelings in represent and capture what and how people feel, for example, emotional when looking at it.

I think differently to this definition, I feel that art can be something that we can experience through every day meaning. It’s just a thought!

Marcel Duchamp is known for his found objects which he has portrayed in such a way that some view them as art. Take the case where Duchamp used a urinal and which he signed “R.Mutt” on it and named it Fountain. This falls into to part of the Dada Movement (anti-art movement.) His art faced the questioning and rejection from what others like to call ‘art’. It challenges what people think to be the meaninglessness of the world today. The exhibition of art has been refined; they are now looked at as the repercussions of fine art.  

But how do we exhibit art? How do we experience art? Can we connect with it, get close with it? I feel a good example on how to explain my point is the Projector, Tate Modern in held in the Turbine Hall in London. Artists have to create a spectacular piece of art work to fill the hall and to make those visiting the exhibition to feel overwhelmed by the experience. In my opinion I feel this is far better than visiting a bland exhibition not being able to interact with the artwork or feel the texture. Will people begin to question if we need a gallery at all?

Are some of us more attracted to site specific art for example? The concept lies within a place, and what if we were to put a gallery in this place; will the art concept have no meaning? It does today in the 21^st century. We re big fans of conceptual art in today’s society, we like decisions and planning, perhaps it’s got to do with all the modern technology. In a way it all dates back to Dunchamp. Dunchamp made a statement; he stood up to the so called ‘definition of art’ and started a new generation of ‘anti-art’ artists. We will take Jem Finer as a prime example, who discovered a underground river in the well, (80ft underground).  In order for it to work Jem uses a high brass trumpet and chimes played by falling water, to create music. this again it contributing to the rise in conceptual art. I feel anti-art is the way to go! 

PoMo V's Modernism!

Why is it that you can put a date on Modernism? This date goes back to around the nineteen hundreds to nineteen fifty. Everything that has happened and developed within these years has helped define a meaning for Modernism. New theories based on psychology made modernism rocket. These theories were very controversial but also somewhat influential. They made people take a self-examination of themselves and also examine their beliefs. The society soon developed a set of ideas (Thesis) which ‘Marxism’ explains. These ideas were put to the test by ‘anti ideas’ to repeat this progress. Is there a grand narrative? The bible shows purpose of life.  Marxism progresses until equals.

Within the space of 1900 and 1950 there were two wars. This brought the coming of a new era in rock music which stayed around World War One and World War Two. This had a huge impact within the music industry (technology) and also civilisation.

What is culture?  There are explanations of both high culture and low culture. High culture lies within the theatre, opera / classical and ballet. Low culture within these years is somewhat defined under pop culture. Richard Hamilton produced a painting called “Just what is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing?” this is recognised as one of many to the beginning of pop art, as he is trying to portray what life was like in 1960. This indeed was the moment when modernism turned into postmodernism. Richard Florida introduced pop art, creating postmodern and pop culture. Bauhaus brought in new technology for design; he believed function should always follow form.

Postmodernism took place in the time of the revolution.  Society wanted to break away from what we call modernism and the same old everyday life. People wanted to become individual’s and were just looking and longing for something different; from here on in people began to question things. Soon after, in the 1960’s a new era began, an era of love, culture and politics. Key examples of this were hippies, style, drugs and of course; music!

Postmodernism is most defiantly alive within the world today. One example of this would be the old mini car, on the first occasion it was the first car of its type to be able to purchase. In today’s society, there are several different types of new minis which have been created and which are available to buy.

A second example of this is the leather jacket. The leather jacket was used in modernism as a fashion statement. Again, it is brought back into today’s postmodern society and the idea of this ‘fashion statement’ is used again and again. I could also take the television for example, once made to watch but now, such gadgets as the ipad may eventually take over modernism. I guess what I’m trying to say is not always will the old and new ideas come together; one could eventually win over the other. 

The Importance of Album Artwork.

An album cover today is the packaging of a recorded product by an artist. In today’s society is has become unclear what is more important, the importance of an album or the importance of the music? There are several different ways to listen to music, we can download music or we can buy the artists album. The question is why buy the download and why buy the album?

 In the 1920s, record albums consisted of empty sleeves with a plain paperboard or leather cover, similar to a photograph album, by the late 1940s,some  record albums consisted of bright and colourful paper covers and others had the decoration of classic art and original designs.

In each album today, the front cover of the CD package is designed with an image to represent the artist. Inside the packaging there is a digital download of the album. Long before the development of digital music, one of the most significant parts of music buying was indeed the album cover. People sometimes decide on whether the album cover grabs their attention, or whether it is creative and cool.

In the past, music was produced onto vinyl records. As time goes by, more is thought of in the artwork on these album covers and it is thought that many fans like to have the visual object in their hand. Records are of a limited nature today, their unique appearance is highly sought after by collectors and fans. Carrying and holding the object today seems to become more and more important as we view them as historic objects.

Raymond Williams is a man who came up with the Theory of Emergent. This theory is made up of three phases:

1.       Emergent Phase. (People involved in a movement.)

2.       Appropriation Phase. (Businesses’ take over emergent phase.)

3.       Historicization Phase. (Historical Artefact.)

These are indeed the way the industry works today through the expression of socio economic times using both media and education.

Take Radiohead for example, the band decided to release a digital download “In Rainbows” that customers could order for whatever price they wished. They then decided not to release album cover for this digital release of the album so they held it back for the "discbox" release. This consists of the album, a book of lyrics, and additional Artwork. This is proof that still, in today’s society we are paying for the visual object and that yes, it is still very important.

I would like to end on the point that I think music is truly worthless if it can be digitised in today’s society. Inventions such as the ipod, I feel are taking its toll on the album cover world. The album cover which is nothing only an thumbnail and icon on an ipod. You cannot carry the object or view it in its finest detail. Peter Saville is an album cover designer at “New Order” and “Roxy Music”; he has suggested that the album cover was dead. This is what makes me ask the question, could album covers be a lost art? I think so!