Question Response

Eric brought up an question regarding Bolter and Grusin readings:

"Photography removed the artist as an agent who stood between the viewer and the reality of the image." When we view videos and pictures online, are we also removing the artist as an agent, or are we actually standing there with the artist viewing their work?

(This question stood out because I did pass through an art major through my various education routes and it brought a new perspective.)

That was touched on in the article where 'multiple representations' are brought into play (i.e. art gallery vs. online gallery). In essence, the digital/online media creation is still the artist's (assumed authentication however) but just shown in different mediums. The network economy of art still employs the idea of the artist as an agent (person capable of action) but also the online representation is an agent of manipulation. However, be it photography or online galleries it is still the artist's creation of reality. Online media is still simply a medium - something that serves as a platform for something else. Since the internet/computers cannot yet think on their own, per se, they are not yet an fully developed agent such as an artist.