February Theme of the Month: Formal Research 2
In July 2003, the Theme of the Month was "Formal Research". In February,
we'd like to take this theme further to address some of the current
problems for "research" in relation to new media art.
On 15th January, V2_ hosted a one-day conference "Understanding New
Media Art and Research" and this theme invites speakers, participants
and List members to carry on this debate. Some speakers at the
conference pointed out some characteristics for the interdisciplinary
nature of new media art research, across art and science boundaries:
Saskia Sassen pointed out the fundamental difficulties that Social
Scientists have with dealing with media displaying: decentralised
disribution, interconnectivity, and simultaneity.
Ole Bouman cited sheer lack of curiousity as a serious blockage in the
art world, and the slowness of the scientific process as a blockage in
the research world.
Tapio Makela asked of art researchers "... when they started the
process, did they know what was going to happen?", and criticised the
"Conservator" mentality which hampers interactivity and the importance
of process.
Catherine Richards highlighted the "thrill of vulnerability" in art
galleries which as "19th Century spectator spaces" can be used to
critique technology, and the practical resources that the scale of
"three year funding" can offer to artists.
Eric Kluitenberg explored the 'blockages' between the wider art world,
new media, and scientific approaches. How do we take a critical view,
and make collaborative or interdisciplinary models operational and
productive?
Would list members agree with these points? Would they like to take them
further? What are the anxieties of interdisciplinary research?
Invited Respondents:
Alex Adriaanjens and Anne Nigten (NL) work for V2 in Rotterdam
<http://www.v2.nl/>
Eric Kluitenberg (NL) is a theorist, writer and program maker. He
currently works at de Balie in Amsterdam (NL) and is one of the curators
of the Next 5 Minutes Festival.
Catherine Richards (CDN) is a media artist. She took part in a number of
artist-in-residence programs and has received many prizes and awards for
her work. She teaches at the Visual Arts Department of the University of
Ottawa (CDN).
Saskia Sassen (USA) is the Ralph Lewis Professor of Sociology at the
University of Chicago (USA), and Centennial Visiting Professor at the
London School of Economics (GB).
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_________________________________________________________
Beryl Graham
Research Fellow in New Media, University of Sunderland
Tel: +44 191 515 2896 email: [log in to unmask]
CRUMB web resource for curators http://www.newmedia.sunderland.ac.uk/crumb/
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