Of the topics that Lev Manovich discusses in his article "New Media: From Borges to HTML", I found the recognition of the anonymity in regards to software developers of today. Granted there are the front runners with big brand names (Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and the like), but even they mask the massive teams and heads of real innovators. Since exploring the genesis of technology, I've found myself constant irritated with the general ignorance (my own and the public's) knowledge of the roots of all of these items we take for granted. It is by no accident that Gilles Deleuze compares the advancement of technology to the work of the rhizome. The complexity and interconnectivity on the surface is already complex, but what I feel we fail to make note of is that a real person needed to make that complexity functional. Manovich says that some day the real brains behind all this progress will be praised. That has been the case of many great minds, especially artists. I know it is extremely idealist to want such a thing, but I wish we could recognize the "unsung heroes" that have brought us this far.
Here is a recording of Deleuze giving a lecture on his book One Thousand Plateaus. Unfortunately, the video has yet to be translated, but check back on this link from time to time if this interests you!
That is extremley true Hilary. Some of the artists that have brought us this far have been recognized, but not nearly as much as who should. Great thing we have taken this course in Digital Processes; That way our minds are open to so manny other experimental artits in the new media that we would have never known before.
Hillary, your post relates back to our many discussions we have had before in class about our failure to recognize the "heroes" in media and technology. Since we are all so devoted to resolving and untangling this complexity of technology, we fail to recognize the people who have introduced us to such advancement in the first place. We always hear many of us complaining about how technology can be so complex, but very seldom do we hear any of us praising those who have contributed to establishing this new media just for us.
I think this phenomenon of not giving credit to the people behind inventions or ideas is something that runs throughout the course of history, and seems inevitable in that history is "written" by the "winners". Some things become certain knowledge, while others do not. Scandinavian vikings reached America before Columbus, but the credit to "discovering" America is given to him. Nikola Tessla discovered how to transmit electricity, not Benjamin Franklin, but the credit it given to Franklin. Now, Nelson & Englebart are probalby "unsung heroes" for various reasons. Perhaps not enough time has passed for the historians to consider putting them in books, or for teachers to discuss them.
I think I agree with everything everyone here said. There are a lot of people who go unrecognized who created programs or websites that we use on a regular basis, without ever pausing to think about where they came from. I thought it was interesting particularly how Manovich mentioned computer programmers, who aren't generally considered artists, as being important artists of our time for their contributions to art programs and such. These people deserve more credit than they get, and they mostly remain nameless, which is rather unfortunate.
Thanks for posting the video of Deleuze lecturing, perhaps drawing his idea of the rhizome on the chalkboard. We are reminded that his writings are translated and cross cultural, space and time boundaries that may make his books challenging for the uninitiated reader. No doubt, there is someone working at this very minute to do the Software Studies reader where all the writers are critiqued.
That is extremley true Hilary. Some of the artists that have brought us this far have been recognized, but not nearly as much as who should. Great thing we have taken this course in Digital Processes; That way our minds are open to so manny other experimental artits in the new media that we would have never known before.
ReplyDeleteHillary, your post relates back to our many discussions we have had before in class about our failure to recognize the "heroes" in media and technology. Since we are all so devoted to resolving and untangling this complexity of technology, we fail to recognize the people who have introduced us to such advancement in the first place. We always hear many of us complaining about how technology can be so complex, but very seldom do we hear any of us praising those who have contributed to establishing this new media just for us.
ReplyDeleteI think this phenomenon of not giving credit to the people behind inventions or ideas is something that runs throughout the course of history, and seems inevitable in that history is "written" by the "winners". Some things become certain knowledge, while others do not. Scandinavian vikings reached America before Columbus, but the credit to "discovering" America is given to him. Nikola Tessla discovered how to transmit electricity, not Benjamin Franklin, but the credit it given to Franklin. Now, Nelson & Englebart are probalby "unsung heroes" for various reasons. Perhaps not enough time has passed for the historians to consider putting them in books, or for teachers to discuss them.
ReplyDeleteI think I agree with everything everyone here said. There are a lot of people who go unrecognized who created programs or websites that we use on a regular basis, without ever pausing to think about where they came from. I thought it was interesting particularly how Manovich mentioned computer programmers, who aren't generally considered artists, as being important artists of our time for their contributions to art programs and such. These people deserve more credit than they get, and they mostly remain nameless, which is rather unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the video of Deleuze lecturing, perhaps drawing his idea of the rhizome on the chalkboard. We are reminded that his writings are translated and cross cultural, space and time boundaries that may make his books challenging for the uninitiated reader. No doubt, there is someone working at this very minute to do the Software Studies reader where all the writers are critiqued.
ReplyDelete