Module 2 - Looking out

View Looking outcomes Artifact and Artwork · Return to Module 2

Research Spreadable Media

tl;dr: Critially Review two spreadable media objects. _a):_ Find, trace and research on one piece of spreadable media that has gone viral. _b):_ Uncover an example of electronic/net art that uses the internet, remix culture and/or spreadable media in an interesting way. Document your experience with each.

Learning Objectives

In addition to the standard looking out objectives, here we specifically hope:

Selections

You’re asked to make two discoveries as part of this looking out exericse

  1. First, find one internet artifact that’s been shared widely and research it (see constraints.)
  2. Second, find one media artwork (or artist) that uses spreadability in interesting ways.

In all cases, it should be something you find personally interesting and it should be a discovery - you haven’t encountered it before. A set of starting points are provided in this weeks resource section.

Selection: a) Spreadable Artifact

The internets a weird and wonderful place. Find something curious, interesting, significant that’s been shared, spread and/or remixed widely via the internet. Maybe it’s a meme, a mashup, a remix, a tweet, a YouTube video, a really weird Pinterest board/Instagram account, etc.

Research your artifact and trace it’s origins and spread. Ask: When did it surface? Why - what was the context for it’s emergence? What was it responding to in society or culture? Has it disappeared or does it endure? Is it a continuing trend?

Explain your selection and its significance. Reflect on what it says about spreadible media.

Selection: b) Spreadable Artwork

Find an artist who’s work intersects with the internet in an interesting way. Are they a remix artist? Is sharing/spread/virality a key theme in their work? Is the internet their art gallery? Did they become internet famous because of one piece of work? Do they leverage the internet and sharing as the backbone of their creative practice? Do they use spreadible media to make their works (e.g. remixing) or just for visibility?

Research the artist/artwork and reflect on the intersections between electronic art and viral content found within their work. What aspects of spread and sharing do they engage with? Where and how do they share? Who sees it and on what channels (Twitter, GitHub, Facebook, etc.)? Why did they go viral? How did this recognition change their creative practice / future artworks?

Constraints
What to write up:

Follow the guidelines for posting a looking out to Slack. Include in your post the following:

For Artifact. Label as ‘Name of the Artifact #lookingout2a

For Artwork

Keep it brief! The post should be no more than 200 words and well illustrated (images, videos, etc.)

Places to look

There’s a list in this module’s resources but there should be helpful too….

When I’m Damon Pony.

and then there’s this…

cyriak - Experiments in ovine geometry.