The problem is converging media. So many disciplines have been brought to the same tool (the computer) that the previous dividing lines of capital investment in resources (artist, writers, ink, pencils, animation stand, film, cameras) has been replaced by a ubiquitous media which can nearly instantaneously convert between the visual information created in any program. So when all the tools are in one place and they gentrify (nearly every word-processing program looks the same, nearly every image manipulation tool looks like PhotoShop) the medium will evolve/morph to apply the previous unattainable and sub-cultures which favor each subset will rise. These growing pains in art appear every time new technology is used to change how images are produced. Markets may grow or diminish do to the rise of new technology but when it comes to art techniques are rarely lost or abandoned.
The cultural implications are rather silly as well. I went to art school in the infant days of the web. I also did a major at University of Illinois at Chicago called electronic media (its BFA degree). It has existed in some form since the '70's. I spent a lot of time while I was in school agonizing over not being accepted by traditional artist as an artist then I realized it didn't matter who thought I was artist what matters is you believe in what you create. Trying to understand a new media from traditional point of view is great for aesthetics but not for a cultural reaction.
I spent 4 years in a art school that had an entire
major dedicated to Electronic art. When it started it was analog signal processors to effect video, Its current concentration is Virtual Reality. If you are stuck asking the question is it art. You may not grasp what art is. Its OK I haven't been able to define art either. My point if you really want to create the meduim you choose should not be an issue to you. It may for others but it should not be for you. If you are conflicted over the validity of whether you use a paint brush or Maya then you are missing the point. It is not the tool which determines art it is the artist.
Slashdot Mirror
The problem is converging media. So many disciplines have been brought to the same tool (the computer) that the previous dividing lines of capital investment in resources (artist, writers, ink, pencils, animation stand, film, cameras) has been replaced by a ubiquitous media which can nearly instantaneously convert between the visual information created in any program. So when all the tools are in one place and they gentrify (nearly every word-processing program looks the same, nearly every image manipulation tool looks like PhotoShop) the medium will evolve/morph to apply the previous unattainable and sub-cultures which favor each subset will rise. These growing pains in art appear every time new technology is used to change how images are produced. Markets may grow or diminish do to the rise of new technology but when it comes to art techniques are rarely lost or abandoned.
The cultural implications are rather silly as well. I went to art school in the infant days of the web. I also did a major at University of Illinois at Chicago called electronic media (its BFA degree). It has existed in some form since the '70's. I spent a lot of time while I was in school agonizing over not being accepted by traditional artist as an artist then I realized it didn't matter who thought I was artist what matters is you believe in what you create. Trying to understand a new media from traditional point of view is great for aesthetics but not for a cultural reaction.
I spent 4 years in a art school that had an entire
major dedicated to Electronic art. When it started it was analog signal processors to effect video, Its current concentration is Virtual Reality. If you are stuck asking the question is it art. You may not grasp what art is. Its OK I haven't been able to define art either. My point if you really want to create the meduim you choose should not be an issue to you. It may for others but it should not be for you. If you are conflicted over the validity of whether you use a paint brush or Maya then you are missing the point. It is not the tool which determines art it is the artist.