In his interview, DJ spooky said something like…the landscape of culture and technologies and memory are tools for editing and manipulating memory and this is a new type of art form.
It as if through this art form we can both time travel and teleport. But rather than move our physical bodies, our mind is transported down the roadways of sound and images. By taking images, voices and sounds from different historical periods and parts of the world and then merging them into the present through this digital art form, a magical mirror is created that reflects our society back to us in a completely new way. Even with a short attention span and historical memory, a person watching such a performance is able to see the dots of their age connected before their eyes. And beyond this, they are able to feel the impact within themselves because of the music and sound which work in conjunction with the images.
In Errata Erratum, DJ Spooky goes one step farther by allowing the audience members the power to actually control aspects of the artwork wherever they may be in the world, so long as they are connected to the web. To me, that is absolutely fascinating! I have always enjoyed interactive art pieces, but this is the first one that I have partaken of on the internet.
On another note, I wonder what will happen when the whole world begins to sample each other…and even sample those samples and on and on like two mirrors reflecting each other again and again. What will be the next step? If blues, jazz, techno, hip hop, jungle, bass etc. came out of the collision of Africa and Europe as DJ spooky said, then what will come out of the musical rhythms of the entire world colliding? I just imagine more and more collaboration for the future. I imagine the most varied artists working together and communicating from across the globe. I imagine building on, for example, what the Digital Worlds Institute is already doing with global artist collaborations. Also imagine the possibilities of say, bringing the arts into classrooms through digital media and on top of that allowing the kids to actually become creators of interactive artworks…putting the power into their hands. I know a lot of this is already starting and it will be fascinating to watch this art form continue to unfold, web-out, network etc…..
2 comments:
But as world music converges and the line between rock and techno and classical and opera and pop becomes grayer do you think it would be able to divide us more? Or do you think it will bring people closer together? More genres of music which means more division, but more as genres collide they bring together. What are your thoughts???
I don't think it will be completely one way or the other. But overall, with technology allowing us easy access to information and people around the world, it seems that it will be easier and easier for people to share thier knowledge on musical styles via video and the internet. Collaborations that could not have happened before internet, now will be able to happen. I find it interesting that people on youtube are posting videos of themselves performing songs on homemade instruments. Others are challenging viewers to beatbox better than them or say, mix beat boxing with guitar and humming. As for myself, I found it inspiring to see women beat boxers on youtube as I've never met one in real life.
Also, Toubab Krewe will be in Gainesville next weekend. And I love their band because they are using all of these African instruments, but in a new way. There are traditional African beats mixed with their own. They traveled to Africa to learn from Africans and now we are able to share in the outcome of that process which involved collaboration between two different cultures.
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