Birth and decline of the technological utopia: artistic cyberactivity at the end of the 20th century
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Vol 46 (2011): Textos a escape: a literatura e a cultura na era dixital, Studies
Submitted: 29-04-2014
Accepted: 29-04-2014
Abstract
The merging of art, technology and communication represented by New Media Art makes this kind of artistic endeavour one of the most attractive areas of study to enable us to understand forms
of representation in present times. The network known as media technology grew out of a libertarian ideology which needs analysis in order to determine to what extent artistic expression via this
new medium contributes to the construction of public space. This kind of new age technology is marked by the use of the web as a critical tool and an open area in which, thanks to the contributions
of its users, not only may a non-official history be written, but also a whole alternative culture. Thus the web, at the end of the last century, pointed towards the creation of an independent public space, both transnational and class-blind by virtue of its collective action, its interaction, its omnipresence and its virtual nature. The Internet permitted a perception of a utopia of democratization, accessibility and communication which could transcend geographical, social and ethnic difference, and allow the creation of new centres and sources of creativity and publicity, quite distinct from the hierarchical systems currently in place.
of representation in present times. The network known as media technology grew out of a libertarian ideology which needs analysis in order to determine to what extent artistic expression via this
new medium contributes to the construction of public space. This kind of new age technology is marked by the use of the web as a critical tool and an open area in which, thanks to the contributions
of its users, not only may a non-official history be written, but also a whole alternative culture. Thus the web, at the end of the last century, pointed towards the creation of an independent public space, both transnational and class-blind by virtue of its collective action, its interaction, its omnipresence and its virtual nature. The Internet permitted a perception of a utopia of democratization, accessibility and communication which could transcend geographical, social and ethnic difference, and allow the creation of new centres and sources of creativity and publicity, quite distinct from the hierarchical systems currently in place.
Keywords:
cyberactivism, cyberliterature, identity, New Media Art