Reading Blog #3

This article, "WEB WORK: A HISTORY OF INTERNET ART" does an excellent job at solidifying digital arts stature as a respected medium of art. The history of digital art is fascinating due to its relative lack of history. Almost all other forms of art have been defining moments of history, and it appears we are only now recognizing the emergence of the internet as a valid form of art. The article describes the origins of website building, and the transition from mailing pages and website home pages, to more integrated and advanced "places." One portion of the article I found very interesting was, "if there were a more expansive set of names for websites, it would be more difficult for corporations or individuals to monopolize Web addresses." This train of thought, a reluctance to submit to future threats is something which should be done more often. The phrase, "live in the moment" is something I hear all the time. I don't think it aligns with artists at all. The past dictates our art; our experiences and our interpretation of them create meaning and opinions. Furthermore, the preservation and conservation of ideas long into the future has been lost. I always look to the art deco buildings in New York or the Sagrada Familia. Buildings which were built to last. There is no emphasis on creating lasting pieces of art right now.