Claire Donnelly

Thursday 1 August 2013

The Digital Industrial Revolution

Yes you read that title correctly. We are currently in the middle of a digital revolution, i dont know when it really started or when it would end, but think about it. did the first or second industrial revolutions really broadcast it was a revolution untill it was over? NO they didnt.

When i was told about our 'current' digital revolution, i had to think to myself, all those dates and stats in history books that we all know about now, did they known about them at the time?
I t always says how fast paced and exciting it was, but did they know that.

I had to take a step back and look, This current revolution would've really begun as i was a small child or maybe not even in existence, so i've technically been born into this revolution, meaning me and my peers don't actually know anything other than how it is. We don't know what it would be like not to have a next big leap in technology, we wouldn't know what it would be like if our brand new appliances weren't obsolete in less than five years. outdated by at least three newer versions.

So todays message is? GET OUT THERE AND DO IT NOW.
and i mean it, this is the perfect time to be doing anything. if you build then build, if you think and create then think! create! even if you cant make them right now, you should be constantly working, it actually kinda makes me feel like a complete slacker, considering theres 12 yr olds that are making money of a simple idea, not even the idea build or proofed, no just selling ideas. i have a sinking lazy feeling that i should be doing something.
In modern society we dont need to have made a name for ourselves, we dont need years upon years of being the best before we can create the next big thing, todays world allows any average joe to create the next big thing and change the world.
Granted every other day we are being shown 'the next big thing' theres too many competing with each other for us to truly intake the vastness of our capabilities.

I suppose its something like the cavemen (yeah im using them as examples again) i guess evolution didnt just happen one day, some man didnt just up and walk or talk, it took years of advancement, which we are in the middle of evolution of media and technology. and to be very honest its scary,exciting but scary. and if it did happen just one day, i bet nobody told everyone that was the day, for all we know the next big game changer has been invented and just hasnt gotten EVERYWHERE just yet.

Today, everyday, we have the big five, which are apple, goggle, amazon, facebook and microsoft....a dn to be honest you think oh i dont need those, but then you remember you cant leave the house or do anything without the comfort of one of them.
I could never leave the house or room without my phone, id have that mini heart attack everyone has.

Makes you wonder what people did without all this technology. seems unthinkable, yet it was barely a couple of decade ago.
Internet, social media sites, they all allow us to get anything out instantly, it scares me to think of a world without that ability.

The point is, all these things are shifting the earth and my generation and downwards all live it, but anything older feel it. which makes me think, we need to prepare ourselves for the coming years were itll either stop, or get so out of hand even we couldnt keep up.

However this whole revolution has a major downside. Art!
Think about it, Music, its dead. its been done, hundreds of times its been done.
Things that were amazing and new, it was the music, the style even the artwork. but its been done, and nothing is really new anymore,its just recreation.

Yes entertaining but not profitable.
The music industry is interesting and sorry to crush dreams, but its dead.

Todays music, to actually turn a profit, its all about the visuals (lady gaga is an amazing example here, whether you like her or not, she makes the money because shes weird, to make money in todays music, you need a gimmick, normal and relatable is done and finished)
These powerful and out of no where statements is whats mindblowing in these weekly lectures, these precious thee hours, one way or another provokes me think for another week and a half, making me question just about everything.
Im begining to think im some philosophy student rather than design.

Art as music, finished, art as in creative gimmick is the only profit.
I mean vinyl jackets, look at them, they didnt even have to sell an album, now artists have trouble advertising so we'll buy one song from thier albums.
Every form of media is used just to sell sell sell.
yet a mere few decades ago, the music industry was were the money was. and even with todays many talented hopefuls, its not about the music, as nobody listens, we are a visual culture, so its all about the show!

And then of course since nobody buys records, cds or hardcopys....its all digital and the usual rule applies here. if you can digitize it, its worthless. 

I mean, lets face it, i would without a second thought download a song without paying, or watch something online and not think about any legal issues, thats just how my generation works. not an excuse, but still im giving facts right now.

Its a bit like those adverts, you wouldnt think of stealing a tv or purse, why steal a movie, the rules seem shaky and completely different.
That what all this new fuss is about SOPA and PIPA, everything should be paid and credited but.... the legislation took it too far and were trying to bann open source and free information.

A prime example of the music industry going down, the need for a gimmick and of course stealing. Radio head, a famous and loved band, with no gimmick, came up with a very subtle yet obvious gimmick. Instead of getting this new album stolen, they took a chance and gave it away for free.

Yes you heard that correct, and took donations instead of selling, since everyone wouldve stole it anyway. so in the end they made a profit from donations alone, and if you were a real fan, you then went and bought a material objetc, collectors cover. This all cut costs on producing the hardcopys and getting digital copys stolen.
In the end, radio head made three times more than they wouldve if nobody had stolen anything and they just produced the hardcopy like most bands.
To me this is a gimmick, a genius gimmick, yet it was a free fan thanks gimmick.

So if this rule applies to music art, then it applies to art itself. Canvas' paints, mediums etc, they all cost money, money artists dont have, and its resources wasted.

Hockney was seen using an ipad on an interview, and his reasoning for this was, he has unlimited canvas' and colours this way, which is oh so true. so if a famous artist like this says technology can be used for art,is that not acceptable? apparently not.

This i will discuss further as it is a topic i feel passionate about.


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