Zygmunt Bauman has dveloped the idea of Liquid Modernity over a period of time. It is a simple idea. In a global world human beings are not as grounded in stable society as they once were.(Bauman. 2000)
Artificially Constructed Consumer Culture
Bauman portrays consumer culture as social world that has been artificially constructed. It emerges from a fluidly moving fabric of mechanisms designed to thrive around and through seductive desire conjectured as time dependent. Fashion consciousness is an eager and willing awareness that arises within a culture of consumption where participants clamour to be seduced by the fads of the day.
If fads by definitional necessity come and go, then consequently all passing phases are soaked in hyper awareness of an inherent fast looming used by date.
Time Becomes a Thing
Lack of commitment is one of the attributes that comes about of a consequence of fragile relationship with faddish culture.
The modalities available to multimedia artists are ideal within such a volatile and fluidly moving social environment. It seems only natural that modern avante garde artists are able to float comfortably on a sea of ambiguity. The versatility of technique, style and manner of execution maintains buoyancy on a sea of liquidness of meaning and interpretation. The capacity of digital media, video and animation to capture meaning and motion in the minute begets the phenomenon of time as seemingly captured, witnessed and experienced as a commodity. This gives an impression of reality itself being "cut" into episodes. The artfulness is in the way that each artist (or groups of artists craftily script each episode. (Bauman, 1994)
The Medium is the Message
Marshall McLuhan has cleverly pointed out that the qualities of the media used to convey a message are more seminal than the content of the overt communication. (McLuhan, 1964) In this sense Multimedia artists have become facilitators of broad community conversations. Authentic artistic expression has revolved to its own starting point - expression of or seeking for -community cohesion through dialogue.
Avatar (2009) is a blend of acting and animation that can be regarded as high art. The final polished piece is a work that has been touched by many hands and artistically inspired by much artistic collaboration within the context of a collaborative accomplishment. There is great appeal for artists and animators, musicians and actors to work as a team to bring about pure artistic statement.
Conversations between Artist and Audience
Performance art is a fluid medium through which the message is one of community engagement. Unlike Michelangelo's David great works are no longer created by a heroically lonely stoic. Personal sacrifice is no longer the unavoidable characteristic of mediums that exact extreme self sacrifice as the price paid to achieve masterful solitary expression. Works such as Cut Piece are a conversation between artist and audience. Yoko Ono is the conductor of an experience about unveiling the Other and in so doing unveiling self.
Digital video art is about capturing the moment and about the candid nature of statements that are time bound and time relevant. Reality documentaries have made their way into mass media and thus into social consciousness and as they do so communities become more and more involved. As they vote, they direct artistic expression and the form that cultural expression takes. Voting people in and voting people out implies that audiences are scripting shows in ways reminiscent of August Boal.
Community Art Flourishes
There is a sense in which the affordability and accessibility of both equipment and education about process has returned Art to all who would want to participate and create. The role of the community artists is a flourishing one. The inclusive nature of multi media means that there is endless opportunities for both personal and community expression. Is this a good thing? Time will tell.
Resources
- Bauman,Z (2000) Blackwell Publishing Ltd & Polity Press
- Bauman, Z. (1994). Alone Again Ethics After Certainty. London: Demos
- Bauman, Z. (2003). City of Fears . City of Hopes. London: Goldsmiths College, University of London.
- McLuhan, Marshall (1964) Understanding Media, Routledge, London
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