Critical Writing Index

Critical Theory and the Challenge of New Media

by Jay David Bolter

Eloquent Image: Word and Image in the Age of New Media, 2003, pp. 19 - 36

Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2003

The text investigates the challenges Critical Theory scholars face in writing about or teaching New Media. The author analyzes fundamental differences betwen theories of mass-media (radio, TV, film, or mods of communication that address a larger audience) and new media (video, digital, some portions of the web). More specifically, she comments on how new media theory, a.k.a. media theory, has informed digital art and performance. The potential pedagogical role of digital art is discussed and illustrated by many examples.

ITEM 2003.043 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

Dancing with the Virtual Dervish - Virtual BodiesDiane Gromala

Yacov Sharir

Dancing with the Virtual Dervish - Virtual BodiesSha Xin Wei

Technological Media Labe (TML)Sponge

T-Garden