The Impact of Technology on Experimentation and Popularity - Essay Example

? The Impact of Technology on Experimentation and Popularity May 4, Word Count: 2006 Introduction The use of different tools for expression leads to changes and techniques which become a primary way of art. When looking at various art forms, it can be seen that technology has impacted and changed the way in which the expression is used. This creates a different aesthetic expression and also alters the viewpoint of the spectator and listener in understanding experience. More important, it leads to a different type of language with the art expressions and impacts the idea of the human experience. The use of electronics as a main expression as well as the way that art changes the value of a specific piece of art is reflective not only of the techniques used by various individuals but also is a component to the changes which have occurred in society. The Evolution of Art When looking at performance, music or visual art, there is an evolution which can be seen. This begins with the concept of the handicraft, such as seen in the oil paintings, sculptures or other types of natural art pieces. This is also seen in the acoustical sounds of music that are often noted with performances. Each of these has an aesthetic value that is used within the art and which was important in the values of society and culture in past times. Today, the integration of technology has changed the expression as well as the aesthetic value. The evolution is one which now integrates different techniques, sounds and ideas, specifically because of the ability to add in technology and to relate to the ways in which it can express the main ideologies that are a part of both the artists’ viewpoint and the concept which is valued through the spectator or listener (Allen, 2008: 9). The concept of technology as a part of the evolution of art is one which relates to the ideology of Collingwood, specifically with the aesthetics theory. According to this specific theory, the artist evolves different ideals because of the relationship to aesthetics. When an artist sees specific ideals within society, such as images, there is a direct relation to the concept of what is considered as beautiful and what should be represented in different forms of art. At the same time, many artists’ will look toward finding new ways and expressions of looking into aesthetics, such as changing the textures of paintings or experimenting with different sounds in music. While many of these may not initially create an aesthetically pleasing experience, it eventually leads into an evolved ideal of what art can include and how these crafts are defined as aesthetically pleasing (Nahmood, 1987: 221). Technology in Music An example of how the concepts of technology can be seen within art with a high impact is through the use of technology that is in music. The concept of music has moved from the idea of aesthetics that are based on acoustics, such as through classical forms of music. However, in the early 1900s, electronics began to be a part of the experimentation with musical instruments as well as with various composers. By the 1950s, recording studios, electronic guitars and other electronic instruments were at the forefront of music. Rock and roll, country and other forms of contemporary sounds began to arise with the ideology of popular music. As these continued to form, there was also a different sound which was heard, mixtures of instruments that differed from the acoustical sounds and a growing popularity of both recordings and live performances with various musicians. The impact which technology had not only led to the making of music with technology, but also was associated with mass consumption of the music because of the new and popular sounds which were available to everyone both inside and outside of a performance (Theberge, 1997: 9). As popular music has continued to arise within culture and society, it has also led into a different way of associating with expression and the way in which music is heard. Combining art and technology together through the sounds of music has also led to developments and changes with what is acceptable in music as well as whether it is about the music or the technological implications which can be used. One who questions these associations is Firth, specifically with the relationship between art and technology. The evolution of music has allowed technology to drive forward the music industry. It has now reached levels of providing perfect pitch to performers, changing the sounds of recordings and has altered the arrangements and expectations for sounds used in popular music. The impact which this has made is one which is no longer based on the use of instrumentation and talent to create an expression through music. Instead, the entertainment consists of a specific image that is redefined by the development of various pieces of technology that can be altered to gather attention from the audience and to piece together a specific expression within the music (Frith, 1986: 263). An example of this particular understanding comes from the use of pop stars who are interested in a specific style of singing. In the 1940s, there was an association with crooning of male pop stars that were singing with the new pop styles, such as through Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly. This was done naturally and through the voice to grab attention and to create a specific expression. Today, the crooning is not only done with pop stars, but are measured and altered with recordings to control good and bad crooning. The electronics have created a sense of control over the voice and how it should sound to imitate a style, bring about a specific sound and to create a defined expression. Pop stars such as Dennis Potter have continued to use this both to measure their own voice and to alter the levels of crooning so it creates a specific sound and effect with those that are listening to the music (Frith, 1986: 270). The concept of technology, from this specific perspective, is one which is not only impacting music, but is also redefining the experience of music. Instead of creative expression, constructions of ideals and the ability to show talent, technology has become the main association with hearing music. In some instances, this is based on innovations which create specific sounds that lead to a different level of aesthetic pleasure. However, in other forms, the concept of aesthetics defines the technology which is used and changes the reality of those who are involved in music. Instead of true value and authentic sounds, there is an association with supplementing and reproducing the different talent with electronics and technology to keep to the same standard as other performers or artists (Goodwin, 1988: 15). Recordings vs. Live Performance There are two ways in which the use of technology is being heard within music. The first is through the recordings, which continue to evolve and bring music to the mass culture. The second is through the live performances that are seen by the artists and which are expected to hold to a specific standard while using technology as a main proponent in identifying the specific sounds and relationships to the technology. In both of these, there is the ideology that the work needs to be produced and reproduced. The production initially occurs with technology as the main component, used for recording, identifying specific types of instruments and with any experimentation that is needed to hold to a specific standard with the music. The reproduction occurs with the live performance with the popular culture expecting the technological components to have the same association as the recording which is heard. This reproduction leads to the role of perception, which defines the talent of an individual in a live performance or states the quality that is in the music. However, this is all defined by the technology first, as opposed to the realities of the talent which is a part of the performances (Benjamin, 2008: 12). Even though technology is able to affect both performances and recordings with the driving point of defining an individual talent, there are also perspectives which can be formed. This is divided by the popularity of the music as well as the acceptance in society. According to Benjamin (2008), the perception which is given is based on the perception which is given from the audience. If a recording is given and the use of a synthesizer is the driving point and the audience rejects this, than the talent of the musician will be redefined. However, if it is accepted, then it can lead to popularity of the musician, with the expectation that the reproduction of the music should be heard. The qualities of the new media and of music are then dependent on the way in which the audience perceives and relates to specific types of music as well as how this creates a response which accepts the given tones or which rejects the overall ideals which are created. The technology of production then becomes the driving force that is able to impact how music is heard and what the responses are within society (Benjamin, 2008: 44). Examples of Music and Technology There are several was in which one can see and demonstrate the ideals of music and technology as well as how this affects society. If one takes a current pop artist, such as Lady Gaga, there is a direct relation to how the music is affected by the technology which is used. The arrangements that are kept by this pop star are inclusive of similar rock beats with all of the sounds which are used. Lady Gaga is also known for creating remixes, which is inclusive of the same lyrics and sounds with different back beats. These are driven by technology and produce and reproduce sounds that are specific to the rock artist. The most important element of this pop artist is then based on the image which is withheld and which can be reproduced to grab attention to the music and the associations which are based on the new recordings and releases, as well as the mega concerts that are held by the pop star (Lady Gaga, 2011: 1). This example can be associated with any form of music that is available today, specifically which is related to the pop artists and the need to produce and reproduce the same image. This is done to create consistency with fans and to continue to have the same image within society that allows those who are interested in the music to continue to buy into what is available. There is little experimentation with this music and the production comes specifically from creating and re-creating the same songs with influences of technology as the driving force for the mass consumption that is associated with the music. Each of the influences of technology creates the music, while the artist is a representation of the expression through the image which she holds. This ideology is one which is specifically seen by Benjamin with the production of music being accepted by the culture, then continuing to be reproduced with the use of technology so the same response is given within popular culture (Benjamin, 2008: 43). Conclusion Reflecting on the expression of music, art and any other form of performance is important to recognize, specifically because it changes the way in which one associates with the music. This occurs from several levels, all which relate to the ideal of expression and production of art. From one perspective, technology provides new and innovative ways of approaching art and creating new expressions which are likely to create a response from society. However, the aesthetically pleasing ideologies often lead away from experimentation and into mass production of the same sounds because it is accepted within society. To define the realities of any form of art, one then needs to understand not only the impact of technology, but also how this can be used to supplement and assist with experimentation and continuous evolution of the arts. References Allen, Barry. (2008). Artifice and Design: Art and Technology in Human Experience. New York: Cornell University. Benjamin, Walter. (2008). The Work of Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility, and Other Writings on Media. Boston: Harvard University Press. Frith, Simon. (1986). “Art Versus Technology: The Strange Case of Popular Music.” Media Culture Society 8 (3). Goodwin, A. (1988). “Sample and Hold: Pop Music in the Digital Age of Reproduction.” Critical Quarterly 15 (8). Lady Gaga. (2011). About Lady Gaga’s Music. Retrieved from: http://www.ladygaga.com/media/default.aspx. Nahmood, S. (1987). “Artistic Expression and Aesthetic Theory: The Beautiful, the Sublime and the First Amendment.” Wisconsin Law Review 15 (7). Theberge, Paul. (1997). Any Sound You Can Imagine: Making Music / Consuming Technology. New Hampshire: University Press of New England. Read More