Response to "Transaesthetics" By Margaret Lovejoy

"Art: An Elusive Target"

- A Response -

By Alan Neal

To reading group 3 - "Transaesthetics"

By Margaret Lovejoy

It seems Ms. Lovejoy is trying to analyze the place for art amongst new technologies. Some of what she says seems to be very valid to the present technology we use in art and science. She seems to present both sides, the positive and the negative, of what technology can accomplish or achieve. Although this article is 39 pages long, I will try to keep this response to less than 500 words.


In the first chapter, she references a 1995 performance by Laurie Anderson titled "Stories from the Nerve Bible", who references Walter Benjamin, a German who fled the Nazi regime in 1940, and described it in terms that apply to technology today. This uncanny reference makes use of an analogy out an "angel of history", who witnesses what is perceived by humans as one unfortunate incident after another, but the angel sees it all as one giant tragedy, piling up in a heap at his feet. He wishes to awaken the dead to help makes things right again, but is overwhelmed by a storm blown in from Paradise, which catches his wings and blows him backwards into the future, while the heap at his feet grows larger and larger. This storm is what is referred to as progress.


While this entire episode seems rather pessimistic, it does ring somewhat true about technology. Today, if we buy a new laptop, for instance, the moment we leave the store with it, a new one has come out to replace it. The same can be said for most of our electronic devices: cell phones, video games, vehicles, even residences. Technology, it seems, moves faster than time itself. However, should we be this pessimistic about technology? can't we view these man made devices as tools? And aren't we taught that tools are only useful in the hands of a creator?


Artists in particular seem to straddle the divide between seeing technology as an advantage and as a curse. Further into this article, she writes that art students must learn "the new technologies, debate their roles in society, master their use, and renovate visual languages", and that they must "master the operations of [this new technology, and understand] artistic, scientific, [and] philosophical aspects of twentieth century history", in order, presumably, to allow for new methods of creating art which could have an impact on marketplaces worldwide. Many artists have done just that. However, many artist are somewhat skeptical about using technology in any way, much less to enhance their art. I feel that being afraid of a tool means you just don't understand it. All tools bear inherent dangers, either of being used improperly, and creating disastrous results, or, as in the case of power tools, causing physical harm. But fear must not limit us to using only the "safe" tools in our work. Fear is one thing that can destroy our ability to think, to explore, and to experience new things. I feel that this article contains useful ideas, but we must, absolutely, keep in mind that being pessimistic about the future is not going to be helping anybody’s cause! The glass half full always trumps the glass half empty. Without optimism, our society is doomed. Even though our politics and the pressure from religion can sometimes seem overwhelming, if we don’t keep our hopes alive, what are we here for?