Homework 2

xx

In preparation for Project 1, we should take a closer look at the world of gifs, especially within a contemporary art & technology context.

First, lets read a little bit more about the history of GIFs.

1. Read parts One, Two and Three about the history of the GIF from Paddy Johnson. (via Art Net) [Btw, Paddy Johnson runs the really wonderful art blog called Art F City, posted under online resources.]

Pay close attention to the artists that Paddy talks about - if you start to be attracted to some of their work, you should do some research about that artist. It may help when you develop your own GIF. She also gives a ton of Tumblr resources. Check out those Tumblrs, and if you dig something, follow them.

2. Read this history of the GIF from Mashable.

Now lets read these following articles about GIFs and how they exist today, as well as an attempt to embed (no pun intended) GIFs as Art (just a note, I know that some of these may repeat information - I've included a few because of the GIF examples they show):

Are GIFs Art? (via New York Magazine)

Going Once, Going Twice: Phillips and Tumblr put GIFs on Auction (via Forbes)

GIFs Are the New Graffiti (via Mashable)

Finally, read about GIFs perpetuating a new photography term, "Motion Photography":

Saatchi Looks To Elevate Animated GIFs to Art (via socaltech.com)

GIFs are now an official, snob-sanctioned art form, and these six are the best (via The Washington Post)

The GIF animation is now officially an art form, thanks to the first Motion Photography Prize (via Imaging Resource)

Some questions to ponder: 
Are GIFs "uniquely millennial"? Why or why not? What do GIFs have to do with the way we communicate (we covered this briefly in class)?

What do you think the "hyperreality" might be that GIFs can show?

What do you think about art GIFs being sold for $16,000?

What do you think it is about GIFs that make them so successful? (You can pull from the articles here to back up your thoughts.)

What do you think of gifs as a viable art form commodity? Can they/should they be worth as much as other art objects?

How does one technology (say, Tumblr) lead to the popularity or resurgence of another technology, i.e. GIFs?

Do you all know who/what Phillips and Saatchi are? If not, Google them, stat.

What do you think about the notion of GIFs as graffiti? True? Not true? Why or why not?

Is a GIF capable of disrupting the everyday environment?

Are/Can GIFs indeed be "Art?" What might the difference be between a GIF considered as art, versus, say, a standard cat gif? If so, how can you make a GIF into "Art?"

What can be said about the notion that the GIF art form is driven by the everyday person? Does that lead to it being more artistic? Or not?

Does a GIF democratize art? How? Why or why not?

What philosophical implications do GIFs have on the concept of "time?"

And here's something that I just thought was cool: a graphic novel made of gifs. (via Wired)

Use the questions above as jumping off points to give a three paragraph or more response on what you read. Specifically, I'd also like to know about some of the GIF artists that you responded to. What made you drawn to their work?

Remember to also comment on at least two of your peers' posts as well.