Critique of the Situational Tours Project

Technology affects the creative process in the sense that it expands one’s creative opportunities. It is interesting to compare drawing as one perspective to the other medium, digital media. They may share the artist’s main idea, but they differ in presentation. With today’s technology, the artist is able to expand his or her creation.

The multimedia module allowed me to explore the concepts of multimedia forms during the situational tour. By using multimedia art, I was able to capture modern aesthetics.

I took pictures during the Iraq War 5^TH year anniversary vigil at Lafayette Park. With the computer, I was able to alter each photograph, which changed its tone. For example, I was able to tint the entire photograph to black and white, leaving only red as the main color. This gave emphasis to the red objects. Having this ability, the meaning of the photograph changed. It provided a somber mood to the vigil. Overall, the artist is capable of transforming the meaning of a photograph due to digital art.

This affected my experience of making art because I grasped the fact that there are so many more creative possibilities due to technology. It provides a modern edge to art. 

Stop the War Vigil

Peace Vigil

Wednesday,March 19, 2008 

Dozens of energetic protests took over Washington D.C. on a wet winter day. The Iraq war fifth anniversary vigil, however, remained calmer. 

A small group of calm anti-war believers stand in front of the white house. Here, a woman listens somberly to a veteran who speaks of the horrors in Iraq. 

A homeless man sets camp in front of the white house. He displays graphic photos of wounded victims in Iraq and peaceful anti-war phrases. 

Another man waits patriotically. He positions his "Invest in America Not War in Iraq" poster towards the home of President Bush. 

Only one news anchor appears in Lafayette Park. 

Each candle symbolizes every lost life in Iraq.

Police cars did not swarm this area. Instead, one police car looks lonely as few policemen explain to tourists the purpose of the vigil.

The white house seems unaffected by the vigil as the crowd stands separated behind bars.

In the U.S. there is a division between the government and the people. In Iraq, these same bars may remind some of the captured Iraqis who are unfairly punished. 

After the protests calmed down, old posters are left behind. One depicts how war mostly hurts the weakest, therefor the poor. 

Following the thousand people demonstration, the only traces are trashed posters that lay on the side of the street. Hopefully the voices of the American people will start making a difference towards the war in Iraq. 

Map of Iraq Protest

Ritual, ideology, security, and authority are four key words that have a cultural meaning toward the situational tour. They describe the social and political context. The ritual describes a group of action done by protests, like the march of the dead. Ideology is the confronting of the government or the military. Security can be the police with their weapons. And finally, authority will be those in power who will respond either actively or passively. Each concept will appear during the Iraq protest on Wednesday, March 19, 2008.

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What is the impact that computing brings to the creation of art?

Computers allow a quick and precise alteration to art. It expands the artist's mind and allows him or her to put art on a new attainable level. This level would not have been possible with out today's technology expansion. For example, the famous 1984 Apple commercial could not have been altered or remodeled to Obama's pro-political campaign without advancements in technology. Overall, the technology works in favor of art.