Sunday, April 25, 2010

Non-user friendly techno commentary on identity

I came across this site when doing research for my contemporary art class: www.jodi.org

Jodi is a website that pioneered the rise of web art and the medium of exploring ourselves in an age of increasing technology. The website, Jodi.org, was created by Joan Heemskerk and Dirk Paesmans in the 1990's.

The two explore the art of randomized errors and failures in technology that we use and take for granted each day. By compromising browsers, programs, communications, etc, they produce meaningful works of art based on breaking down the relationship between a computer user and the technology which he or she depends on. This concept explores human identity in the digital age, suggesting that our sense of self is changing as we integrate more and more technology into our lives to assist us in a myriad of ways, and yet behind its simple and friendly interface, it is completely alien to the casual user.