DVC: Theory and Practice – Mapping Outside the Frame: Interactive and Locative Art Environments

        In Mapping Outside the Frame the authors, Graham and Elizabeth Coulter-Smith start the chapter by talking about the most recent form of new media art: locative media. They describe locative media as "a burgeoning installation art movement which is that latest attempt to involve the viewer in the work of art" (pg. 49). I think that involving the viewer into a piece of artwork is a great way to get the viewer more involved in, not only art in general, but the specific piece in question. I think it would make the viewing process more fun for the viewer and allow the viewer to enter the world that the artist is in. Having the viewer become more involved in the the piece of art has been done successfully with video games and game-like interactivity, but when it come to fin art attempts can "appear derisory" (pg. 51). "Fine art is much more successful when it comes to involving the spectator's visual perception: the level of the disembodied gaze" (pg. 51). There are so many different elements, kinds and features that locative art possesses, but one of the most interesting features, I thought, was how is uses collected interactive data to create the visualization for the viewer. Instead of altering an existing data-driven work of art, locative art allows the viewer to enter the art in a visual way. Finding new ways to involve all kinds of people, and not just those interested in art, is a great idea. Getting more people interested in things that they might not normally be interested in it always a good idea. "...new media art seems to be the only sphere of artistic activity in which there is any hope of realizing the goal of overcoming the elitism of fine art" (pg. 64).