- ISBN13: 9780262632553
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
In this book Lev Manovich offers the first systematic and rigorous theory of new media. He places new media within the histories of visual and media cultures of the last few centuries. He discusses new media’s reliance on conventions of old media, such as the rectangular frame and mobile camera, and shows how new media works create the illusion of reality, address the viewer, and represent space. He also analyzes categories and forms unique to new media, such as int… More >>
Lev exemplifies the new breed of animal activist, a take-no-prisoners, fearless warrior who isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers. His theory of parallel species is fascinating. The notion that chickens and humans evolved from the same primate origin seemed ludicrous at first but is clearly laid out and elucidated in this book. Fascinating reading for anyone interested in biology and the future of our planet and its relation to new media.
Rating: 5 / 5
In this fine work of literature, Mr. Manovich illustrates that he can talk a lot about computers, even though he doesn’t know anything about them. He makes a plethora of fallacious statements, such as when he argues that all digital media must be discrete and contain only discrete objects, neglecting one can define a continuous geometry using discrete coefficients. If his statment were true, there’d be no way to draw a circle in Adobe Illustrator, but I know I’ve done that before! Read this book if you don’t know what a computer is and won’t mind misinformation presented to prove points that are stupid and worthless anyway.
Rating: 1 / 5
This thoughtful, sophisticated book is one of the first attempts to offer a systematic theoretical account of new media. Manovich addresses this challenging task in two ways. First, he uses history and culture to develop his case through analogy, comparison, and contrast. By anchoring new media form and practice in earlier media, Manovich demonstrates the twin forces of continuity and change that make technological development both fascinating and difficult to understand. Second, he uses the clear description of technology and technical effects to elaborate an understanding of what new media are and how they work. The technological parameters and effects of new media give rise to their philosophical, social, and artistic potential. New media programs have been waiting for this book. Many programs support enthusiastic studio work with critical studies and philosophy adapted from other fields. Teachers and students can now examine their work with the help of a focused and articulate expert. KF
Book review published in Design Research News, Volume 6, Number 8, Aug 2001 ISSN 1473-3862.
Rating: 5 / 5
Lev Manovich tracks developments in the social theories of industrialization and the technological developments in media that make associations between the two, illustrating that the architecture or fabric of media is as impactful as the content. I relish this examination of the form of new media as political. Also, the writing is ‘poetic’, the research and analysis are thorough and the writing is *very accessible.
Rating: 5 / 5
Lev Manovich claims to have been trained in computer science. If he had any respect for the field, he would not have filled his book with deliberate misstatements about the nature of digital media. He uses these misstatements to fill out his narrative about the development of new media, and in doing so misinforms the “new media artists” he purports to educate.
The writing is reflective of Manovich’s speaking/lecturing style: factually lazy, fluffed up with pointlessly obtuse language, and above all else BORING.
If you are an artist looking to understand the development of new media, look elsewhere, as you will only be bored and misinformed by Manovich. If you are a computer scientist looking for media theory, you will also be bored, but also possibly offended by the lazy treatment of your area of expertise.
Rating: 1 / 5