Online Community Arts: Independent Artistic Organs and New Media

  

© Company of People 2009 

Even though I’m not an artist myself, I can’t help but revel in the wonder that is the Internet’s ability to encourage artistic collaboration. It’s pretty amazing. That people are now able to share their work with the world and gain feedback, sell their artwork through websites such as Etsy , and all-in-all be part of something bigger than just working alone in their studios or bedrooms, testifies to the strength of virtual communities and their tangible impact on our ‘real lives’. Websites such as Deviant Art , EBSQ Art and Flickr are obvious examples, but the American based Company of People, founded this year and already offering an enormous catalogue of artists, is a salient example of young, up-and-coming artists making use of new media possibilities to transform the realm of community arts.

It almost makes you wonder how artists communicated and collaborated before the Internet.

Is The Internet Making Me Lazy & Intolerant?

Although it seems somewhat counterintuitive given the great digital age of efficiency and progress we find ourselves right in the middle of, I have, at times, heard the accusation that technology is making us lazy . Often, it’s from the mouth of older generations and is phrased in the way of, ‘back then, before there were cars, we had to walk 10 miles to work’, or something of the like, as though I should be thankful to be born in the age of asphalt covered meadows and smoggy skies. It’s not like I had any choice in the matter, and if I had of I probably would have chosen to grow up in a time where the world was a bit quieter, cleaner and in less of a hurry. Nevertheless, that choice was not my own and I find myself here, in the digital age, and just because I don’t find that ideal doesn’t mean I haven’t all but completely succumbed to its charms. New technology has dug its nail in deep. As far as it making me lazy goes? I don’t know, maybe I was lazy to begin with, destined for a life of indolence? It’s not like I order my groceries online, although it would probably be quite convenient, but there are a couple of dirty little habits I have that I don’t doubt are due to the Internet and it’s ability to make things so much ‘easier’.   

Digital Media Comparative Study

To assess the ways in which Internet websites effectively utilise digital publishing techniques to successfully communicate with their target audience, I have selected three quite different websites belonging to the area of digital media publishing best described as 'women's interest'. The sites of Jezebel, Missbehave and SheSaid utilise varying techniques to optimise their message and connect with their readership, and while some are more effective than others, the most notable finding of this report is that while there is no universal winning formula, the website that best understands and caters to its audience will ultimately be triumphant.