New Media, Recombination, Plagiarism Articles Response

In the first article, the author laid out the principles of new media, essentially answering the question what constitute as new media. The five basic principles of new media are of the following:

1. Numerical Representation: the numerical coding of media, structural discrete parts allow customization.

2. Modularity: the fractal structure of new media object, consist of smaller independent parts/discrete samples that are combined to make a larger object.

3. Automation: "low level" versus "high level" automation of media creation. Examples of "low level" automation are commercial image editing software like Photoshop. Examples of "high level" automation include artificial intelligence and interactive virtual video games.

4. Variability: the fluidity of new media, in other words, new media object can give rise to numerous versions. A new media object is not fixed and different versions are often created automatically by a computer.

5. Transcoding: computerization of media or "translating" it into another format.



In the second article by Viola, the author mainly talked about rearrangement, combination and recombination of "discrete parts or elements". In other words, one would take a piece, cut it into pieces and rearrange it to create a new version or something completely new. The author also talked about the difference between the traditional "linear" way versus the web "customization" way of how information is laid out. Recombination of discrete parts essentially allows users to customize elements such as interactivity.



In the last article, the author presented plagiarism as a potentially positive idea and the issues of plagiarism concerning new media. In the current era, plagiarism is considered, almost always, a negative thing. Taking another person's works and ideas and claim them as oneself's without giving proper credits is plagiarism. Thus brings up the question, is the concept of recombination in new media considered plagiarism and wrong? I personally believe that recombination of discrete parts is not plagiarism because recombination often lead to a new creation, a new object with its own meaning that differ from that of the original source's.

Sound Project

For my sound project, I chose the second floor of the library, the absolutely quiet floor, as my specific site. My project, titled "Between", starts low and quiet but eventually builds up to multitude of sounds such as whispering, white noise, laughing, and recitation of terms. Since the library is a place where silence reigns, the sounds in one's head would naturally be louder and more distracting; even to the point of discomfort and annoyance. Therefore, can one really focus and study in the a space void of sounds?