[-empyre-] 'real art'

["Lachlan Brown" <lachlan@london.com>]

My 'tale of genesis' of 'net art' is merely a recension,
a necessary fiction, an account, a memory, one among others, 
and has therefore the character of 'true' internet art.

I think the distinction to be born in mind concerning
'art' and 'internet' is one about 1. work made for the
contexts of distributed computing, new and unknown 'audiences'
and 2. work made for art and critical discourses for known
'audiences'. Perhaps the more successful work has spoken to,
or articulated and made problematic the beliefs, investments,
and policies apparant in 'innovative' aesthetic experimentation
and conventional art contexts. 
I'd be wary of a narrative of 'net art' at this stage 
as surely there is an argument that 'net art' has not yet
begun in any meaningful way, I'd be careful too 
in imagining an 'authentic' digital culture - a 'real net art'
(what would THAT look like) and certainly I wouldn't want to 
feel nostalgic about it. Though I think people doing the work 
up to a certain time, the time of the 'dot' rush in commerce, 
education and art were really pleasant thoughtful people, and 
those who arrived for the digital 'land rush' were a bunch of 
complete and utter idiots. 

It always takes time for a history to emerge and for work
to be known in its broader media and art historical contexts.

Lachlan Brown
-- 
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