more notes and ruff stuff...

hopefully my stream of consciousness posting hasn't been pissing y'all off. Here's the latest of my ponderings and research:

BLOG POST 3

Mass collaboration is a form of collective action that occurs when large numbers of people work independently on a single project, often modular in its nature. Such projects typically take place on the internet using social software and computer-supported collaboration tools such as wiki technologies, which provide a potentially infinite hypertextual substrate within which the collaboration may be situated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_collaboration


networked/interactive net art

NET ART

thoughts:
There is a large and expanding field of new media art which is often referred to as 'net art'.
part of the appeal of net art is that much of it allows those experiencing the art are able to take part in the artwork. This type of interaction can take a number of different forms. Many of these artworks are (GIVE EXAMPLES) only in their full effect with the a user's added contribution. (ZEFRANK.COM). (HOGGERBRUGGE.COM)

(say it in plainer language if you can)

(maybe add in something about fluxus and happenings {interactivity})


INTERESTING QUESTION:
As we become more and more technologically adept and technologically oriented, why does the art we make start to become more and more interactive?
MY CONNECTION:
While I don't know if this answers the above observation, a connection I've made which could be a possible explanation for this is one relating to a growing global awareness around the idea of intrinsic human empathy. This is an idea put forward by a man named Jeremy Rifkin, a (superduperphilosipher? DR? what?) in his thoughts on the evolution of empathy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-7BjeHepbA&feature=related
His idea is that as our interconnectedness continues to grow and along with it our empathy for other human life, animal life, and an overall empathic concern for the well being of our planet. An evolution which arguably needs to happen to prevent our looming threat of extinction.
Where I think this ties in is in the solution Rifkin suggests. He suggests that everyone will have to become a contributor as well as a consumer, using whatever means you have to collect energy for your use (solar, wind, water etc) and then share the remaining energy with everyone else. This is that part that affects our interactions. The increasing presence of the idea that we share things and seeing the benefits and the power of sharing (user generated media, peer to peer file sharing & torrents, blogs <- responsible for collapsing both newspapers and the entire music industry) {same lecture 32mins} The communicaitons revolution which has shifted communicaiton systems from a 'top down' system to a 'distributed' system (personal computers, peer to peer, personal media).
as we become more empathically aware and evolving into a society increasingly based on sharing, I believe this mindset percolates into the creative process behind the art that we make. Our interest shifts, from one of being an artst who is interested in commanding and dictating what we see and experience, to one that wants to craft, shape and explore an experience with other people (in their art).
I believe that the sift toward interactivity and collaboration in new media art is part of a global evolution of thought which is heavily rooted in sharing and connecting with others on a mutual level.