Study Task 8 (Synthesis)

Exploring this argument practically has given me a greater understanding of the decline in culture that society has experienced with the ever-increasing advancements in technology. Playing around with abstract, surreal imagery in a digital manner has been beneficial in giving me an informed understanding of how refined our modern-day technologies have become. In my research, it became clear that the era in which the rave scene took place was bursting with impending anticipations of a futuristic world. This period was at the brink of the 21^st century - alongside the newness and excitement that digital development entailed, it is understandable that this period and the culture it ensued provided a sense of prosperity for all involved. In my practical responses to this project I was keen to emulate the methods of digitally constructed abstraction by using modern day CAD programs. Using a software that was capable of 3D rendering (something I imagine is one of the most advanced current methods of visual production) I was able to generate imagery that presented similar characteristics to that of the initial rave art. These practical responses allowed me to comprehend the possibilities for visual artists/designers today when it comes to creating work that celebrates technology and exposes its physicality. Something that I have realised (particularly through reading the texts of Mark Fisher) to be becoming more and more prominent in today’s society is the utilisation of technology to replicate the real world. This corresponds to the overarching argument of this essay, in the sense that people no longer feel a thirst for the development of the new (which could be argued to have been responsible for the rave scene) ideas/movements through the exploration of technology. We may now be too comfortable with HD animations and virtual realities causing the stagnation in culture that has previously been described.

Synthesis Poster: