High Tech Generation - Artists & Artisans

There seem to be a lot more artists these days than in the past. Either that or the word artist is not used what the dictionaries define it as any more, but denominate many more types of work or professions. There are now artists in every field, many at first glance don't seem to have a lot to do with art. If one is good at any one thing, he starts thinking that he is an artist. I suppose one can say so if one has profound knowledge of something and, plus the added know-how of able to manipulate, recycle, embellish, combine with other material with it, so that the end product resembles or becomes work of art or better still, living art.

But then there is such a word: artisan, or craftsman. Is there also the word craftswoman? Not sure and I am too lazy to leave my seat to go looking for a dictionary. Anyway, back to what I was saying ...

Are artists also artisans then? Take the youngsters of today for instance. The generation that's born and brought up in this multimedia world, with the fast developing digital technology. Many of them learn to use a computer, expertly, even before they know how to phrase an email with coherent sentences and correct spelling. But they are artists in ways and means to manipulate video games, upload, download, mix and match with more tools than I know existed, to solve problems and create new games and videos, set up dazzling personal sites, create theme groups and recruit like minded Cyber partners, inventors and friends. And artists.

I think they are more aptly termed artisans. A painter would exhibit his paintings in a gallery, these artisans would display them adding interesting or animated background environment, music, animation, visual and audio effects ... making the whole experience a festival to be enjoyed. A few might over exercise their talents, but I am more for real artistic accomplishment expertly achieved and exhibited. What's more, the already amazing exhibit allows further addition or change, from others taking part in the same project, a continuous project inviting further development and progress.

What wouldn't I give for being half as clever as these awesome youngsters! Generally I am happy in my own skin, just that in the technology area I am thick as two planks of wood!

Tag:TechGeneration,Artist,Artisan,LivingArt

Current Mood: Artistic