Throughout history, technology has significantly impacted our lives, including the art and entertainment industries, which were once considered exclusively human and creative. Since the dawn of humanity, we have used new technologies to create new forms of art and entertainment to entertain ourselves. From the time of cave paintings, technology has been instrumental in the development of art by inventing brushes and mastering the extraction of colour pigments from nature. Time passed, and the Egyptians employed geometry and mathematics to construct the pyramids. Even now, we continue to use various technologies to create art and entertainment, i.e. creating artworks by Midjourney AI.
The Palettes of Possibilities
Technology has significantly impacted the arts and entertainment industry, increasing accessibility to art and entertainment. With the help of technology, people can now virtually tour famous museums and view world-famous paintings even from remote corners of the world. Streaming services like Netflix or Hulu allow people to watch classic movies that have stood the test of time. Technology has made it easier and more affordable for people to enjoy art and entertainment regardless of location or income.
Additionally, technology gave birth to new art forms such as digital painting, 3D modelling and virtual reality experiences. These art forms allow artists to explore new mediums and techniques unavailable to traditional art forms. Artists like Refik Anadol and Daito Manabe are creating digital art and have gained a lot of fame using technology as a medium of art. Also, there are new forms of entertainment, such as video games and social media. Video games have been a major form of entertainment for people of all ages. Social media sites like TikTok enable people to create and share creative content.
Moreover, technology has created new opportunities for artists and entertainers. In the past, they had to rely on traditional publishing methods such as record labels, movie studios and art galleries. Now, they can use the internet to reach the audiences directly and heed their feedback. Artists and entertainers can use social media platforms to reach their fans directly, listening to their concerns and demands. This helps people to have a more active and engaging experience with art and entertainment.
Not just the increased engagement, but the quality of arts and entertainment has also increased with the advancement of technology. For example, the first Superman movie was released in the 70’s. But the technology back then was not advanced, so watching those movies may not be the best experience for people born after that era. But now, Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) used in the latest Superman movie made it look more natural and provides a better watching experience.
The Looming Shadow
One of the negative impacts of technology on art and entertainment is the dilution of quality and originality. A considerable amount of arts and entertainment are available on the internet due to the mass availability of it. This can make it difficult for people to find original and high-quality content there. Moreover, with the ease of production, artists and entertainers may now cut corners to produce content quickly, which can lead to a decline in quality. Furthermore, this can lead to increased commercialization of creative works. In the past, art was created for art only. However, it has become more commercial and tilting to appease the masses and stay in the limelight rather than creativity. This also leads to a decline in the quality of art and entertainment.
Another negative impact of technology on art and entertainment are copyright and piracy issues. Artists work hard to create new and original content, but with the internet readily available, people can easily pirate the result of their hard work. This results in a drop in revenue for the artists, which may discourage them from creating more creative works.
Furthermore, technology has also been blamed for reducing people’s attention spans. They are more likely to consume art and entertainment content in short bursts. This makes social media like TikTok and Metaverse’s Reels and Stories features so popular. This makes it difficult for people to focus on more complex artworks and entertainment such as novels and movies.
Overall, technology has both positive and negative impacts on art and entertainment. It is essential to be aware of the adverse effects to mitigate them.
In a Nutshell
Technology is a powerful tool that can transform anything it touches. We must consider both the positive and negative impacts of it. Technology is just a tool, and like any tool, it is up to us to use it to enhance our lives and our enjoyment of art and entertainment.