Digital representations of media art related audiovisual materials in online catalogues and archives across various platforms

• Annika Räim• Krystyna Biernawska

RQ

• How do different platforms approach the task of digital representation of audiovisual media art materials?

• 9 platforms• In order to give an overview of different

practices of representing media art related audiovisual materials, we have divided the platforms in 3 different categories:

1) educational platforms 2) art museums 3) distribution platforms

Conclusions

Distinctions between the platforms: Some focus exclusively on media art vs. platforms where media art forms a part of a more diverse collection; Each category addresses different target groups;They position the artists with varying importance (vs. e.g. branding of the institution);Museums tend to practice old fashioned methods in digital representation: don’t attempt to recreate the experience of visiting the museum, the catalogue have informative function and is an extension of the physical site.

There are overlapping practices across the different types of platforms:• Education• Preserving• Presentation & exhibition practices• Distribution• Archival and administrative practices

Most interesting aspect:

• Different platforms perceive different aspects of an artwork to be important enough to digitally represent it online: e.g. documentation materials such as videos or screen shots of exhibition settings, exhibition views, key frames, one frame , video excerpt, the complete content of the work, etc.

• The practices of digital representations are still developing and sometimes they don’t serve the purpose…

• Some platforms offer documentation materials about the works, gaze beholder’s point of view perspective. e.g exhibition views.

Reflection

• We aimed to present a model of the most optimal and universal approach for representing media art related audiovisual materials on various platforms, but due to different target markets, missions and activities, interests, etc. there cannot be ‘one that fits all’.

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