Lines of Sight in the “Network Society”

The article Lines of Sight in the “Network Society” written by Robert Sweeny talks about all of the technology in today’s society and explores the role that simulation plays in contemporary artistic practice.  This article discussed computer and internet based lessons that have been proposed in the art education world.  There is very little internet based lessons in art education and it is discussed that there should be more of this type of learning involved in the classroom because the internet opens many new doors for the students in terms of information, social networking, research, and many more.  Next Sweeny discusses Castells theory of the “network society” which he calls “space flow.”  There are three different layers to this theory; first id the physical basis for the network society.  Second, is composed of the nodes and hubs that distribute information within the network. And third is the power if the individuals and organizations that use the network.  The last section was very interesting to me, most likely because I am a part of this social networking.  It discusses how people and machines are connected and many people create identities over or through the interne, whether it is a true identity or a made up one.  I myself used to have MySpace and now have facebook and have created my first blogs.  In the process of creating these I was able to upload my own pictures and choose different backgrounds and colors and I was able to make an identity of myself.  It was all very personalized. 

This article and Teaching Meaning in Art Making have a bit in common with each other.  Lines of Sight in the “Network Society” discusses bring technology into art education and how to connect the two while Teaching Meaning in Art Making does the same thing.  It gives us some information about big ideas and what they are and how to teach them to your students.  It also discusses three artists’ techniques for airing big ideas and gives a potential lesson plan for each.