THE ONLINE-LIFE OF MEDIA ART-ARCHIVES
Florian Wiencek, M.A., Jacobs University Bremen
Research Center „Visual Communication and Expertise“ (VisComX)14.11.2010
Presentation at the Reimagining the Archive. UCLA, 12-14.11.2010
Panel 5.3 – Artists and Archives

Outline
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
¨ What is new in „Digital Archives“?
¨ How „natively digital“ are current archives and
platforms for media art?
¨ What is the discourse space around media art
formed by these platforms and archives?

Digital Archives (1)
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
¨ dynamic content à user-generated through queries
¤ „shift from read-only to a generative, participative
form of archival reading“ (Ernst 2010, p. 81)

Digital Archives (2)
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
¨ task of the archive is „to meaningfully link up
different information nodes“ (Ernst 2010, p. 84)
à relation (e.g. through hyperlinks)
¤ „The Internet is a network where a different context is
always only one click away, and everyone is engaged
in a continuous process of (re)contextualizing. Linking to
and commenting on other websites creates information
filters, portals, and new contexts.“ (Paul 2010, p. 103)

Digital Archives (3)
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
¨ Distinction of 2 generations of online collections (Cameron 2003)
1. first generation: thematic solutions / narrative à „digital objects are
presented in a hierarchical storyline with theme and
subtheme“ (Cameron 2003, p. 3).
n use of classical museum devices (object labels, graphic images , didactic
texts) in fixed order
n not many hyperlinks or interactive possibilities
n particular narratives are privileged
2. second generation: offer alternative pathways through collection by
the offer of greater contextual possibilities (e.g. alternative
navigation systems (multimedia-, text- or image- based) like semantic
maps)
n allows users to create new pathways
n non-hierarchical system ruled by relationships
à next generation?

¨ Categorization of the material
4 Dimensions of Meaning Generation in
Digital Visual Archives
main categories from virtualart.at
main categories from V2_archive

¨ Categorization of the material
¨ Interactive processes of digital archives
¨ Visualization and contextualization of archive material
¨ Retrieval
4 Dimensions of Meaning Generation in
Digital Visual Archives
main categories from V2_archive

¨ Categorization of the material
¨ Interactive processes of digital archives
¨ Visualization and contextualization of archive material
¨ Retrieval
4 Dimensions of Meaning Generation in
Digital Visual Archives
Semantic Map, netzspannung.org

¨ Categorization of the material
¨ Interactive processes of digital archives
¨ Visualization and contextualization of archive material
¨ Retrieval
4 Dimensions of Meaning Generation in
Digital Visual Archives
Advanced Search at GAMA (gama-gateway.eu)

Sample
Institutional Archives
¨ Ars Electronica Archiv
¨ V2_archive
¨ virtualart.at
¨ Daniel Langlois Foundation
¨ Medien Kunst Netz à Educational Platform
¨ netzspannung.org à
¨ rhizome.org à Collaborative Online Platform
¨ GAMA à Subject Gateway
Archives in Scientific Contexts
Educational Platform /
Collaborative Online Platform
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive

How digital are current Online-Archives
and -Platforms?
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
¨ Text & images are still the most prevalent mediation-
modalities, but also video, audio and other means such
as hyperlinks, automated search (dynamic content) and
interactive applications / visualizations are used.
¨ natively digital objects (Rogers, 2009)
¤ „objects, content, devices and environments that are ‚born‘ in
the new medium, as opposed to those that have ‚migrated’
to it“ (Rogers, 2009, p. 1)
à What kind of digital objects does one find in
online-archives and –platforms for media art?

Digital Objects in Online-Archives and -Platforms
¨ hyperlinks
¨ hyperlink-lists
¨ static pages
¨ dynamic pages
¤ server generated
¤ based on user-input
¨ interactive data visualization / interactive
applications
¨ database-search
¨ search results
¨ related items
¨ media gallery
¨ embedded media
¨ embedded archive content
¨ rollover
¨ information-layering
¤ pop-up windows
¤ html-layer
¨ filter-mechanisms
¨ different views on data
¨ personalized features
¨ community features
¨ comment space
¨ RSS-feeds
¨ share-features
¨ folksonomy / tags
¨ widgets
¨ Wiki
¨ subscribable calendar
¨ multimedia objects (video, flash;
hypermedia lecture)
¨ clickable keywords / categories
¨ mailing lists
¨ quotation generator
¨ net art
¨ accessability tools
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive

Digital Objects // Hyperlinks
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
medienkunstnetz.de:
navigation within a site; navigation in a page;
position indicator within the site; link to internal sources
medienkunstnetz.de:
trigger searches via hyperlinks
rhizome.org: share-button

Digital Objects // Dynamic Page (Server Generated)
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
V2_archive: aggregated page virtualart.at: random content

14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
Digital Objects // Dynamic Page (Based on User Input)
GAMA: search results netzspannung.org: filter-mechanisms

Digital Objects // Database Search
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
GAMA: Advanced Search
Ars Electronica Archive: Simple Search
rhizome: Embedded Google-Search
GAMA: Film Strip & Related Search

Digital Objects // Interactive Data
Visualization / Interactive Applications
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
netzspannung.org: exploratory search interface
Semantic Map & Timeline
netzspannung.org

Digital Objects // Personalized Features
¨ expert communities
(netzspannung)
¨ Ariadne’s Thread (netzspannung)
¨ search patterns (netzspannung)
¨ member-curated exhibitions
(rhizome)
¨ netzkollektor (netzspannung)
¨ profile (netzspannung, rhizome)
¨ discussion board (with RSS feed)
(rhizome)
personalized features community features
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive

Digital Objects // Wiki
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
GAMA: Wiki – Guided Tour
GAMA: embedded archive-object

Digital Objects // Tags, Folksonomy
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
rhizome.org:
artist‘s terms
VokabWiki

Interlink Analysis
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
Interlink Analysis of the sample
using the tool „Issue
Crawler“ (www.issuecrawler.net)
by the Govcom.org Foundation,
Amsterdam (NL).

http://www.netzspannung.org/about/partnerships/
http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/
http://www.netzspannung.org/about/partnerships/?lang=en
http://www.netzspannung.org/about/partnerships/en
http://www.netzspannung.org/about/workshops/learning/
http://www.netzspannung.org/learning/links/
http://www.netzspannung.org/learning/links/?lang=en
http://www.netzspannung.org/learning/links/index.xsp?lang=en
http://www.v2.nl/
http://framework.v2.nl/archive/archive/node/notion/default.xslt/nodenr-134057
http://www.fondation-langlois.org/
http://framework.v2.nl/archive/index/organisation/default.xslt/class-funding_body?offset=1&sortby=name
http://framework.v2.nl/archive/index/organisation/default.xslt/class-organisation?offset=61&maxitems=10&sortby=name
http://framework.v2.nl/archive/index/person/default.xslt/class-person?offset=231&maxitems=10&sortby=name
http://rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=electronicart
http://www.rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=sound
http://rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=glitch
http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/works/magnet-tv/
http://www.rhizome.org/editorial/news
http://www.rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=1970s
http://www.rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=code
http://www.rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=effects
http://www.gama-gateway.eu/index.php?id=21
http://90.146.8.18/de/archives/prix_archive/prix_projekt.asp?iProjectID=13373
http://www.gama-gateway.eu/index.php?id=21&color=1
http://www.gama-gateway.eu/index.php?id=21&size=1
http://www.rhizome.org/
http://framework.v2.nl/archive/index/organisation/default.xslt/class-network?offset=1&sortby=name
http://framework.v2.nl/archive/index/organisation/default.xslt/class-organisation?offset=211&maxitems=10&sortby=name
http://90.146.8.18/de/archives/prix_archive/prix_projekt.asp?iProjectID=14183
http://90.146.8.18/de/archives/prix_archive/prix_projekt.asp?iProjectID=13390
http://90.146.8.18/de/archives/festival_archive/festival_catalogs/festival_artikel.asp?iProjectID=9382
http://rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=1960s
http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/works/public-supply-i/
http://www.rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=radio
http://www.rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=transmission
http://90.146.8.18/de/archives/prix_archive/prix_projekt.asp?iProjectID=2408
http://90.146.8.18/de/festival2008/program/project.asp?iProjectID=14399
http://90.146.8.18/de/archives/prix_archive/prix_projekt.asp?iProjectID=12879
http://rhizome.org/artbase/
http://framework.v2.nl/archive/index/person/default.xslt/class-person?offset=1081&maxitems=10&sortby=name
http://www.fondation-langlois.org/e/collection/vasulka/archives/
http://rhizome.org/editorial/fp/month.php?month=200110
http://framework.v2.nl/archive/index/organisation/default.xslt/class-organisation?offset=141&maxitems=10&sortby=name
http://netzspannung.org/
http://rhizome.org/editorial/fp/month.php?month=200409
http://framework.v2.nl/archive/index/organisation/default.xslt/class-organisation?offset=201&maxitems=10&sortby=name
http://rhizome.org/RSG/
http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/works/random-access/images/5/
http://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/page.php?NumPage=1949
http://rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=dance
http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/artist/beckett/biography/
http://rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=process
http://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/page.php?NumPage=2026
http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/works/tv-hijack/
http://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/page.php?NumPage=2186
http://rhizome.org/editorial/tag.php?tag=research
http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/artist/mark/biography/
http://www.netzspannung.org/tele-lectures/hypermedia-lectures/
http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/themen/
http://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/page.php?NumPage=152
http://rhizome.org/art/
Interlink Analysis
Graph showing the page-level
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
hyperlinks are used
• content-related
• indications of institutional relations
• reference to context
• link as gateway

Actors according to Google.de
1. European Media Art Festival (Osnabrück)
2. medienkunstnetz
...
4. IMAI
...
9. ZKM
...
11. mediaartnet.org
...
37. Werkleitz Gesellschaft
...
39. Edith-Russ-Haus
...
41. GAMA
...
79. ISEA 2010
¨ Archives
¨ Cultural Institutions
¨ Scientific Portals
¨ Educational Platforms
¨ Universities / Research Institutions
¨ Publishing House
¨ Funding Agencies
¨ Artists
¨ Events (Festivals, Conferences)
¨ Blogs
¨ Art Platforms
¨ Broadcaster
¨ Companies (Design, Advertising, Web, Bookstore...)
¨ Company Directories
¨ PR-Portal
¨ Cities
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
Query for „media art“, 01.11.2010
Actortypes:

Actors according to Google.de (2)
1. de.wikipedia.org
2. medienkunstnetz
...
9. Edith Russ Haus
...
15. Werkleitz Gesellschaft
...
35. ISEA 2010
...
73. European Media Art Festival
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
Query for „Medienkunst“, 01.11.2010
¨ Archives
¨ Cultural Institutions
¨ Educational Platforms
¨ Universities / Research Institutions
¨ Publishing House (incl. Book on
Demand)
¨ Funding Agencies
¨ NGOs
¨ Individuals (Artists, Ressearchers,
Curators)
¨ Art Projects
¨ Events (Festivals, Conferences)
¨ (Research) Blogs
¨ Art Platforms / Art Magazines
¨ Newspapers / Magazines (Print
& Online)
¨ Broadcaster
¨ Companies (Design, Advertising,
Web, Bookstore...)
¨ Company Directories
¨ Social Media Platforms
¨ Shopping Platforms
¨ Cities / City Marketing /
Counties
Actortypes:

Inlink Analysis
¨ other archives / platforms
¨ festivals
¨ cultural institutions
¨ blogs
¨ research blogs
¨ private pages of idividuals
(artists, researchers, curators)
¨ conferences
¨ universities, colleges & other
research institutions
¨ libraries
¨ research networks, platforms
¨ art portals & magazines
¨ information services on art
¨ research projects
¨ companies (partly involved in
these projects)
¨ administration
¨ web services
¨ social bookmarking
¨ broadcaster
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
Classification of hosts linking to archive‘s homepages:

Conclusions
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive
¨ All sites use natively digital objects, but some are
„more digital“in their approach than others.
¨ Archives should try to bind the discourse to the
archive material.
¤ tools for collaborative meaning making are needed

f.wiencek@jacobs-university.de
Thank you for your attention!
14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive

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netzspannung.org/about/tools/.
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14.11.2010Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive

14.11.2010Wiencek, Seizov, Müller - Multimodal Online Mediation @ ECREA 2010
References (4):
Sample:
Ars Electronica Archive: http://90.146.8.18/de/archives/index.asp; http://90.146.8.18/de/archives/
prix_archive/prix_projekt.asp?iProjectID=2475#
Daniel Langlois Foundation: http://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/; http://www.fondation-langlois.org/
html/e/page.php?NumPage=2186
GAMA: http://www.gama-gateway.eu; http://www.gama-gateway.eu/index.php?
id=search&workdetail=gama:ars-electronica:main:Work:966
Medien Kunst Netz: http://www.medienkunstnetz.de; http://www.medienkunstnetz.de/werke/very-nervous-
system/
netzspannung.org: http://www.netzspannung.org; http://netzspannung.org/cat/servlet/CatServlet?
cmd=document&subCommand=show&forward=%2fnetzkollektor%2foutput
%2fproject.xml&entryId=147823&section=base&lang=de
rhizome.org: http://www.rhizome.org
Virtualart: http://www.virtualart.at; http://www.virtualart.at/database/general/work/very-nervous-system.html
V2_archive: http://www.v2.nl/archive; http://framework.v2.nl/archive/archive/node/work/default.xslt/
nodenr-162937
Wiencek – The Online Life of Media Art-Archives @ Reimagining the Archive