|| Hello World! (2008) by Christopher Baker is a audio-visual wall installation that comprises of over 5000 videos taken from social media websites like Youtube, Facebook and MySpace. Each of them are a personal video recording from an individual to an imaginary audience (vlogging = video + blogging). The collective motley of voices that results can either seem meditative or overwhelming to viewers who choose to dwell and immerse themselves in the experience.
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9mhAEMu7io
Since cameras have been incorporated into mobile devices, increased ownership of the latter would also mean an increase in possession of a camera. Coupled with the increased accessibility to the Internet, more individuals now have the power to participate in social sharing online.
“Some forms of computer-mediated communication can lower barriers to interaction and encourage more self-disclosure (Bargh, McKenna, & Fitzsimons, 2002; Tidwell & Walther, 2002); hence, these tools may enable connections and interactions that would not otherwise occur.”
– NB Ellison, The Benefits of Facebook “Friends”.
Hello World! fundamentally displays the innate need for social sharing in humans. This behavioural pattern can also be observed in Murmur Study, another work by Christopher Baker, which materialises the abundance of status updates which exist online which may not be directed to anyone in particular.
Christopher Baker laments that the experience of social sharing may not be totally reciprocal since people are not taught to be good listeners as well. If we manage to achieve a considerable balance, perhaps more beneficial collective actions can be born from online conversations.
Resources:
- http://christopherbaker.net/projects/helloworld/
- The Benefits of Facebook ‘‘Friends’’: Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Online Social Network Sites
- http://christopherbaker.net/projects/murmur-study/
- Murmur Study video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMtDoS2Ab0s
Good research, and how interesting that you shared Murmur Study #1 regarding status updates to no one in particular. That seems hauntingly similar to Hello World: we are speaking out, collectively, but to whom? Does the speak to the important of live communication, which we have explored in many of the works this semester. I would think about the collective artwork, and consider the importance of many to many communication, not just one to many. Also, be sure an quote from the assigned reading to support your argument in the research critiques. Good work.
Thank you for the feedback, Mr Packer! I was actually in what way was this artwork interactive, and the only way I could see it being interactive was the participation of people via uploading their personal stories online but definitely not between the viewer and the main artwork (the video wall). I came to the conclusion that this piece was probably meant to contrast the previous works featured in assigned readings where ownership was given up to the audience.