An Investigation of the Role of Internet Artworks in formulating a New Communication Model in the Internet

Abstract

Abstract : Internet arts are a new field that has emerged from the new media revolution. There are many works in this field that are unique, creative, and singular in relation to their concept and practice, especially concerning the human communication aspect. The emulations and experimentations in communication by internet artists' works are now generating new and unexpected communication paradigms. However, scholars in this field of communication have declared that the current classical communication models are not adequate in reflecting the communication process within this new media field. Also, because internet artworks are embedded in this new media field, these models are not sufficient to reflect the communication process within them. Therefore, the main aim of this thesis is to identify a new communication model that will have the ability to express the communication process within internet artworks The research approach consists of four main steps. First: extract what can be used from relevant theories to provide a suitable solid basis on which to build the new model. Second: combine the relevant theories' output with that of the pilot case study to formulate an initial proposed model. Third: apply a qualitative multi-analysis generated from seven case studies. Fourth: analyze these outputs from the research methods to create the final version of the model. The initial results indicate that there are non-linear levels within the communication process and that internet artists consider the technological system as part of the artwork, rather than as a medium to convey its theme. Furthermore, users are aware of the technological system's role combined with artwork, and generally do not expect artists to deconstruct this in their communication through their artwork. It is hoped that the answers derived from these analyses will provide significant knowledge to fill the theoretical gap between communication science and the internet arts fields and, moreover, increase internet artists' awareness of the communication model implications of their artwork