Documenting the context of software artworks through social theory: towards a vocabulary for context classification

Konstantelos, L. (2014) Documenting the context of software artworks through social theory: towards a vocabulary for context classification. In: Delve, J. and Anderson, D. (eds.) Preserving Complex Digital Objects. Facet Publishing: London, pp. 236-256. ISBN 9781856049580

Abstract

Whereas digital preservation mandates the long-term management of information, context can be elusive and difficult to pin down. In the world of software art, this difficulty is magnified by the temporal, ephemeral nature of art works whose intrinsic value derives from the sociotechnical networks in which they are created, rendered and experienced. Lovejoy et al. (2011) argue that the use of digital media in artistic output blurs the boundaries between content and context; and that interpretation and documentation depends on the 'thematic lens' under which an artwork is considered. What are the ramifications of this interconnectedness for preserving software art? Is our long-term ability to preserve the meaning, value and impact of digital art works impaired by the elusiveness of context documentation and interpretation? In an effort to investigate these questions and understand platforms for explicitly documenting contextual dimensions of digital art works, this paper presents an approach towards defining a vocabulary for context classification that builds on theory of social informatics.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Keywords: Digital preservation, digital curation, digital art, software art, new media, vocabularies, classification, interpretation.
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Konstantelos, Dr Leo
• Authors: Konstantelos, L.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Information Studies
• Publisher: Facet Publishing
• ISBN: 9781856049580

Related URLs

• University of Glasgow Library Catalogue