Discussion Questions for Reading #6

What New Media Is Not
by Manovich

1.

"In the 1920's Einstein speculated that film could be used to externalize-and control-thinking" (10).

This portion of Manovich's piece abruptly stopped me - mostly due to the fact that I could see the logic in it. Film has a quality to it that paintings, written works, and drawings do not. Perhaps a lessened room for interpretation. There is more empty space for the viewer to fill in with their own imagination when they read a book, or look at a painting or drawing. With a film - sounds and moving images are given to them without reprieve. What is left for them to fill in themselves but how they feel about what they've viewed?

All forms of art have been used at one time or another in attempt to control / influence thinking. Books have swayed thought, as have drawings and paintings when used with interventionist  purpose. However, is film more powerful than all previous forms of art at influencing / controlling thought?

2.

"We are asked to mistake the structure of someone else's mind for our own" (13).

Is Manovich's claim true? Even though the viewer has a choice on when it comes to clicking on the hyperlink or not? Could the viewer not navigate away from the page completely? Go to another page entirely? Shut the computer off? Is there not perhaps more possibilities and more options than before digital media? Where the only option used to be: 1. Go to the gallery and see the art pieces someone else decided were noteworthy, or 2. Not go to the gallery and see the art pieced that someone else decided were noteworthy?