the matrix

I hate going to the library. I really like books though. But it's too time-consuming, and there's too many options. The pile gets too big, too heavy, and I tend to attract fines. And its not pretty like Metropolis or Readings or welcoming like Borders. I think a coffee shop would help.

Anyway, I went there on Monday. I got Liz Well's Photography Reader, Ansel Adams' The Camera, Caponigro's Adobe Photoshop Master Class (2003!!) a novel by George Orwell, and a couple of doco's on Ansel Adams and Bill Henson.

I should have only got one. But I knew I'd want more. I've been trying to read them... but I'm suffering from a mild case of infomania. It's ridiculous. Part of my interest and desire to do this project is to try and cure myself of this craziness... but I love it, I'm addicted to it. I tell myself I love learning but I think it's something more.


The process of reading textbooks is something I think I have to reaccustom myself too. Each page, paragraph, sentence, term lends itself the opportunity for associations and further thought. There's so much to consider, and you probably bring even more with you. The problem is in the pace. When reading textbooks, you control the pace at which you assimilate the information. The problem with that for me is that I'm too easily distracted. It takes a good narrative hook, or reward system, to keep me going. I'm a result of 21st century consumer society, always hungry for more, bigger, better faster! And I only just really realised that now. Which is proof enough for me. I feel a bit like Neo in The Matrix... less the Hollywood heroism and fighting a bit more apathy.


The novel is by Orwell, so its more nutritious in popular opinion than tv or film, but still junk food compared to Adams' The Camera (deceivingly simply title). But novels are narratives. I can handle them in length, because I know that's the format. Not as easy as a good magazine article, but ultimately more satisfying, in the same way watching the entire series of Buffy is so much more powerful than even the greatest character development in a wonderful film. There's a joy in the slow change, and its broken up by constant events.

Screen based media is another story. It's designed to flow. So much so that we psychologically can't, or really don't want to tear ourselves away. The role of the viewer role is so much more passive. I heard once somewhere (no doubt from a very unreliable source), that you have more brain activity while your asleep than when watching tv. That's why I got the doco's. I like the passivity. And perhaps that's the answer to my riddle.

Why do we love the screen? Beacuse we love being passive.


But that doesn't exactly fit with the whole gaming subculture...

the text reference list

This page will serve as an always updateable reference list. I will include recommendations, as well as things that I want to study, and things that I have studied. I haven't worked out the logistics of it yet but may sort by subject/author/date/status (recommended/read/want to read)... or perhaps I'll colour code in addition. Most other influences are noted as part of the blog but I guess I should list them here and perhaps link them to the original post? Open to suggestions :)

Recommended texts in The Digital Fine Print:

BIALOBRZESKI, P., RIBBAT, C. & HANIG, F. (2004) Neontigers : photographs of Asian megacities, Ostfildern-Ruit, Germany; New York, Hatje Cantz ; [Distributors] D.A.P. Distributed Art Publishers. Amazon or RMIT 770.92 B576

BLATNER, D. (2004) Real world scanning and halftones : industrial strength production techniques, Berkeley, Calif., Peachpit Press. Amazon or RMIT 686.22544 B644

BLATNER, D. (2008) Real World Adobe Photoshop Cs3 : Industrial-Strength Production Techniques, Berkeley, Peachpit Press. Amazon or RMIT 006.686 B644

CAPONIGRO, J. P. (2003) Adobe Photoshop master class : the essential guide to revisioning photography, Berkeley, Calif., Adobe Press book published by Peachpit Press. Amazon or RMIT 006.6869 A239

ELAM, K. (2001) Geometry of design : studies in proportion and composition, New York, N.Y., Princeton Architectural Press. Amazon or RMIT 701.8 E37

ENNIS, H. & NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA. (2004) Intersections : photography, history and the National Library of Australia, Canberra, National Library of Australia. Amazon or RMIT 779.0749471 E59

EVENING, M. (2007) Adobe Photoshop CS3 for photographers : a professional image editor's guide to the creative use of Photoshop for the Macintosh and PC, Oxford ; Burlington, MA, Elsevier/Focal Press. Amazon or RMIT 006.686 E93

FRASER, B. (2005) Real world Camera Raw with Adobe Photoshop CS2 : industrial-strength production techniques, Berkeley, Calif., Peachpit Press. Amazon or RMIT 006.6869 F841

FRASER, B., MURPHY, C. & BUNTING, F. (2005) Real world color management : industrial-strength production techniques, Berkeley, CA, Peachpit Press. Amazon or RMIT 006.6 F841

JOHNSON, S. (2006) Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography, O'Reilly Media, Inc. Amazon

KISSELL, J. (2007) Real world Mac maintenance and backups, Berkeley, CA [S.L.], Peachpit Press ; Take Control Books. Amazon or RMIT 621.3916 K56

LONG, B. (2007) Real World Aperture, Berkeley, Calif., Peachpit Press. Amazon or RMIT 778.593 L848

MARGULIS, D. (2006) Photoshop LAB color : the canyon conundrum and other adventures in the most powerful colorspace, Berkeley, CA, Peachpit. Amazon or RMIT 006.686 M331

POGUE, D. (2007) Mac OSX: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition, O'Reilly Media, Inc. Amazon or RMIT (Tiger) 004.165M2 P746

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Benjamin, W 1968The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, from
http://fineartphotography.dsc.rmit.edu.au/?page_id=85

Berger, J 1965 Ways of Seeing Videorecording viewed March 2007

Bright, S 2006 Art Photography Now, First paperback edition, Thames and Hudson,
London.

Huxley, A 1936 Brave New World, Flamingo, London

Bordwell, David; Thompson, Kristin (2003). Film Art: An Introduction, 6th ed. New
York: McGraw-Hill.

Cotton, C 2004 The Photograph as Contemporary Art, Thames and Hudson, London

Smith, L Photographic Theory from
http://fineartphotography.dsc.rmit.edu.au/?page_id=85

Stathern, P 2002 The Essential Kant, Virgin Books, London

Wells, L 2000, Photography: A Critical Introduction 2nd Edition, Routledge, London

Westbury, M 2007 Not Quite Art ABC, Television Series viewed on air 2007 ( and
some new art show on ABC tracing the history of the evolution of art, and its effects).

Gomes, L 2008 Why We’re Powerless to Resist Grazing on Web Data, Wall Street
Journal Online, viewed march 2008
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120527756506928579-
3wNdJRXhkpLqY4EDBt4j3ly1foo_20090312.html?mod=rss_free