AV News 182 - November 2010
Time Based Media - Managing Change
C & D Advisory Board
Every once in a while if The Society is to fulfil its role of a global leader in the
arts and sciences of photography, it has to decide where photography is at
and sometimes make uncomfortable decisions. Some may see this as a
disaster while others will see it as an opportunity for progress. We need to
get the balance right. We need to push the envelope and extend the diversity
of what we collectively call photography and imaging. As part of this Time
Based Media is currently being re-considered by The Society within the
context of the Strategic Plan.
Photography and the photographic image have been developed by
technological advancement. Technology drives change and it is our
responsibility to manage change. Since 1839 the image has moved in fits and
starts directly mirroring new innovations and technologies. Since its formation
in 1853 The Society has been central to various debates to make it happen.
The work of WHF Talbot was instrumental in the development of early
Victorian imagery while later that century George Eastman brought
photography to the masses. The twentieth century was dominated by two
World Wars, which moved materials and processes forward at an
accelerated rate. The twenty-first century arrived heralding new digital
processes and the democratization of photography and now a decade later
we are looking at convergence of still and motion capture.
We are looking at the interface between the still and moving image,
between time and motion, and the dynamic between audio and visual
imagery. In the twenty-first century the outcomes are equally diverse. The
audio-visual presentation on a large screen and to an equally large audience
continues to have a place. There are contenders to using a small screen and
the web and increasingly this is our market.
Sometimes it is possible to achieve maximum change or effect with
minimum impact. Other times it is necessary to return to the original building
blocks and start again from scratch. On this occasion and because we did not
previously embrace the problem as it was developing it is necessary to return
to the beginning.
Due, in part, to the drastic fall-off of support of The Society's distinctions in
AV, the Audio Visual panel is suspended with immediate effect. A working
group will be set up to include The Society's interests in Audio Visual and the
current international standards, the well progressed culture for time based
media in colleges and universities, the moving image sector, and the new
technologies particularly of convergence and the web. Initially, this group will
meet in the Autumn and report back to the November meeting of the
Distinctions Advisory Board. The anticipation is that a distinction panel
encompassing TBM and AV will be formed.
Council and Distinctions Advisory Board, July 2010
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