By Teresa Hung
In as few words as possible: An Innovative Media Arts Showcase (it's
like a museum on the internet)
The editors' intent for the site in their exact words (I couldn't
have said it better): Wigged.net is a bi-monthly webzine that is focused
on bringing innovative short videos, animations and interactive works
over the internet. Our mission is to be a showcase, distribution and
promotion center for media artists via the World Wide Web. Wigged.net
is for audiences seeking innovative alternatives to traditional forms
of entertainment.
Structure of the site: Simple. There are no distracting and excessive
ads or text-links. The site is broken down into appropriate main sections--Now
Showing (current works on display in the site), Stuff You Need (promotional
section), Wigged News (reviews of current projects, commentary, other
articles, event postings), Like Minds Chat (a message board), Home,
and Feedback. In the Now Showing section, for each work on display
in the list, there is a small snapshot of a scene from the project
and a brief description, so you may pick works that might appeal to
you. This is particularly nice since some clips may take a little
while to load if they use Realplayer or Flashplayer. However, all
of the media player clips are under ten minutes (apparently this is
a time limit set by the editors), so you don't have to wait too long.
Experience of the site: Each presentation might be cultural, political,
philosophical, personal, artistic and poetic, innovative and provocative.
Many artists combined and overlapped and arranged sounds, music, and
imagery to represent and coummicate in an unconventional way some
interesting idea, event, or story. From claymation and animation to
interviews to dance to changing shades of red mixed with sounds from
the Kristallnacht, each piece varied greatly in format, in the different
types of media used, and in the presentation from one to the next.
I looked at all ten of the projects that were published for the February/March
issue. For some, I felt a little lost and confused ('what is this
thing supposed to mean?' I thought to myself) and rather unappreciative
of the artist's efforts, but for others I connected with more personally.
And for these works of art I felt that my perceptions and conceptions
of particular ideas were stretched and redefined. And other projects
were just entertaining for me. But the variety and innovation apparent
in the published works gives you a sense that there are no boundaries
to the number of possible ways you can represent an idea, thought,
story, event, etc. This site is a wonderful source of ideas for creating
new media art as well as for "educational" or thought-provoking
entertainment.
I can't forget to mention: The Stuff You Need section is also a useful
source for finding interesting new media created by "underknown"
(termed by the editors) media artists. Currently there are mostly
cd's (music) and cd-rom's for sale. And for most of them, there are
short samples that you can listen to, view, play around with, etc.
Suggestions for change: I didn't see an archive of past presentations/projects
on display. I'd like to see the old projects if at all possible.