Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is a computer term that is commonly associated with applications that facilitate interactive information sharing. The first arrivals of this interactive sharing on the internet were the use of text, then a program called Adobe Photoshop, then flash. Each of these platforms allowed sharing through different mediums. Text facilitated conversation through discussion, such as email, blogs and message boards. Photoshop allowed people to share still images, and flash allowed videos and moving pictures to be shared.

When Rachel Crowl, the Lawrence University New Media Coordinator came to speak during class, I thought that she shared invaluable information as someone who was present during significant periods of change through the digital age. It was interesting to hear her personal thoughts about what happened and the effects of the changes. I enjoyed how she broke the technological breakthroughs down, such as assigning email as taking communication into our own hands, and blogs enabling people to self-publish, as well as the age of social networking and Facebook being created solely for the purpose of socializing.

Furthermore, her take on how Web 2.0 allows and almost forces an integrated kind of learning was for me, a different way to think of how the web effects people. Because I've grown up with the challenges of computers being an entity that changes constantly, I've just sort of adapted to that change without looking at it as a hurdle, but as something that comes with the territory. And along with that territory, I've made it my business to get a grasp on every popular program out there and be proficient with it because it enables me to have much more control on the internet as an artist. When Rachel talked about the necessity of learning how to use common programs such as Photoshop, Flash, and Illustrator I completely understood what she said, because the tools that learning how to use those programs enable you to navigate the internet so much better. And for me, I really threw myself into the process of learning photoshop, and I became really interested in using it as a an artistic medium for digital painting. Without Web 2.0, there wouldn't have been this entirely new platform to create the kind of art I have been creating with Photoshop. Here are some of the paintings I've been able to create in photoshop:

The development of the democratized invention called Web 2.0 has enabled artists of all shapes and sizes to come out of the woodwork and has given them a platform to showcase their works, no matter who they are or where they come from. It has leveled the artistic playing field that used to only allow artists of a certain caliber to enjoy an audience. And in my opinion, it has "upped the ante" of what artists can aspire to become, because they are now up against the artistic endeavors from people around the world in this digital age.

Here's a short video that illustrates (very consicly) the differences between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0: