New Art for a new Generation: building a new artistic paradigm.

by Bill

Part 1: The iGeneration revolution

There is change in the air, change that is shaking up the way we see and live in our world, everywhere I go the early adaptors are seeing and feeling it. They feel it in the market place they feel it in the political arena and they feel it in their hearts. While some have been quick to adapt others are proceeding slowly and many others are letting fear blind them.

Old networks new life

The fundamental basis for this change is the continual openings for interaction and conversation brought by the internet. As recent as two years ago or in many cases a year ago interactive choices were still limited, and available choices to expand our networks, to find the products that fit our needs, were just beginning to be available. Facebook, and MySpace were not seen as anything else than a place for kids, the concept of a “Social Network” was just beginning to take shape.

As I write this everything is changing almost by the day. Facebook in particular has become THE place to network, blogs are replacing or at the least complimenting static web sites. Mini-blogs like Twitter linked together through RSS feeds provide real time ways to stay connected with our own network. Old school one way advertising and marketing is almost dead replaced by interactive realtime conversations.

Ageless iGeneration re-combining and creating

These changes have all been spurred by what has been called the iGeneration, initially thought to be limited to the twenty and 30 somethings who cut their teeth on computers and the internet. Their digital literacy opened the doors of curiosity and while we were saying that the web would result in greater isolation they were busy discovering new and faster ways to become connected. They taught us faster ways to find and get information...reliable information. As result consumers now use the web to do comparative product research to make their buying decisions. The mass market approach to commerce is all but dead replaced by an ever increasing ability to find the perfect buyer and to retain that buyer by building a relationship with her through two way conversation and community building. Consequently, the iGeneration can be defined as anyone of any age who recognizes and uses the new interactivity to create and maintain connections, to start and continue conversations

So what does all of this have to do with Art? It has everything because failure to adapt to these changes by hanging on to outmoded beliefs will lead to a disappearance of art as we know it. Art as a cultural lens, as a source of renewal and inspiration, as a source of passion and sharing could change forever. On the other hand, recognition and embrace of this evolution could raise the role of art in our culture to new heights by uncovering new ways for artists to thrive and share their art.

In short the changes brought about the iGeneration are:

Personal connection is highly valued
Many to many conversation is valued over one or two way communication
Community is valued as a way of enhancing mouth to mouth product research
Locally made and sold goods will hold a higher position than non-local goods
Environmentally friendly goods and production methods will be a deciding criteria
Businesses will need to demonstrate social consciousness
There must be multiple ways of doing business
While price point will be important the buying decision will be based more on connection and value than on price.