What stood out most in the manipulated conversation between the Mothers and the Fathers

Mothers and Fathers : A manipulated Conversation

It was amazing to see five mothers in conversation with each other. The out-of-context statements of these mothers created a very out-of-touch impression at first.However, as they proceeded with their conversation I started to get better idea on where the conversation was going. During the 10 minute stay of mine with the "Mothers" I heard about divorce, unwanted role of being a mother, separation and various self-reflection. Throughout the conversation repetition of certain words like "mother" and sobs allowed me as a viewer to re-call my own memories of and with my mother. They all sounded helpless and disillusioned. 

The Fathers also had a strong topics covered with in their conversation. They seemed very remorseful for some reason. They were very much going through the same stages as the Mothers however, their reactions somehow seemed a lot milder and the way they handled their problems was also made obvious. One of the topics covered in the "Fathers" was divorce. I was struck when one of the father's was explaining that the mother was gone and in the next scene we see him as the groom at a wedding. For a split second I got the impression that he was re-marrying. However, thinking of it now, it could have been a scene from his first marriage. This much manipulation in the storyline surely created a fresh plot for the audience to figure out. It showed me my personal assumptions about males in general as capable of moving on with their lives whereas females face difficulties. The experience reflected my opinions and I perceived what I saw with my individual perspective. 

The Fathers and Mothers had a very significant effect on me as a viewer since it used various repetition techniques as means of re-calling memories in viewer's mind. It also allowed the freedom to viewer to perceive what they saw in the way they wanted.

Is multimedia extending human intellectual capability?

"Licklider proposed that the computer be developed as a creative collaborator, a tool that could extend human intellectual capability and improve a person's ability to work efficiently"

The statement above was made some thirty-forty years ago and shows how Licklider was going ahead of his time. Despite the fact that many people were (and are) against space research since it is very expensive, it is accepted by everyone that we owe such high standards of living to technological advancements provided. Our interaction with technological devices have provided the freedom of access to information regardless of time and place. The devices we are given access are allowing us to practice our creative capabilities through trial and error. The opportunities seem never ending in the world that we are living in. The abstract visions we have subconsciously in our mind are finding their way without our notice, thanks to multimedia. 

So; Yes, computer has provided the grounds on which we can practice our intellectual capability. However, I'm not quite sure about efficiency side of the story in the sense that you are capable of losing track of time like an artist who is painting on canvas. 

Digital Experience of Art: Art Must Swim

Syllabus

We don't have big Art Galleries in Cyprus. What we usually have is small scale exhibitions. That's why National Gallery of Art is one of my favorite places in DC. That's not the point though. The paintings in the museum, to my observation, had a different sense into them. It felt distant. I was close enough to appreciate Pablo Picasso's Still Life painting but yet distant enough to be forced to compare other cubist paintings to Pablo Picasso's. I noticed that the value I attached on to the painting was simply relative to the other paintings. I was forced to follow the hallway of impressionist and abstract paintings and find myself as a tiny human being in front of the masterpieces. Besides the "please don't touch" writing next to a sculpture was very striking. 

The fact that technology is providing a portable medium for the art is allowing people to perceive what they personally would see in the abstract mind of the artist. It is not forcing art to sit there to be displayed. Digital arena is providing access to shape and observe their subjective ideas by providing necessary tools and it is saying "Art must swim*" it should not just sit there. It should wash you away and make you drown in emotion. This is what technology is allowing us to experience. And this is why art should be taken a step further with aid of multimedia.

*From Merlijn Twaalfhoven's statement for La vie Sur Terre Foundation in Netherlands

 ~Günperi