Manovich and New Media

Manovich provides us with a popular definition of new media, he states 'new media identifies it with the use of a computer for distribution and exhibition, rather than production.' (Manovich, 2002, P.18) There are numerous examples of new media which include the Internet, websites, CD-ROMs, computer multimedia and DVDs. Manovich gives us an example to help understand what new media is and what it is not: 'texts distributed on a computer are considered to be new media, text distributed on paper are not.' (Manovich, 2002, P.18)

The question is, how does media become new media? Manvoich gives us insight into how this happens throughout his book. The first instance I came across was this, 'all existing media are translated into numerical data accessible for the computers.' (Manovich, 2002, P.24) The difference between old and new media is that new media operate through a form of numerical representation which is one of Manovich's key principles. 'The consequence of this development are far-reaching ... because the representation of cultural forms in numerical codes enables them to be reproduced, manipulated and transmitted with unprecedented ease.' (Beer & Gane, 2008, P.6) On computers today we can do everything; watch movies, download songs, edit pictures and play games. They act as a 'multimedia display device.' (Manovich, 2002) 

An important point to remember is that 'many new media are converted from various forms of old media.' (Manovich, 2002, P.25) With old media forms such as television and radio communications are only one way, we cannot participate in a television programme, which makes audiences passive. With new media forms such as the Internet we can be active consumers and interact with the media by playing online games, communicate with friends via social networks and so on.

What separates new media from other media forms is the fact that it is digital. 'New media is analogue media converted to a digital representation.' (Manovich, 2002, P. 43) A paperback book is not new media, but an electronic book is new media. 'New media does not include television programmes, feature film, magazines, books or paper-based publications - unless they contain technologies that enable digital interactivity.'  (Eber-Schmid & Socha, 2012, [Online]) This is a key aspect of new media. Old media did not enable the consumer to be active and interact with media. They were passive audience members who just watched, for example, a movie and that was it. 'In contrast to traditional media where the order of presentation was fixed, the user can now interact with a media object.' (Manovich, 2002, 43) Now new media allows audience members to be a part of the media. These members watch a movie, then they can go onto the website and play games, buy merchandise, read about characters and chat to other fans. This is interactivity, this is digitization and this is new media.


BOOKS:
David Beer & Nicholas Gane, 'New Media: The key concepts,' 2008, Berg Press
Les Manovich, 'The language of new media,' 2002 MIT Press

WEBSITES:
Barbara Eber-Schmid and Bailey Socha, 'Defining new media isn't easy', 2012, [Online]
Available at: http://www.newmedia.org/what-is-new-media.html
Accessed on 14 October 2013