Remediation

'We call the representation of one medium in another remediation, and we will argue that remediation is a defining characteristic of new media.' (Bolter, 2000, P.45)

Remediation is the representation of one medium, in another medium. For example, films are sometimes remediation's of books, the content has been 'borrowed' (Bolter, 2000) but the film has its own adaptation. Bolton examines the fact that remediation ensures that the 'older medium cannot be entirely effected, the new medium remains dependent on the older one in acknowledged or unacknowledged ways.' (Bolter, 2002, P.47)

Bolter states that television and the internet are in competition with one another 'in which each now seeks to remediate the other.' (Bolter, 2000, P.47) We can now access internet on smart televisions and we can watch TV on the internet. This is because of digital new media, new technology enables even more content to be provided and it is also enables interactivity. When this book was written in 2000, film was also trying to incorporate digital technology in its production and editing. Thirteen years later it is very seldom that we watch a movie without it being digitally enhanced or used special effects within the film. With special effects and other digital constructions the goal was to make them look as 'natural' as possible so that the audience would watch the film and not think about watching a movie, but watching, or living, real life. This is the concept of transparent immediacy, which looks at making the screen, the computer or television disappear and make characters and what is happening on screen look as real as possible. (Bolter, 2000)

Virtual reality such as video games remediate television, the World Wide Web and film. Because of the ability to see/play through the eyes of your character, so that you can see what they see and experience what they do. 'Virtual reality won't merely replace TV. It will eat it alive.' (Bolter, 2000, P.48) Virtual reality enables us to escape to different places, become different people and live different lives. But for some people, because of virtual reality being transparent immediacy, they get so caught up in playing a video game that they can forget they are actually playing a game. The game becomes reality to them.

Bibliography:
Bolter, J.D., (2000). 'Remediation: Understanding New Media, New Ed.', MIT Press