Rethinking Curating：Art after New Media

AscuratorSteveDietzhasobserved,newmediaartislikecontemporaryart--butdifferent.Newmediaartinvolvesinteractivity,networks,andcomputationandisoftenaboutprocessratherthanobjects.Newmediaartworks,difficulttoclassifyaccordingtothetraditionalartmuseumcategoriesdeterminedbymedium,geography,andchronology,presentthecuratorwithnovelchallengesinvolvinginterpretation,exhibition,anddissemination.Thisbookviewsthesechallengesasopportunitiestorethinkcuratorialpractice.Ithelpscuratorsofnewmediaartdevelopasetofflexibletoolsforworkinginthisfast-movingfield,anditoffersusefullessonsfromcuratorsandartistsforthoseworkinginsuchotherareasofartasdistributiveandparticipatorysystems.RethinkingCuratingexploresthecharacteristicsdistinctivetonewmediaart,includingitsimmaterialityanditsquestioningoftimeandspace,andrelatesthemtosuchcontemporaryartformsasvideoart,conceptualart,sociallyengagedart,andperformanceart.Theauthors,bothofwhomhaveextensiveexperienceascurators,offernumerousexamplesofartworksandexhibitionstoillustratehowtherolesofcuratorsandaudiencescanberedefinedinlightofnewmediaart'scharacteristics.Theydiscussmodesofcurating,fromthefamiliardefaultmodeofthemuseum,throughparallelswithpublishing,broadcasting,festivals,andlabs,tomorerecenthybridwaysofworkingonlineandoff,includingcollaborationandsocialnetworking.RethinkingCuratingofferscuratorsaroutethroughthehypearoundplatformsandautonomouszonesbyfollowingtheleadofcurrentartists'practice.