Cory Arcangel’s Web Portal

by Art Fag City on October 7, 2008 · 15 comments Events

cory_arch_portal1.jpg
Screengrabs AFC

I’ve never heard the term Continual Portal Awareness before, but whatever it is, I’m happy it finally has a name.  One of many attributes Cory Arcangel’s flash introduction identifies as appealing in a website, users can also find social networking opportunities, tags and the artist’s signature “flavors of linux” on his newly redesigned site.  I’ve provided a few screenshots below to give readers a sense of the piece, but if that doesn’t grab you, perhaps nostalgia for Orbital’s 1992 hit Halcyon + On + On will.  It’s hard to imagine a better musical choice for Arcangel’s site.

cory-arch_portal.jpg


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{ 15 comments }

adam October 7, 2008 at 2:50 pm

This is about nostalgia then? Am I supposed to find a rehash of the same website I made when I was 16 from my parent’s den interesting?

adam October 7, 2008 at 9:50 am

This is about nostalgia then? Am I supposed to find a rehash of the same website I made when I was 16 from my parent’s den interesting?

Art Fag City October 7, 2008 at 2:52 pm

I never said it was about nostalgia. I said there was an element of nostalgia in the music used. And yes, you are supposed to find something interesting in this piece. I like it because it identifies all the things that people love about the internet. Social networking, tags, etc. The only thing Arcangel left out is “information” or “content” (ie Wikipedia). Unless you were 16 a couple years ago you wouldn’t have made this, so I don’t know why you’re lodging the criticism.

Art Fag City October 7, 2008 at 9:52 am

I never said it was about nostalgia. I said there was an element of nostalgia in the music used. And yes, you are supposed to find something interesting in this piece. I like it because it identifies all the things that people love about the internet. Social networking, tags, etc. The only thing Arcangel left out is “information” or “content” (ie Wikipedia). Unless you were 16 a couple years ago you wouldn’t have made this, so I don’t know why you’re lodging the criticism.

adam October 7, 2008 at 4:01 pm

I was 16 ten years ago, the year Macromedia released Flash 3. True, the terms “online social networking” and “tags” hadn’t emerged yet, but I certainly did create similar stunning animations with spinning, fading, flying text. Weee!

So it’s anachronistic in that way. Interesting…

But “portal,” “APIs,” and “Unix?” Those be buzzwords straight out the age of Y2K and earlier.

It’s funny that he created an entirely unappealing website just to name all these things that supposedly make for an appealing one.

“Linex?” Typo? Linux is an open source Unix-derived operating system which the author did not use to create the site. Signature flavors, hehe.

I have an equally hard time with much Internet art. Probably because nerdy kids with acne and dial-up Internet already covered this virtual ground. And without irony.

adam October 7, 2008 at 4:01 pm

I was 16 ten years ago, the year Macromedia released Flash 3. True, the terms “online social networking” and “tags” hadn’t emerged yet, but I certainly did create similar stunning animations with spinning, fading, flying text. Weee!

So it’s anachronistic in that way. Interesting…

But “portal,” “APIs,” and “Unix?” Those be buzzwords straight out the age of Y2K and earlier.

It’s funny that he created an entirely unappealing website just to name all these things that supposedly make for an appealing one.

“Linex?” Typo? Linux is an open source Unix-derived operating system which the author did not use to create the site. Signature flavors, hehe.

I have an equally hard time with much Internet art. Probably because nerdy kids with acne and dial-up Internet already covered this virtual ground. And without irony.

adam October 7, 2008 at 11:01 am

I was 16 ten years ago, the year Macromedia released Flash 3. True, the terms “online social networking” and “tags” hadn’t emerged yet, but I certainly did create similar stunning animations with spinning, fading, flying text. Weee!

So it’s anachronistic in that way. Interesting…

But “portal,” “APIs,” and “Unix?” Those be buzzwords straight out the age of Y2K and earlier.

It’s funny that he created an entirely unappealing website just to name all these things that supposedly make for an appealing one.

“Linex?” Typo? Linux is an open source Unix-derived operating system which the author did not use to create the site. Signature flavors, hehe.

I have an equally hard time with much Internet art. Probably because nerdy kids with acne and dial-up Internet already covered this virtual ground. And without irony.

Art Fag City October 7, 2008 at 4:29 pm

I always make that typo – I guess because I don’t use Linux.

You make good points. Arcangel is also using buzzwords right out of Y2K and earlier and I had assumed the artist was using Linux, but perhaps that’s not true. Mostly my point was that Linux operating systems, old school software, and whatever else are trademarks of the artist’s work.

I’m not sure if the splash page would be a better piece if it were more consistent, though I suspect so. It’s a funny piece, but I won’t argue with the flaws you point out.

Art Fag City October 7, 2008 at 11:29 am

I always make that typo – I guess because I don’t use Linux.

You make good points. Arcangel is also using buzzwords right out of Y2K and earlier and I had assumed the artist was using Linux, but perhaps that’s not true. Mostly my point was that Linux operating systems, old school software, and whatever else are trademarks of the artist’s work.

I’m not sure if the splash page would be a better piece if it were more consistent, though I suspect so. It’s a funny piece, but I won’t argue with the flaws you point out.

twnty4kgldfce October 7, 2008 at 6:32 pm

I agree with adam. Dude is like the Jeremy Scott of electronic art. It’s cute at first, then you wonder what happens after the joke, then you realize nothing happens – the joke is it.

I get it, I’m bored. Can we stop lauding this garbage at some point?

twnty4kgldfce October 7, 2008 at 6:32 pm

I agree with adam. Dude is like the Jeremy Scott of electronic art. It’s cute at first, then you wonder what happens after the joke, then you realize nothing happens – the joke is it.

I get it, I’m bored. Can we stop lauding this garbage at some point?

twnty4kgldfce October 7, 2008 at 6:32 pm

I agree with adam. Dude is like the Jeremy Scott of electronic art. It’s cute at first, then you wonder what happens after the joke, then you realize nothing happens – the joke is it.

I get it, I’m bored. Can we stop lauding this garbage at some point?

twnty4kgldfce October 7, 2008 at 1:32 pm

I agree with adam. Dude is like the Jeremy Scott of electronic art. It’s cute at first, then you wonder what happens after the joke, then you realize nothing happens – the joke is it.

I get it, I’m bored. Can we stop lauding this garbage at some point?

L.M. October 8, 2008 at 5:46 pm

I think it’s hilarious.

L.M. October 8, 2008 at 12:46 pm

I think it’s hilarious.

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