The Concept of Remediation

One of the defining characteristic that distinguishes between an old media & a new media is the concept of ''interactivity''.

Remediation is a concept which uses interactivity (virtual reality, photo realistic graphics) at base, and uses historical genealogies as its defining characteristics (painting of the renaissance time, photography of the 18th century).

Defined by Paul levinson as the “anthropotropic” process by which new media technologies improve upon or remedy prior technologies. We define the term differently, using it to mean the formal logic by which new media refashion prior media forms.

This is explained under its two components, namely Immediacy & Hypermediacy.

Concept of Immediacy

'' A style of visual representation whose goal is to make the viewer forget the presence of the medium... and believe that he is in presence of the object of representation.'' (Bolter & Grusin, 1999)

Well, digital images are more lively and very attractive and at the same time very exciting & realistic too, than mere representation of texts on computer hence the need of Immediacy.
'' .... video conference will led to more effective communication than a telephone call.'' (Bolter & Grusin, 1999)





For example, in FIFA Video games, the effect of immediacy has been observed. The use of 3-D cameras, digitization & overall representation makes you forget the presence of medium. In this picture, it seems like a real field, with fans cheering the team & a real-like tackle is going on.

Concept of Hypermediacy

'' A style of visual presentation whose goal is to remind the viewer of the medium'' . (Bolter & Grusin, 1999)

The proliferation of multiple media (text, graphics, animation, videos ) using hyper textual organization is the key logic used behind Hypermediacy.





For example , in Football Manager video game, the user is continuously reminded of the medium he is in. The multiple pop-ups , the texts appearing on the window keeps the mind engaged in the fact that someone is actually playing a game only.

Immediacy desires to provide a window through a live event while Hypermediacy's concern with the multiple media makes the viewer of the different windows used to achieve the mediated experience.

It has to be noted however that complete Immediacy is never possible because the trace of the media is always present, likewise complete hypermediacy is not desirable either. They are not mutually exclusive, rather they are tenants of media forms which rely upon both logics to heighten the viewer's experience of the event as authentic.

For example, a live cricket match broad casted is an example of immediacy, however from the logic of hypermediacy, these are viewed in a tele, broad casted on a studio with score updates at the end, reporter covering the match, and there is an additional web address for the viewer who wants additional news item too.

From the perspective of social impact, Immediacy reverberates with a modern concern for order, unity and maintaining the control achieved through a unified, at times linear perspective and gaze, whereas, hypermediacy reverberates with post-modernity’s desire for fragmentation and the multiplication of perspectives that mutually deconstruct each other in a shifting glance. (http://seminar.net/index.php/reviews-hovedmeny-110/72-reviews/68-remediation-understanding-new-media-revisiting-a-classic)

Thus its very hard to say Immediacy is better or hypermediacy, in the end these are just 2 different logics drawn upon digital technologies.


Bibliography

1)http://seminar.net/index.php/reviews-hovedmeny-110/72-reviews/68-remediation-understanding-new-media-revisiting-a-classic
2) steven conway class slides