Design Template by Anonymous

Introduction

What is Time-Based Media?

Simply speaking, time-based media is a style of work that occurs over a duration of time. The style of work can be categorized as video, film, performance arts, and audio. All of these forms of art rely on a specific technology for it to be created. For example, a video relies on a phone or video camera to be captured. Whereas, audio relies on a microphone to be recorded. Images or paintings are not classified as time-based media as they are static pieces. While someone can stand in front of a painting and technically view it for a duration of time, the art form itself isn't unfolding over time or have elements such as light, movement, or sound that create change.

What is its purpose?

It's important to ask why we should want to use something, and time-based media has a great argument for itself. It's an alternative to standard text that requires the user to read. With time-based media, the creator can translate written text into something unique. It draws heavily into the creative aspect of our ability. The next person might interpret written text in a completely different way to how you do. So with a form of time-based media, you have the freedom to bring to life the way you imagine something. In addition, this form of presentating information might be more effective in getting the message across to the user. In today's age especially, people are reading less and less. Instead, we are absorbing information through media. Naturally, the younger generations are turning to sound or visuals when understanding information as opposed to reading. This means providing a form of media on a web page is important because it will help meet the various types user preferences.

Conservation Efforts

Given time-based media relies on specific technologies, it can be challenging to maintain the form of work when the technology becomes outdated or obsolete. The term time-based media was coined in the late 1960s by David Hall. Sixty years ago, technology was so different and simply doesn't have purpose in the modern world. Instead of losing all the forms of media created in the past, museums have especially been vital in conserving the technology. These efforts are funded by museum visits from the public, so to help keep the illustrious range of media pieces from the past around it is important people take the time to visit museums and appreciate them in person.