‘In media blend and leeway of nostalgia and innovation is needed. Focusing on what’s new or nostalgic too much is damaging.’

Whilst anecdotal, (and thus should be viewed sceptically), I have developed these notions in a culmination of thoughts prior to, during, and post the cited readings. As a typical Gen Y person with an interest in media, I’ve viewed the coming and going of many technologies and modes of media in my short life due to a rapid and exponential surge in technology in the late 90’s to the 2000’s. In this time I’ve noticed a significant shift in people’s attitude towards media. Almost anything prior to the 90’s is viewed with mass nostalgia, and this applies predominantly to those who grew up in that time. However I have seen it applied to those in my generation too, with people looking back with great amounts of curiosity, acknowledging its nostalgia. The 90’s was a significant shift in era’s as well as technology, and so conversely enough is greatly overlooked by many, including my generation. However, for the most part, those of my generation and those born post-1990 have looked more towards the future for technology and media. Whilst general, I personally feel to be true and have seen it in many peers. Whether this is due to generational condition or age difference in which nostalgia becomes more important, I am not sure, this is merely from a personal standpoint. In short, WE look more forward, whereas those before us tend to look back (being before the en-masse change prevalent in the turn of the millennia. ). It is in this that I argue that both of these forms in their extreme are highly damaging and should be ignored if not adapted to divert from their current course, for that a blend of both is needed in order to innovate and truly progress; to dwell on one or wait for another is just as a risk as doing nothing. Yes, it is possible to look back on older forms, seeing what’s not been done within them and create new material in line with it, progressing on a previous age, and yes, it is also possible to purely look forward with newer technology, innovate and create what is considered to be ‘new’, but if you truly want to change media or create what is deemed new, then you need to know both ends of the spectrum. That is the very reason for why I am taking this course (oooh, meta). Without knowing came before, and rejecting what is yet to come, then we are doomed to repeat what’s already been done, stuck in a creative rut. We need to be able to acknowledge the advantages and limitations on both ends, and then act on them. Although that may put too stringent of rules on art, sometimes such is necessary or the norm, although questioning the rules is openly welcome in my opinion. (one such example of rules may be the use of the Fibonacci sequence, with people unconsciously adhering to it en masse, whilst those knowing it may tend to take to either extreme; following OR ignoring.) By many, nostalgia has been questioned to be both contributing and detracting from creativity. I believe neither shall be accepted or ignored in its entirety, but rather employ a combination, use both of their strengths and none of their weaknesses in order to heighten a piece.

Dika, Vera, 2003, ‘Recycled Culture in Contemporary Art and Film; The Uses of Nostalgia’, University of Los Angeles/University of California, Los Angeles.

DeFalco  Amelia, 2004  ‘A Double-Edged Longing: Nostalgia, Melodrama, and Todd Haynes’s Far From Heaven’Iowa Journal of Cultural Studies 5 (Fall 2004) by The University of Iowa, Iowa.

Labaree, David F. February 2006, Innovation, Nostalgia, and the Politics of Educational Change,  Education Administration Quarterly Vol. 41, No 1, Stanford.