In the digital age, traditional ways of understanding art and aesthetics are rapidly evolving. New theories on digital art and aesthetics propose a reinterpretation of the creative process, the artwork, and its appreciation, adapting to the technological possibilities and cultural dynamics of the 21st century.
One of the main ideas is that digital art is not simply a technique, but a new form of aesthetic experience. Unlike traditional art, digital art allows for interactivity, unlimited reproduction, and constant transformation. Works such as virtual installations, NFTs (non-fungible tokens), generative art using artificial intelligence, and performances in digital environments challenge classical notions of authorship, originality, and permanence.
Contemporary theorists such as Lev Manovich have proposed concepts such as "software aesthetics," where the digital medium directly influences the content and form of works. Ideas such as "algorithmic aesthetics," in which beauty emerges from programmed processes, and participatory aesthetics, where the viewer ceases to be passive and becomes an active part of the work, are also explored.
Furthermore, digital platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and virtual reality platforms are redefining the way art is produced, shared, and consumed. Digital aesthetics are becoming more ephemeral, visually intense, and adapted to the language of the networks.
These new theories invite us to rethink not only what art is, but also how we perceive it, how we value it, and what its function is in a society mediated by screens, data, and algorithms.
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