From both of the readings by Lav Manovich and Charlie Gere, these texts were much more than reading and understanding. Instead, it was more of an interactive experience, and encouraged the reader to explore different paths according to whatever specific topic the authors were discussing. For example in, “New Media From Borges to HTML,” Manovich discusses commercial new media. Instead of mentioning the various new media and what they did, he created hyperlinks to help the reader grasp a deeper understanding. “yet without commercial culture we would not have computer games using Artificial Intelligence programming, network-based multimedia, including various Web plug-ins which enable distribution of music, moving images and 3-D environment over the Web, sophisticated 3-D modeling, animation and rendering tools, database-driven Web sites, CD-ROMs, DVD, and other storage formats, and most other advanced new media technologies and forms” (3). Because readers were encouraged to explore these examples, they are able to gain not only a contextual but a visual understanding of what he is trying to explain. The examples of Artificial Intelligence, 3-D modeling, and moving images have to do with the fourth point in Lev Manovich’s 8 Propositions: New Media as the aesthetics that accompanies the early stage of every new modern media and communication technology. Things like moving images and 3-D environment over the Web, 3-D modeling, and animation and rendering tools have been around in new media for a while. However, technology has continued to advance things like these and continue from its early stages and make it an aesthetic in new media.

According to Charlie Gere, “The gallery has an important role to play in making this art visible, not just now but also in the future, when such work will be part of art history.” I agree with his statement despite the ease of navigation from the hyperlink readings that we experienced. Although these hyperlinks led us to places that we could not physically go to, museums are essential in making art visible. It is a complete different experience looking at an art piece in the museum compared to a 2-D photo 5x5 inch photo over the Internet. In museums, you can walk around it, sometimes touch it, feel its presence next to yours, and really get the full experience. Through hyperlinks, you are simply limited to the things that the website offers you. Hyperlinks are helpful for the reader to experience places that they do not have access to, like pictures of art in China when you are the United States. But, it will always be a better experience if you can see that art yourself in museums.