New Mediaeval Aesthetic

The New Mediaeval Aesthetic is referring to the World Wide Web (WWW) or what is most commonly referred to as the Internet. In order to better understand the essence of aesthetic as it relates to this article, I found it necessary to confer with the Webster’s on-line dictionary. Normally when one thinks of aesthetic they think of art or beauty. However, Webster’s has a third definition that states… the use of technical devices in and around the work of art to differentiate its’ psychologically from reality. In my opinion this articles addresses how technology has advanced from early civilization or the medieval period unto where we are today with the Internet, and just like in the past, we are still dealing with some form of reality psychologically in regards to technology.
Zorach states the “digital culture is reflected –as in a glass darkly”. For many people including me there is a dim view of the digital culture. I only imagine this is because so many people have not been exposed to it, or dare to thread the path of technology. In addition, I am not sure if technology has been delivered in a manner that was user friendly so that it would encourage an individual to explore digital culture. At one time the Internet appeared to be geared to people that were savvy with technology. Now the Internet appears to be a tool that will be necessary in order to be able to communicate and perform more effectively in society.

Deborah Stewart indicates in her blog “Looking to the past for clues to the future may seem to some as absurd, but if lessons are not learned from the past we tend to repeat them in the future”. I concur with Deborah. Although, the statement may seem elementary, it is profound. Not only do we repeat the same lesson, but progress is stifled.



Zorach, Rebecca E. "New Medieval Aesthetic”. Wired Magazine Online January 1994.
7 March 2007. http://www.wired.com/wired/archieve/2.01/mediaeval_pr.html