Paden, Lily (Week 2 Q&A)

 

Question: Is digital artwork more or less inclusive for artists compared to printed work?

Answer: Accessibility is a very common theme for questions about this reading. I am the third student that I have seen so far questioning how accessible or inclusive digital artwork is compared to printed artwork. Accessibility and inclusivity were the first topics to come to my mind when reading this article. Perhaps this is because the devices we view digital artwork on are incredibly expensive, yet they are still widely owned in the United States. It doesn't have to cost a single dollar to walk down the street and encounter printed work. I see printed work all the time living in Los Angeles. However, digital artwork may only appeal to an audience that is technologically savvy (which may only include some age groups, as another student- Madison Quiroz- pointed out). Digital artwork calls for another step that not everybody can reach. This applies to both artists and their audiences. Producing digital artwork can also be much more expensive than producing printed work, as computer services and programs can be extremely expensive. 

There are arguments on both sides that have logical points when considering the question of accessibility. Perhaps older generations or those who don't own a smartphone may be excluded from the world of digital artwork. Perhaps digital art creators only make content that can be seen by younger people who know how to get to it. 

However, there is another side to the coin. Digital artwork can also be the only medium of art that some people can access. For example, the United States continues to struggle through a very serious and long-lasting pandemic. Seeing printed artwork is not as common during these times, and digital work is much more accessible as the country continues to be shut down. Artists are able to create digital content for people to safely and privately access.