Newness and openness in new media arts and digital performances: contextualizing Greece in the Balkan scene. Issue 3 (2nd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chountasi, Maria; Dafiotis, Panagiotis; Sylaiou, Stella
• Is Part Of: International journal of performance arts and digital media. Volume 17:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 316
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2021-09-02
• Subjects: Digital performance -- new media arts -- Balkan scene -- Greece -- NPO/NGO; Performance art -- Periodicals; Performance art -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Digital media -- Periodicals; Digital media; Performance art; Periodicals; 700.285
• DOI: 10.1080/14794713.2020.1856552
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-0934

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The paper focuses on the current developments of the Greek new media arts scene and digital performances, a field of contemporary art which still remains non-contextualized in a particular socio-political environment by art theoreticians in Greece. The present study explores the concept of newness in new media arts and provides an overview and a critical reflection on the role of the non-profit and non-governmental organizations (NPOs/NGOs) in structuring a new media art scene in the post-communist countries of the Balkans. Consequently, the paper seeks to contextualize the Greek scene in this historical background provided by the Balkans' recent past in contemporary new media arts. The study suggests that the current Greek scene is in a precursor phase of what took place a few decades earlier in the northern countries of the Balkans, given the fact that its new media art scene currently passes the threshold of the collaboration with a – yet limited – number of national NPOs/NGOs. Although there is not an immediate political analogy between the Balkans and Greece, nevertheless the financial and political crisis in Greece the past few years has clearly functioned as a condition for comparable politics of art management to be implemented.