An evaluation of the views of painting department students on New Media Art

Abstract

Since the second half of the 20th century, artists’ experiments with innovative technologies such as computers, internet, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, data visualization and interactive systems have laid the foundation for the birth of new media art. New media art, with its dynamics that instrumentalize technological products based on computers, has created an alternative production area to traditional art productions as painting, sculpture, ceramics, print painting, etc. The spread of the internet and the fact that it has become the medium of artists has brought new questions in the definition of a work of art, artists have diversified the production conditions and methods of reaching the audience institutions that add content related to new media art to their curricula stand out with their current understanding in the field of education. The interest of our higher education institutions providing art education in new media art, examples of which have been seen in Turkiye since the 1980s, is a matter of curiosity. The impact of digital technologies on art and art education causes transformations in the approach of students studying art to the subject. Today, when generation Z receives art education, the state of interest in digital art should be discussed in undergraduate departments that provide traditional painting education. New media art has become very visible with the technological developments surrounding our lives, but it has not been able to achieve an effective position in the field of education.

In this context, the research article examines the approach of young artist candidates to new media art in the process of creative expression. Undergraduate students studying in the 2024-2025 fall semester at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Çanakkale Onsekiz March University painting department were selected as a research cluster in order to get student opinions on new media art. The data obtained with the participation of 41 of the 109 students actively studying in the department of painting were analyzed and the findings were interpreted. According to the results of the research, although most of the students surveyed stated that they had a basic knowledge of new media art, reluctance to receive education, produce works and conduct research in this field was found. The aim of the research is to discuss the inclusion of new media art in traditional art education programs and to create a record about the students’ approach to new media art.