COMPUTER-GENERATED AUTHENTICITY: HOW ARTISTS GENERATE VALUE FOR TECHNOLOGICALLY CREATED ARTWORKS

Abstract

The realm of art has a long resisted the integration of computer technology, placing value on the notion of authenticity and viewing technology as inherently inauthentic. Despite this resistance, artistic fields centered around the use of computer technology continue to develop and garner greater monetary and cultural value for their work. Using Becker’s art world framework as a starting point, I explore how computer technology is integrated into different creative models. Through interviews with artists in the fields of computer-generated art and visual effects, I investigate how the artists manage the narratives surrounding the use of computer technology in their art to establish and support value for their work. Ultimately, the artists framed computer technology to appear familiar to audiences and built value for their work by emphasizing the standards of artistic authenticity and human agency depending on the creative model of the field.