artandantics-blog

[artandantics-blog]

Survival of the Techiest

Lately while binging on YouTube, I’ve been seeing more fascinating videos of cool VR and AR consoles like the HTC Vive, Virtuix Omni, and the Oculus Rift coupled by the release of VR and AR games like Beat Saber, Doom VFR, VR Chat, and Pokemon Go. Binging eventually led me to more recommended videos of VR and AR tech demos that trended years ago like the infamous “Imagine” video with world leaders digitally edited to lip-sync the lyrics. Another tech demo showed an Obama speech that never existed and was simply digitally fabricated. Another was Jordan Peele’s demo of Adobe VoCo which was capable of making hyper-realistic text-to-speech audio as if virtually making anyone possibly say anything (as amazing yet terrifying as that sounds.)

After the amazement over the tech demos, I started thinking what would happen if one could combine the features of all these to create fake videos of people (possibly important people) appear as if they are saying or doing whatever the editor wants. True enough, recent news popped up of anonymous computer scientists being able to reverse-engineer Facebook’s DeepFace facial tracking and recording software to digitally replace people’s faces with someone else’s. This same software released publicly by anonymous users online led to scandalous uses in pornography creating what is now known as “DeepFakes” which are fake videos of celebrities’ faces digitally replacing someone else’s face in a pornographic video making it appear as if the celebrity is in the said video. “DeepFakes” sparked controversy in the tech and online community because the level of realism of the videos were unbelievably lifelike. Many people started asking what else could the software be possibly used for?

When I tried researching more about the controversy, I always seem to stumble upon digitally altered videos of Putin and Trump making political statements that were never real. From pornography, the controversy eventually takes a turn towards politics and it’s uses for propaganda and evidence fabrication. Editors can now easily craft fake propaganda videos that change the facial movements of important figures and edit their statements to create false information. The worst part is that the more well-done it is, the more dangerous it can become.

This is when you start to realize that the same technology we used to send funny messenger photos with filters can now be used to make world leaders declare war against each other. Fortunately, governments are quick enough to avert any false information this big but with the technology becoming better and better, the less tech-savvy and less digitally-literate people become more and more susceptible to these false information.

Fortunately here in the country, this practice is not yet commonplace nor has it reached mainstream media attention. I’m hoping it never does. Overseas, the validity and confidence of their journalism industry has been compromised. Here however, we are fairly young into the digital age and still have a good percentage relying on traditional media. Ironically, this is a good thing since the credibility of journalists and the information spread out is considerably more truthful. Fake news here is still easily identifiable even for less digitally-literate users.

The take-away from exploring this fascinating but terrifying digital rabbit hole is that we’re on our way to reaching a point in the digital age where being tech-savvy and digitally literate are a must in order to survive this expanding ocean of true and false information. VR and AR technology and eventually MR technology will soon blur the lines between real and digital. Soon we will live in a world where ordinary people will rely on tech geeks and computer experts to know what’s true and what’s fake. Eventually we will end up building a digitally saturated world where it’s going to be survival of the techiest.

#technology #vr #ar #mr #virtualreality #augmentedreality #gaming #tech #media #journalism #fake news

[artandantics-blog]

Old Media is dying ... but it’s not your fault, nor theirs.

“TV is dead, radio is dead, print is dead.” You’ve heard it all before and it’s been subject to debate by media analysts and hipsters alike. A good amount of the blame is largely directed towards the changing appeal of consumers and the unbearable speeds at which society is changing. Others would blame the inability of traditional media forms to catch up to this rapid change. But who exactly is to blame in all of this? Who is the real catalyst for this paradigm shifting? Do we blame the sender or the receiver or something else? 

Many modern research show that traditional media forms like TV, radio, and print, as business models are slowly becoming less lucrative and profitable showing signs of decline over the last two decades citing low readership/ viewership and shifting appeal as the main culprits. Modern media practitioners would otherwise argue that traditional media content is getting too slow for the amount and speed of information that needs to be disseminated in such a short amount of time. While the old and new look at consumption habits, both industries fail to look at the perspective of the consumers themselves and see what and how messages are being consumed.

The common argument would pit old and new media against each other over who can satisfy the consumer better. Meanwhile consumers are using new media to satisfy themselves. However what all parties fail to see is that the currency that drives the whole industry is actually the message. The changing nature of the media messages itself determines which media will win which battle. It’s not in the hands of only the old media, or the new media, or the consumers alone. In fact, it’s determined by all of them working together where everyone can win.

Modern media practitioners should see that there is still the larger mass market to look at who have limited to no access to stable internet connection; an essential to new media consumption. Old media advocates however should also see that some messages are better fit in newer platforms to be more effective. Consumers themselves should also be more media literate and have a more well-rounded media consumption cycle. Consumers must realize that some messages are better found in the right medium and not everything can be found online. Everyone involved in the industry should realize that there is a place for both old and new media. Old media doesn't have to die. Society should start becoming more media literate, diversify their consumption, and look for messages in the right medium and not simply rely on one.

#media #mass media #traditional media #new media #old media #modern media #technology #advertising #entertainment #tv #radio #print #digital #newspaper #online #internet

[artandantics-blog]

Move Us Forward: Insights from MIAS 2019

The Manila International Auto Show, held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, opened on a sunny Thursday morning last April 4. MIAS 2019, Manila’s hottest car show and automotive expo, featured dozens of automotive brands unveiling their new lineup of cars and products on it’s way into the Philippine Market. Brands like Ford, Subaru, Hyundai, Nissan, and Volkswagen, to name a few, showcased both old and new with a variety of vintage and next generation sedans, SUVs, vans, off-roaders, trucks, and hot-rods which decorated the entire expo.

Speaking of next generation vehicles, the highlight of the expo when it comes to the future of the automotive industry was Hyundai’s unveiling of not one, but two new fully electric cars: the Kona Electric and the Ioniq Electric. This is big news for the industry since this poses the question “Is the Philippines ready to go electric?”

So we went to MIAS 2019 to not only witness the unveiling of the Kona electric and the Ioniq electric but also to know more about them and to analyze the potential of the electric car market here in the country. Out team approached Hyundai for an interview about the new electric cars and we were queued to interview the President and CEO. We got in touch with Nissan to ask a few questions about the Leaf and their electric car initiative. Lastly we went to Petron in the expo to ask about the impact of electric cars to their business model. After waiting for a response from the representatives of each brands, we were met with a similar reaction. Put simply, they refused to answer any of our question saying that they were not allowed by their respective corporate departments to  release any in-depth information or even talk about their electric cars or the future of electric vehicles in general. Obviously this was disappointing for us young investigative journalists who wanted answers to the simple yet pressing question. Although my team and I realized that the refusal of giving an answer was apparently an answer in itself.

The experience, though disheartening, was actually eye-opening to the subject of the prospect of electric cars in the Philippines and the relationship between the oil industry and the automotive industry. This may come off as a bold yet unsurprising statement but this would sum up my personal discovery that day in MIAS 2019.

The oil industry and automotive industry works similar to a syndicate or a cartel working hand-in-hand to maximize each other’s profits with the help of the government and unfortunately the media as well.

They work in conjunction with the government to ensure their sustained profits and share in the market through abusive laws and regulations towards gas-powered substitutes like electric cars and efficient public transport. Delaying the implementation of new government protocols for the conducive use of electric vehicles and heavy taxation of the manufacturing and distribution electric cars could possibly be proof of that.

As for the media, we personally got a first-hand look at how the media plays a role in this cartel. Brands and companies are told to refuse giving away any details and withhold information that could possibly help support the use of electric cars and alternative transportation technology. To keep the media hush hush from talking about electric vehicles while endlessly regurgitating the product benefits of their gas-fueled and smoke-belching vehicles, the public’s interest towards a sustainable future in transportation is next to none.

Given that the country has inadequate infrastructure and technology to support the widespread use of electric cars, the aforementioned industries take advantage of the country’s situation by making sure that electric cars and other substitutes to gas-powered vehicles which threaten their business are not given the conducive platform to thrive.

As scary and concerning as this analysis is [which admittedly needs further research to validate] there is still some truth to it. Unfortunately, I as a young journalist, future car owner, and citizen would still have limited power against the massive oil and automotive syndicate that runs the show. For now if our words mean little to the public and to the conglomerates that hold power, maybe our collective actions could bear better results towards a brighter, more transparent, and cleaner future.

For next year’s MIAS 2020, I personally hope that I’ll be proven wrong and see a surge in the release of many electric vehicles from multiple brand at the expo. I would definitely like to come back to MIAS to learn more, experience more, and unveil more insights about the automotive industry and the future of transportation in the country. The way I see it, the Philippines as a developing country is not a disadvantage but an opportunity for growth and the transportation industry has that power to [literally and figuratively] move us forward.

#Automotive #Transportation #cars #vehicles #electric car #Manila international auto show #electric vehicles #MIAS 2019 #Journalism #Investigative Journalism

[artandantics-blog]

TRANSCRIPT:

Hi everyone, it’s Andi for Art and Antics. Thanks for being interested in listening to this short reflection audio log I recorded. So a few days ago we met Mr. Kevin Limjoco, The Founding Editor of C! Magazine. To all you car guys out there, that name may be familiar since he’s the REAL granddaddy of all car magazines in the Philippines.

So we were talking about the magazine and print media in general. It was really fun, very insightful. Sir Kevin was a great speaker. But then it got me thinking. My business, my pride and glory outside school work, AR Digital i’ll say the name again but slower… AR DIGITAL has been trying its best to veer away from the print and physical media platform for some reason. A reason which I haven't found a clear explanation exactly why. Maybe it's because digital was seen as hip, cool, modern, tech-savvy, millennial. Digital enthusiasts like me, admittedly used to think and would argue that print is a dying medium. As if print is for the old folks reading newspapers sitting on their grandpa couch while having their morning coffee. Print is mundane, easy to forget, bulky, and expensive collecting dust on the coffee table. But now i look back, I realized that I’ve actually been making print stuff as well for as long as i could remember. I’ve done portraits printed and glass framed then hung on walls or given as valentines gifts along with flowers, I’ve made posters hung in office walls and bulletin boards, I’ve done calling cards given away by multiple clients, I’ve made tarps for promotional materials. They’re all physical, all print, all analog. Yeah sure you could argue its still MADE through a digital platform, I mean I don’t paint them by hand with a physical brush and acrylic paint or sketch murals on 100 square meter tarp, but what they end up as a final product makes all the difference if it’s digital or print. And that’s where the realization hit me. Out of all the final products that I’ve made, the ones that last their appeal longest, were the ones that you could hold on to both figuratively and literally. The portraits, the posters, the tarps, the calling cards. All of them. Heck even just one of them would probably had a longer-lasting appeal and a longer lifespan in terms of reach and usability than any of the hundreds more digital content that me and my clients have released purely on a digital platform. You see a nice looking poster when you don’t expect it like when you’re walking to work, you remember it longer than an ad you scrolled past by while scrolling through your news feed. You keep a framed artwork of you in your bedroom that was gifted to you by your boyfriend or girlfriend, the kilig lasts longer and more intimately than sharing a couple photo on Facebook with a cheesy caption “#Happy2ndWeeksary. Even just the prestige you get handing over your very own calling card instead of saying “yeah I’ll text you my email and website later.” See where I’m getting at? Print and physical media will always have a stronger experiential appeal compared to the passive consumption of digital. It’s in the nature of print that digital can never really recreate. Pure and full-sensory experiences that last longer. When it comes to magazines, i remember Sir Kevin giving us latest issues from C! Magazine and we all felt excited. “Yay! We get to come home later with magazines!” But why is that? Again, it’s the prestige of knowing 110% that what you’re holding there is yours. The content will never go away, the photos can never be edited at any time. It’s your property. Digital? Online specifically? You’ll never know if the article you read has been edited or the photo they showed has been changed and you’re left there not knowing what you’re actually sure about. Print may not be the most successful media platform, but it’s not dying, it’s surviving like it always has and always will. People will always look for well-rounded, full-sensory, and tangible experiences. People will always appreciate the long-term prestige of physical over the instant appeal of digital.

So where does that leave me. Well, I’m glad to announce that you’ll hear it here first. I, the founder of AR Digital, am seriously contemplating and considering a full re-branding into AR Multimedia very soon. Follow me on Facebook and Tumblr for news on this and I’ll update you guys frequently and I hope to see you guys in the next one. This is Andi from Art and Antics. Hope you have a wonderful day! Bye.

#print #digital #C Magazine #Cars #carmagazine #Journalism #ARDigital

[artandantics-blog]

Quick sketch timelapse! Urban Warfare- "Desert Storm" elapsed time: 40 minutes (2017) First of the new Urban Warfare sketch series! Enjoy!

#UrbanWarfare #DigitalArt #Art #timelapse #ardigital

[artandantics-blog]

The Beauty of the Unconventional

Oftentimes when friends, family, and even clients would ask me about how I have been making my sketches and artworks for 7 years now, they would find my story hard to believe. To put simply, my methods in making my pieces are unconventional from the usual digital artist. My fellow sketch artist friends would often inquire about  how much graphic drawing tablets are and what are the latest software subscription prices for Adobe or AutoCAD. My typical answer would almost always be a simple shrug, to their disbelief.

Not only is the art style itself my very own, but also the method of how I create my pieces. To make a digital sketch or a portrait, all I need is to open Macromedia Flash 8, have a nice cup of coffee, a good mouse, and a steady hand. No pen and paper, no graphic tablet, no touchscreen input, no Adobe Photoshop, no Adobe Illustrator, just years of learning, optimizing, adjusting, and getting used to my hand-and-mouse technique. You read that right, the pieces above were made with a mouse on a free outdated software that’s supposed to be use for flash animations. I will admit, it may not be the best nor most efficient method but it’s the one that got me through years worth of pieces. I discovered this unconventional method 7 years ago and now I’ve been able to  bring out something beautiful out of it.

This is how any aspiring artist truly makes his craft their own: when you discover something unique about what you do and you tirelessly seek to develop it. That’s when you do more than just create an artwork but also craft yourself as an artist. This process of discovery and development is not only limited to the visual arts but also to whatever passion you have. Music? Find your unique way of playing. Writing? Find your own way of playing with words. Traveling? Find a new way of exploring the world.

Never be afraid of being unconventional, regardless if people raise an eyebrow, regardless if people question your methods, regardless if it’s out of the realm of traditional. I’ve always been a firm believer that the most beautiful things are born out of the most unusual of circumstances. Everyone will always have that opportunity to be in an unusual circumstance that will pave the way for them to discover and create something beautiful and truly their own whatever that may be. For me, it was a mouse and an idea.

What will your unconventional story be? Share yours in the comments!

#digital art #ARDigital #art

[artandantics-blog]

Quick sketch of beautiful blue eyes 👀💙 There's something mesmerizing about eyes 😍 elapsed time: 20 minutes (2017)

#digital art #ARDigital #Eyes

[artandantics-blog]

Hey everyone! Follow my digital art page to find more of my work and future works coming out soon!

[artandantics-blog]

Hey Tumblr! Story time!

Only 6 years ago, when I started my journey into the field of Digital Art but it's safe to say that I've changed a lot both as an artist and as a person. Art has truly changed me; it made me appreciate more, create more, love more, and live more. Only now do I realize that beyond those 5 years that has passed, though it's only been a profession for less than a year, I've always been a creator of art by heart since the beginning of my life. To those who want to touch into the field of Digital Art or Art in general, you not only create but you are being created; you will tap into another universe that you yourself will create; you will grow and develop as an artist overtime but never do one thing: give up. If you're reading this, I hope that one day you'll be on the same boat as I, and a billion other people are on. In the mean time, I'll be at your service! Cheers and God Bless! 💕

~Andione Rañeses (2017) Proprietor, Digital Artist, and Graphic Designer