New media can be defined in a multitude of ways, but for the purposes of this assignment I will stick to the general definition of the means through which information (most often digital) is communicated within society. Manovich seems convicted in the idea that with the current state of new media, it is all either derived or stored within a computer or digital device and that physical texts have lost weight in the category of new media (though he doesn’t exactly feel comfortable with this fact). I believe that a lot of the modern developments with new media are shifting the definition more and more towards information that is also uniquely interactive, like any computer program or videogame. In Parikka’s article, he also mentions the trend in which media has grown increasingly immaterial, with most information being stored in a digital stratosphere that’s difficult for humans to imagine without the always evolving visual culture of screens and graphic design that Manovich discusses. In all, the topic of media and new media mainly surrounds the constant technological advancement that allows humans to share and communicate hordes of information more conveniently. Whatever is most convenient, simple, and interactive, while also remaining detailed and informative will continue to be at the forefront of the new media scene.

Manovich, Lev. The Language of New Media. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 2001. Print.

Parikka, Jussi. “The Geology of Media.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 11 Oct. 2013. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.