LAPTOP

Honestly speaking, the feeling and impression Holly gives me are not that remarkable compared to last week’s artist Reich. Well, I definitely acknowledge Holly is a great musician and artist. However, I don’t fully agree with her ideas delivered in that article. 

Starting with the only part that I agree, really agree. She described in the article that the laptop and the music we create with the laptop, are not the extensions of our own bodies anymore but the multifaceted tools for collective actions. I first thought this was wrong cause the ultimate role and the function of any kind of external instruments and devices is to be the extensions of human bodies. I changed this idea after think carefully about this line. Holly is correct, in this case. Being the multifaceted tools for collective actions is at a higher level compared to just being extensions. The fact that instruments and devices can be the medium for collective actions is based on the foundation that they have already become human extensions. Additionally, being the extension only indicates a one-direction relationship, that humans are still in the dominance of instruments and devices. The relationship is based on, fulfilled, and maintained by utility. On the other hand, being the multifaceted tool, and the medium for collective actions indicates that this is actually a two-directions relationship. The instruments and devices are in a harmonious relationship with the performer, with humans. There is not necessarily a difference between dominance and submission. Rather, the performer and the instruments and devices coexist. This relationship is based on utility but fulfilled and maintain by reliance and satisfaction. 

This part is clearly demonstrated in her performance at the IMA, but not fully or well demonstrated. I can see that there was an attempt for Holly to act and react to the computer after the echo-like sounds. She wanted to show that this is actually not a one-way performance in this way. However, the delivery was not that good from my standards. I used to think letting the instruments being the extensions of bodies shall be the highest of any kind of performance, but I was wrong. They can also be the medium for collective actions, and this is not easy to achieve. What holly delivered was a well-designed harmony, not THE harmony. 

The rest parts in the article are the parts I don’t like or agree with.