DIGITAL CULTURE AND ART HISTORY: A CONCEPTUAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY AND ARTISTIC THINKING

ABSTRACT

Digital culture has fundamentally transformed the ways in which art is created, interpreted, preserved and theorized. The integration of digital technologies into artistic practices has generated new forms of visuality, authorship and aesthetic experience, while simultaneously challenging classical paradigms of art history and art criticism. This article examines the conceptual dialogue between technology and artistic thinking within the framework of contemporary digital culture. The study analyzes how digital media reshape artistic language, influence cultural memory and redefine the role of the viewer in the art process. Special attention is given to methodological shifts in art historical research under conditions of digital transformation. The article argues that digital culture does not negate traditional artistic values but creates a hybrid space in which classical and innovative forms of artistic expression coexist. The findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of digital art history and its interdisciplinary potential.

АННОТАЦИЯ

Цифровая культура радикально изменила способы создания, интерпретации, сохранения и теоретического осмысления искусства. Интеграция цифровых технологий в художественные практики привела к формированию новых форм визуальности, авторства и эстетического опыта, одновременно поставив под вопрос классические парадигмы искусствоведения. В статье рассматривается концептуальный диалог между технологиями и художественным мышлением в контексте современной цифровой культуры. Анализируется влияние цифровых медиа на художественный язык, культурную память и роль зрителя в художественном процессе. Особое внимание уделяется методологическим трансформациям искусствоведческого знания в условиях цифровизации. Делается вывод о том, что цифровая культура формирует гибридное пространство сосуществования традиционных и инновационных художественных форм.

Keywords: digital culture; art history; digital art; artistic thinking;visual culture; technology.

Ключевые слова: цифровая культура; искусствоведение; цифровое искусство; художественное мышление; визуальная культура; технологии.

Introduction

The rapid development of digital technologies has become one of the defining features of contemporary culture. Art, as a sensitive indicator of social and technological change, has responded actively to digital transformation, generating new artistic forms and conceptual frameworks. Digital culture influences not only artistic production but also the theoretical foundations of art history, aesthetics and cultural studies [5].

In the context of globalization and network communication, digital technologies have altered the modes of artistic circulation and perception. Artworks increasingly exist within virtual environments, online platforms and multimedia interfaces, where spatial, temporal and material boundaries are reconfigured. This shift challenges the classical art historical focus on material objects and stable canons, requiring new analytical perspectives capable of addressing fluidity, processuality and interactivity in art.

Moreover, digital culture encourages the convergence of artistic, scientific and technological domains[1]. The artist today often acts simultaneously as a creator, researcher and programmer, while the viewer becomes an active participant in meaning-making processes. Such transformations foreground the need to rethink key art historical categories, including authorship, originality and aesthetic value, within a technologically mediated cultural landscape.

Relevance of the research

The relevance of this research is determined by the growing role of digital media in shaping cultural practices and artistic communication.Traditional art historical methodologies often prove insufficient for analyzing interactive, algorithmic and network-based artworks. Therefore, there is a pressing need to conceptualize digital culture as an integral component of contemporary art history [3].

Purpose of the research

The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the key conceptual dimensions of the dialogue between digital technologies and artistic thinking, as well as to determine their impact on the development of contemporary art history.

Methodology

The methodological framework of the research is based on an interdisciplinary approach combining art historical analysis, cultural theory and media studies. Methods include comparative analysis, semiotic interpretation and contextual analysis of digital artworks and theoretical texts. The study also employs elements of digital humanities methodology, allowing for a broader understanding of visual data and cultural patterns [2].

Digital culture as an artistic environment

Digital culture forms a new artistic environment characterized by interactivity, virtuality and hybridity. Digital artworks often blur the boundaries between artist and viewer, transforming the latter into an active participant in the creative process [7].This shift challenges traditional notions of authorship and originality in art.

Transformation of artistic thinking

Artistic thinking in the digital age is increasingly shaped by algorithmic logic, database aesthetics and network structures. Artists employ programming languages, artificial intelligence and virtual reality as creative tools, expanding the expressive potential of art. At the same time, digital art reinterprets classical artistic traditions, creating continuity between historical and contemporary forms [6].

Digital technologies and cultural memory

Digital technologies play a crucial role in preserving and reinterpreting cultural heritage. Digital archives, virtual museums and online exhibitions provide new modes of access to art historical materials, democratizing cultural knowledge while raising questions about authenticity and interpretation [4].

In addition, digital cultural memory is characterized by its dynamic and reconstructive nature. Unlike traditional archival systems, digital memory allows for continuous updating, reinterpretation and recontextualization of artworks and historical narratives. This process not only expands the temporal horizon of cultural memory but also transforms it into an interactive space where users actively participate in the production of meaning. As a result, cultural memory in the digital age becomes less static and more dialogical, reflecting the pluralism and variability of contemporary cultural experience.

Discussion

The dialogue between technology and artistic thinking reveals both opportunities and challenges for contemporary art history. On the one hand, digital culture expands analytical tools and visual resources; on the other hand, it requires critical reflection on the limits of technological mediation. Art history must adapt its conceptual apparatus to address the complexity of digital artistic practices without losing its humanistic foundations.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that digital culture represents not a rupture but a transformation of artistic and art historical traditions. The conceptual dialogue between technology and artistic thinking fosters new forms of creativity and scholarly reflection. Digital art history emerges as a dynamic interdisciplinary field capable of integrating technological innovation with classical aesthetic values.

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