1. Define the 17th century 'Scientific Revolution', and say how it changed European thought and world view.

The 17^th century ‘Scientific Revolution’ was a “series of changes in the structure of European thought itself: systematic doubt, empirical and sensory verification, the abstraction of human knowledge into separate sciences, and the view that the world functions like a machine” (Hooker, 1996). During the revolution, medieval scientific philosophy was abandoned and replaced by new methods put forward by Descartes, Bacon, Galileo and Newton.  “the importance of experimentation to the scientific method was reaffirmed; the importance of God to science was for the most part invalidated, and the pursuit of science itself (rather than philosophy) gained validity on its own terms” (Kent, 2010). This changed the world view heaps as scientific reasoning became more and more evident and religious views became more of a choice than a lifestyle.

2. Give examples of how we can we still see evidence of the 'Scientific Revolution' in the world today.

The ‘Scientific Revolution’ is seen in today’s world a lot; our world has evolved from the scientific philosophy said by Descartes, Bacon, Galileo and Newton. Knowing that the world revolves around the sun rather than “God” is most probably has a lot to do with the influences of the “Scientific Revolution”. The world lives off of technology in order to live and work well, without it we probably wouldn’t have the capability to work by ourselves as human beings, “our infrastructure, weapons, medicines, and knowledge of the Earth would not exist” (Brewer, 2010).

Research Pipilotti Rist's video installations to answer the following;

Still from 'Ever is Over All' (1997)

Ever is Over All (1997)

3. From your research, do you think that the contemporary art world values art work that uses new media/technology over traditional media?

I think that the contemporary art world values both traditional and new media/technology, they would be bias to say that one is more superior then the other. Traditional media is still used today but with advancement in technology it’s become easier and more enjoyable to create. The impossible is made possible which allows artists the freedom to do out-there pieces of work.

4. How has Pipilotti Rist used new media/technology to enhance the audience's experience of her work?

Rist has used new media/technology to enhance the audience’s experience of her work, “Ever is Over All” (1997) by the two video’s playing alongside each other. They both are of different projections so having a cityscape next to a landscape is very contradicting – the contrast between both video’s as well as the music and sound effects makes the work more of a feminist dreamscape.

5. Comment on how the installation, sound and scale of 'Ever is Over All' (1997) could impact on the audience's experience of the work.

The work “Ever is Over All” (1997), takes up most of the wall space in the gallery making the audience interested at first sight. Because of the large scale work she produces the audience has not choice but to watch the installations. The gallery becomes almost a theatre of close ups and different camera angles of certain objects and people.

6. Comment on the notion of 'reason' within the content of the video. Is the woman's behaviour reasonable or unreasonable?

I find the woman’s behaviour unreasonable because in normal society her actions would have consequences. Skipping down a road smashing windows is an offence and she would be charged, the part that really gets to me is that she is addressed by an officer who walks on by like what she is doing is perfectly normal. “As the vandal gains momentum with each gleeful strike of her wand, an approaching police officer smiles in approval” (Museum of Modern Art, 2010). Also we all know that a flower cannot smash a window, its impossible.

7. Comment on your 'reading' (understanding) of the work by discussing the aesthetic (look), experience and the ideologies (ideas, theories) of the work.

I think this work is interesting because Rist makes the audience feel apart of her works. Its different to traditional works where there hung on the wall, put into frames or sculpted and put in the middle of a room. These works are projected along the walls at large scales giving the gallery that theatre feel.