HUMANIZING MEDIA
Media are highly reliant on closely mirroring our sensory sensations to produce artifacts that are representative of our human real-life experience and thus, valuable to us. In the quest for closing the gap between the reproduced and the reproduction further, the respective technologies evolve, providing formal frameworks that allow for expanded versions of realities. For example, once the analog photograph was replaced by the digital sensor, the established pixel resolution started to constantly increase over time, resulting in images that outperform human eyesight. Ironically, the historical achievement of hyperrealistic representation through a medium often goes hand in hand with the longing for the old. Disturbed by the ‘accuracy’ and ‘immediacy’ of the produced artifacts, the user instead reverts to the technically inferior product, finding nostalgic comfort in its limiting but characteristic features. The historical pendulum that swings back and forth between technical realism and more abstracted or distorted but more intimate forms of depiction bears testimony to the never-ending pursuit of using media in a way indicative of the human experience.

This deep yearning is reflected in Jean-Paul Sartre's philosophical notion that “existence precedes essence”. According to Sartre's belief, humans naturally crave authenticity and purpose while grappling with the uncertainties of existence. With our hyperrealistic media expressions, we simply seek to satisfy our desires for human connection by infusing artificial forms with real-life meaning and significance. However, this endeavor is riddled with complexities since our longing for realism is often colored by sentiments of nostalgia, imperfection, and intimacy.

❶ The desire to produce hyperrealistic art can be traced back to Classical Greece sculptures that often embody a striking emphasis on proportions, symmetry, and poise. The mediation of empathy and awareness through bodily and sensory experiences can result in a feeling of uncanniness when absorbing an artifact, in some way deceiving the viewer by both capturing an emotional intensity and manifesting a creepy and unsettling tone.

❷ Paintings continue this pattern, often including religious allegories. For instance, Renaissance art generally depicts pivotal moments in Christian scriptures that at that time to many people were the most accessible texts directly representative of the daily human struggle. Providing solace to Christians, these paintings address both earthly experiences and more abstract and greater ideas of faith.

❸ Although the first moving images were limited to a black-and-white world it did not take long before filmmakers tried to expand such by experimenting with different colorization techniques such as tinting, toning, and hand colorization. Even before mass-usable color film options and the introduction of the colored film experience as the industry standard, considerable resources were spent in the pursuit of a fuller medium.

❹ In the modern-day media landscape, some images are often produced with the help of CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) which refers to 3D animation and VFX software. By enriching the material with detailed character humanization, texturing, lighting, and physics-based simulation the material is modeled as close to real life as possible, often resulting in an overdone and alienating product.

Why are we so eager to recreate what we already have?


❶ Madame Tussaud's Wax Figures (18th Century - Present) Madame Tussaud revolutionized the art of lifelike human replication with her wax sculptures. Using precise measurements of her subjects and detailed craftsmanship, her figures—now displayed in museums worldwide—achieve striking realism, immortalizing political, cultural, and pop-cultural icons in uncanny detail.
❶ Giuseppe Sanmartino's "The Veiled Christ" (1753)
This marble sculpture is celebrated for its hyperrealistic portrayal of Christ’s lifeless body beneath a delicate, translucent veil. Sanmartino’s meticulous attention to texture and form allows the marble to appear as a soft, flowing fabric, demonstrating an extraordinary technical mastery that evokes both realism and reverence.
❷ Caravaggio's "The Entombment of Christ" (early 1600s)
This oil painting is renowned for its striking realism, achieved through Caravaggio's masterful use of sharp contrasts. His detailed depiction of human anatomy and emotion immerses viewers in the somber experience of the scene.
❸ "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)
The first film to fully utilize Technicolor, The Wizard of Oz shifts from black and white to color as the main character Dorothy enters the magical land of Oz. This transition mirrors her emotional journey and was made possible by the innovative three-strip color process, offering a more immersive and vivid visual experience to the audience.
❹ "The Last of Us" (2013)
This critically acclaimed video game set a new benchmark for realism, with hyper-detailed graphics that render human expressions with unprecedented emotional depth. Advanced motion capture technology and high-resolution textures allow players to empathize more deeply with the characters, blurring the line between gameplay and reality.
❹ "Gemini Man" (2019)
In Gemini Man, Will Smith's dual role as both his present and younger self showcases the potential of de-aging visual effects. Using detailed face scans and advanced CGI techniques, the film achieves a lifelike reconstruction of the actor’s younger features, creating a seamless and realistic portrayal of two versions of the same person.











Image References
 The Entombment of Crist
The Veiled Christ
The Wizards of Oz
Gemini Man
The Last of Us
Madame Tussauds



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This project was a group effort.
 © 2024 Maria Riona Durano Santos (56919666), Emiliano Velazquez (40154437), Liliana Hernandez (40154449), Alexandra Sasha Meyer (58614031)





a small history of media archaeology
new media art
group project
oct 21 2024