Philosophy Seminars - Digital Technologies, Critique and Society
"What is the Problem with Digital Art? A Simondonian Proposal"
Speaker: Emre Sünter
Moderator: Emre Şan
In an age where digitality rapidly infiltrates every aspect of society, a form of art that addresses the problematics of the digital medium itself has long preoccupied artists. Digital art, encompassing techniques such as digital painting, 3D modeling, animation, virtual reality, and generative art, challenges traditional concepts of originality and offers new forms of participation and ownership, such as NFTs, integrated with other technologies. In this talk, I will propose that digital art is not limited to a particular style or aesthetic but opens a dynamic field of potentials at the intersection of technological developments, cultural changes, and artistic practices. This approach highlights not what digital art is but what it can do, how it can evolve, and what new forms of interaction it can create.
To present this perspective, I will draw on the philosophy of Gilbert Simondon. According to Simondon, things are not fully given objects but emerge through processes that are plural and filled with unexpected potentials. Simondon's concept of "techno-aesthetics" contrasts sharply with the technocratic approach, prioritizing the unexpected over the predictable. Art and aesthetic practices offer a privileged space to rethink technical tools beyond their functional and utilitarian logic, bringing thought onto the same plane as the creative forces of technology. The indeterminacy passed from technical objects to collective forces serves as the seeds for future individuations. By extending beyond current frameworks or regulatory principles, digital art moves towards the ambiguous yet relationally charged boundaries of present situations.
Through this lens, I will explore how the characteristics of digital media—such as interaction, algorithmic production, and fluidity—not only redefine the creation of art but also its reception and interpretation. Ultimately, this approach leads us to rethink digital art as an evolving potential shaped by the ongoing interaction of technological, cultural, and artistic forces.
Emre Sünter is a graduate of the philosophy department at Galatasaray University. He holds a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Paris Nanterre, having received the prestigious excellence grant from the French government. In 2021, he completed his Ph.D. in Communication Studies at the University of Montreal, with his thesis titled “For an Ecology of Microbe-Artworks: Thinking in between Art and Science.” This work earned him a place on the Chancellor’s Honor List at the university. Sünter’s scholarly work has been published in prestigious journals such as NanoEthics, Theory, Culture & Society, and Pulse: The Journal of Science and Culture. Sünter has translated Deleuze and Guattari’s seminal book “Mille plateaux,” which will soon be published by Norgunk Publishing House. His research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including the digitalization of society, new media, aesthetic theory, design and ethics, ecology, and the philosophy of science and technology. Through his multifaceted investigations, Sünter aims to bridge the gaps between disciplines and advance our understanding of the complex relationships between technology, culture, and the environment.
* The seminar will be held in Turkish. To attend this seminar, you can create your registration by using the "Register" button on the page and receive your free event invitation. Registrations will open 1 week before the event date (01.05.2025, at 18:30) and the "Register" button will become visible. Participation is limited to a quota of 110 people.
** Participants who have completed the event registration and received their invitation are kindly requested to be at the venue at least 15 minutes before the event. The doors will be closed at the event starting time.