Response to "Video and Intermedia"

In Foster's argument, he says video is the best form to show intermedia. The main example that he uses throughout his argument comes from Hans Breder. "Intermedia" is facilitated by the medium, which it is "a function of a single thing". It has a very broad sense that Foster stresses on its of ability of delivering messages and communicating with the audiences. Foster said "video enables and has a high potential for intermedia because it, as a medium, compels". The spontaneousness, the ways of representing the materials and technology can avoid the inartistic, and can be efficient.

Hans Breder's concept of intermedia experienced three different times. The first was art. Later, more art forms were included. Most recently, Breder has focused on video, use of languages and work. Once again, it emphasizes art and communication cannot be separated from each other. Video helps to reconstruct and reconnect the patterns with society and culture. 

The "Post Cards From The Heartland "nightmares" episode 1 by Hans Breder agrees with what Foster argues. The beginning of the video suggests that it was an electronic postcard from the heartland. Then Within this video, there is another video that talks about the God's creation of banana. During the video, there are unexpected windows popping out randomly to interrupt and cover over the banana one. At the end of the video, Hans Breder gets a banana and sits in front of the screen and starts to peel as what the banana video said. It is an ironic way to compare a yelling one and a religious one in a screen. Certainly, it communicates with audiences about religion and creation.

Foster leaves an open question at the end saying whether all those activities are art. "Art contains the communication apparatus". From this piece, the words appear on the screens, discussions in the videos, and Breder's action means to communicate with the audience. In this sense, it is art. But the poor settings and the blurriness of video do not look artistic at all. What I think it makes its art it is the structure and communication function that the video presents us, which I agree with Foster's argument after all. Video can well-present intermedia without separated art and communication.