The DatabaseThe Database

from from The Language of New MediaThe Language of New Media

by Lev Manovichby Lev Manovich

The Language of New MediaThe Language of New Media

Seminal text in media theorySeminal text in media theory Attempts to position new media with respect to Attempts to position new media with respect to

other mediaother media Heavy on the cinema referencesHeavy on the cinema references Ignores many political issuesIgnores many political issues Somewhat dated alreadySomewhat dated already Mentions the web, but fails to explore all of the Mentions the web, but fails to explore all of the

implicationsimplications But thorough in describing his theoriesBut thorough in describing his theories

What is a database?What is a database? Quickly access, sort, and reorganize dataQuickly access, sort, and reorganize data Multiple data typesMultiple data types Multiple indexes (or indices, if you prefer)Multiple indexes (or indices, if you prefer) Every new media object is an interface to a Every new media object is an interface to a

databasedatabase What about broader definition of database?What about broader definition of database?

The Web as a database: URI is main index, but there The Web as a database: URI is main index, but there are othersare others

Meta-data about websites – portals, personal home Meta-data about websites – portals, personal home pagespages

The art of creating indexing tools (ie: google)The art of creating indexing tools (ie: google) Creative indexing can suggest relationships that Creative indexing can suggest relationships that

weren’t apparent beforeweren’t apparent before

Map the size of the LandMap the size of the Land. . . In that Empire, the Art of Cartography attained . . . In that Empire, the Art of Cartography attained such Perfection that the map of a single Province such Perfection that the map of a single Province occupied the entirety of a City, and the map of the occupied the entirety of a City, and the map of the Empire, the entirety of a Province. In time, those Empire, the entirety of a Province. In time, those Unconscionable Maps no longer satisfied, and the Unconscionable Maps no longer satisfied, and the Cartographers Guilds struck a Map of the Empire Cartographers Guilds struck a Map of the Empire whose size was that of the Empire, and which whose size was that of the Empire, and which coincided point for point with it. The following coincided point for point with it. The following Generations, who were not so fond of the Study of Generations, who were not so fond of the Study of Cartography as their Forebears had been, saw that Cartography as their Forebears had been, saw that that vast Map was Useless, and not without some that vast Map was Useless, and not without some Pitilessness was it, that they delivered it up to the Pitilessness was it, that they delivered it up to the Inclemencies of Sun and Winters. In the Deserts of Inclemencies of Sun and Winters. In the Deserts of the West, still today, there are Tattered Ruins of that the West, still today, there are Tattered Ruins of that Map, inhabited by Animals and Beggars; in all the Map, inhabited by Animals and Beggars; in all the Land there is no other Relic of the Disciplines of Land there is no other Relic of the Disciplines of Geography.Geography.

-Jorge Louis Borges-Jorge Louis Borges

Syntagm vs. ParadigmSyntagm vs. Paradigm Originally used in linguistics by Saussure Originally used in linguistics by Saussure Expanded by Barthes for all semioticsExpanded by Barthes for all semiotics

Syntagm: A specific sequence or constructSyntagm: A specific sequence or construct Paradigm: All possible constructs of a Paradigm: All possible constructs of a

particular typeparticular type

Syntagm: one Madonna song Syntagm: one Madonna song Paradigm: all possible Madonna songsParadigm: all possible Madonna songs

““Currier and rum king” from A Currier and rum king” from A Singular ChristmasSingular Christmas

Traditional Media vs. New MediaTraditional Media vs. New Mediasyntagm vs. paradigm (cont)syntagm vs. paradigm (cont)

Traditional mediaTraditional media The syntagm is explicit, and the paradigm is implied (like the The syntagm is explicit, and the paradigm is implied (like the

Madonna song)Madonna song) Traditional media object has one interface per objectTraditional media object has one interface per object A sculpture has one interface – the sculpture itself; it is the A sculpture has one interface – the sculpture itself; it is the

same as the objectsame as the object

New mediaNew media the paradigm is present, and the syntagm is impliedthe paradigm is present, and the syntagm is implied Multiple interfaces to the same object Multiple interfaces to the same object Number Munchers, CarnivoreNumber Munchers, Carnivore

Data / AlgorithmData / Algorithm

In computer science, everything can be In computer science, everything can be characterized as either data or algorithmcharacterized as either data or algorithm

Data is passive, while algorithm is active.Data is passive, while algorithm is active. “…“…the passive/active distinction is not the passive/active distinction is not

quite accurate because data does not just quite accurate because data does not just exist – it has to be generated.”exist – it has to be generated.”

Mud = active?Mud = active?

Database / NarrativeDatabase / Narrative

Every database needs a narrative to be Every database needs a narrative to be realizedrealized

Narrative = the users path through the Narrative = the users path through the databasedatabase

The narrative is the syntagm of the The narrative is the syntagm of the database, which is the paradigmdatabase, which is the paradigm

Follows the dominant semiological order of Follows the dominant semiological order of the 20the 20thth century century

Narrative according to Mieke BalNarrative according to Mieke Bal

ActorActor NarratorNarrator TextText StoryStory FabulaFabula Series of connected events caused or Series of connected events caused or

experienced by the actorsexperienced by the actors

Database as cultural formDatabase as cultural form Linear media considered Linear media considered

“high culture”“high culture” Other non-linear forms Other non-linear forms

(comic books, technical (comic books, technical manuals) manuals)

considered “low culture”considered “low culture” Are comic books really non-Are comic books really non-

linear?linear? Database is the new symbolic Database is the new symbolic

form of the computer ageform of the computer age We need development of We need development of

database aesthetics and database aesthetics and ethicsethics

Database FilmmakersDatabase Filmmakers

John Witney John Witney PermutationsPermutations

Peter Greenaway Peter Greenaway The The TulseTulse LuperLuper

Suitcases: The Moab Story Suitcases: The Moab Story

Dziga Vertov Dziga Vertov The Man With the Movie The Man With the Movie

CameraCamera

Database vs. 3D EnvironmentDatabase vs. 3D Environment

DatabaseDatabase 3D environment3D environment

literaryliterary cinematiccinematic

accessaccess immersionimmersion

representationrepresentation actionaction

workwork leisureleisure

YahooYahoo RivenRiven

““If CD-ROMs and Web databases are cultural If CD-ROMs and Web databases are cultural manifestations of one half of [the computer ontology] – manifestations of one half of [the computer ontology] – data structures – then computer games are data structures – then computer games are manifestations of the other half – algorithms.” (p223) manifestations of the other half – algorithms.” (p223)

3D Environments as Databases3D Environments as Databases

Can be considered databases of spatial Can be considered databases of spatial datadata

Data is so complex that most people don’t Data is so complex that most people don’t think about it as a databasethink about it as a database

Programs like Maya happen to be Programs like Maya happen to be primarily WYSIWYG editorsprimarily WYSIWYG editors

Manovich, Lev. “The Database."  Manovich, Lev. “The Database."  The Language of New MediaThe Language of New Media. . The MIT Press: Cambidge, The MIT Press: Cambidge, Massachusetts, 2001.  213-243.Massachusetts, 2001.  213-243.