PBS Off Book

March 8, 2012 2:50 PM

The first episode of the second season of PBS Arts web-original series Off Book is Animated GIFs: The Birth of a Medium (mini-documentary, ~7 min). "OFF BOOK explores cutting edge arts and the artists that make it. Breaking the mold of the definition of art, OFF BOOK explores the avant-garde, the experimental and the underground artforms that are supported by online communities."

press release: PBS announced... the premiere of “Off Book,” a new web series focused on experimental and non-traditional art forms on PBSArts.org ... This 13-part, bi-weekly series explores the ever-changing definition of art in the hands of the next generation of artists taking creative reigns and melding art with new media.

OFF BOOK videos: all full episodes
PBS Arts: Off Book home page
PBS Arts: Off Book tumblr

Season 1 episodes:

Episode 1: Light Painting
Episode 2: Typography
Episode 3: Visual Culture Online
Episode 4: Steampunk
Episode 5: Hacking Art & Culture with F.A.T. Lab
Episode 6: Street Art
Episode 7: Etsy
Episode 8: Video Games
Episode 9: The Fashion of Artists
Episode 10: Generative Art - Computers, Data, and Humanity
Episode 11: Product Design
Episode 12: Book Art
Episode 13: The Evolution of Music Online

posted by flex (10 comments total)

I remember seeing my first animated gif in 1994. We couldn't figure out how it was done.
posted by Catblack at 3:00 PM on March 8, 2012

If this doesn't talk of meatspin.gif then they might as well not even bother.
posted by wcfields at 3:06 PM on March 8, 2012 [3 favorites]

didn't know what meat spin was. now i know. it's rather nsfw
posted by nikoniko at 3:08 PM on March 8, 2012

needs moar ace calhoun
posted by fleetmouse at 3:44 PM on March 8, 2012

I wanted to not like this, but it's just so earnest! Awww.
posted by effugas at 4:25 PM on March 8, 2012 [1 favorite]

I wanted to like this, but it's just so pretentious! Ewww.
posted by waxbanks at 4:26 PM on March 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

Animated gifs just made me feel old. I hate you.
posted by Fizz at 4:28 PM on March 8, 2012

This new thing? Oh my. I was making flickbook animations for Glasgow clubs in Deluxe Paint 20+ years ago. I hear that the E'd out kids rather liked them. Now, I thank you for exprating yourselves.

Plus, any discussion of animated gifs without b3ta is just wrong.
posted by scruss at 4:42 PM on March 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

I liked it. GIFs don't make me feel old. Posts reminiscing the ham radio craze make me feel old. That and finding old computer punch cards around the attic.
posted by Dodecadermaldenticles at 4:44 PM on March 8, 2012

I'd never seen that sushi boarding a train GIF before, and now I am obsessed with it.
posted by 41swans at 8:55 AM on March 9, 2012