History of the Internet/Oil Standard Homework

I don't understand how this project is considered art. Mandiberg describes himself as "I am an artist, web person and rogue economist who uses the Internet, Video and performance to explore subjectivity, labor, and commerce. My current work employs Firefox plug-ins and open API platforms to highlight the real environmental costs of a global economy." Assuming I do beleive it is art, he uses the internet as a medium to show people how much commodities cost in terms of their equivalent value in barrels of crude oil. This program according to Mandiberg, is supposed to be "a glimpse into the moment when oil will replace (or already replaced) gold as the standard by which we trade all other goods and currencies". It uses the internet to its best advantage because the internet can show these conversions instantly and easily. Anybody can access and use this program. This piece could not be made any other way because it would be impossible to label every item in the world by hand how much it costs in barrels of crude oil. The internet allows this conversion to be done instantly and in addition, allows it to be shared with the entire world... or at least those with access to the internet.

This work fits into the history of the internet that Sterling describes because he discusses how the internet is a way for people to share and discuss whatever they want with no censors, and how it can reach people all over the world. Mandiberg is obviously trying to make a statement about our dependency on crude oil. The internet allows him to make this statement and share it globally.

Features of this "artwork" that reflect the time in which it was made is the entire concept. He is converting prices to the costs of barrels of crude oil in a time where we are dependent on oil. Today, we know that oil may not be around much longer and we need to come up with alternatives but we still depend on oil greatly. Oil is very controversial today in terms of where we get it from, its effect on the environment, and its constantly inflating price. Other features that reflect the time in which this peice was made is how advanced the program is. 20 years ago, he would not have been able to make this peice, but since we are so technologically advanced, he was able to do it.