The Impact of the 4IR Technologies in the Works of Emerging South African Artists

Siyanda Andrew Xaba,Senzo Peter Mthembu,Xing Fang

doi:10.4236/adr.2021.91005

Siyanda Andrew Xaba, Senzo Peter Mthembu + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/adr.2021.91005

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Abstract

The study seeks to investigate the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. These technologies include Facebook, Instagram, and Online art gallery. We consider these technologies as part of 4IR because they are digital. In the World Economic Forum, also refers to 4IR as the digital revolution. Furthermore, these platforms use AI technology to function. We chose to select these platforms because of their potential in promoting the artworks of artists. Furthermore, no existing study in South Africa has looked into the impact of these online platforms in the works of emerging South African artists. The purpose of the study is to mitigate some of the challenges encountered by artists. We designed an online questionnaire through google drive and selected 209 participants for the study. We chose to select artists and designers as part of our sample. The selected participants were artists of different categories, both emerging and established artists. The questionnaire focused on investigating the impact of digital platforms to establish whether or not these platforms can mitigate the challenges faced by artists. We also looked at important key factors such as the internet and ICT tools. These factors are vital for the successful use of these 4IR technologies. Statistical tools were used to analyze the data. Pie charts and tables were used to present the data. The results illustrate that Instagram is the most useful platform for artists to use followed by Facebook. The online art gallery is the least useful. We conclude that all of these platforms must be utilized by emerging artists to mitigate the challenges that they encounter in their careers.

Highlights

To understand more about the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is important to briefly look at the background of other industrial revolutions
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is building from the Third, the digital revolution has been occurring since the middle of the last century (Schwab, 2015)
Art has become more interactive with digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Online art gallery that have allowed artists the opportunity to interact with art lovers

Summary

Introduction

To understand more about the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is important to briefly look at the background of other industrial revolutions. The invention of the internal combustion engine in 1900 signified the Second Industrial Revolution (Greenwood, 1999). This led to the period of rapid industrialization of oil and electricity, resulting in mass production. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is building from the Third, the digital revolution has been occurring since the middle of the last century (Schwab, 2015). Art has become more interactive with digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Online art gallery that have allowed artists the opportunity to interact with art lovers. No research looks into the impact of these technologies in the works of emerging artists. The study seeks to investigate the impact of 4IR technologies on the works of emerging South African artists and whether these technologies can mitigate the challenges faced by emerging artists

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