Striking Back: Nam June Paik’s Response to Technology and His Role in American Social Transformation

Abstract

Nam June Paik, a Korean-born artist (1932-2006) who worked in New York and Germany, was able to communicate the effects of technology on society in profound and subtle ways. His works harness the power that technology can bring to artistic creation. He is considered the father of video art, a genre which leverages the power of television and video production. Paik is known for his massive video installations, some of which include hundreds of television sets. On the whole, Nam June Paik’s artistic contributions are surprisingly unexamined. Paik’s ambivalence toward technology positions him as a leading figure in American social transformation. He embraced technology as a key component of his artistry and also admonished its ability to compromise humanity. Paik’s video art functions as physical embodiment to Marshall McLuhan’s philosophies on technology and communication. In addition, Paik’s ambivalence toward technology, his integration of technology with the human body, and his ability to bridge cultures all work to identify him as a leading figure of American social transformation.