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Single-channel video artworks are created using
technologies that were originally designed to be ephemeral.
The video signal itself, of course, began its technological
life as television, a medium designed for the live transmission
of images, not their permanent retention. Videotape, introduced
in 1956, was developed specifically to record live television
programs for rebroadcast in later time zones; tapes generally
didn't need to survive longer than a few hours. DVDs, though
often touted as permanent, have stability problems that are
only beginning to become apparent. In recent years, changing
display technology has complicated the problem: many video works
were created with the specific qualities of the cathode ray
tube (CRT) in mind. CRTs are rapidly becoming obsolete, and
soon will be commercially unavailable. Yet basic preservation
actions-and thoughtful long-term planning-can insure that video
artworks survive for generations to come. This section will
explore the issues related to the preservation of video materials-information
that will also be of use for many computer-based
or installation works as well.
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