Digital culture and art elements

This thesis aims to analyze the transformation of the concept of culture from prehistoric times to the digital age, through the lens of visual culture. The study is based on the idea that culture is a constantly evolving structure shaped by social, economic and technological changes. In this context, particular attention is given to the rupture brought about by the Industrial Revolution in cultural and artistic production methods. It is observed that, with the process of modernization, the modes of producing, sharing, and receiving art underwent a fundamental transformation. The main focus of the thesis is the impact of digitalization on culture and art. In this regard, the concept of digital culture is defined, and contemporary digital art forms such as video games and NFTs are evaluated within the framework of the visual culture discipline. These digital practices are identified not only as new forms of expression but also as cultural structures that transform the relationship between the audience and art. It has been observed that digital culture transforms art both formally and functionally, turns the viewer into an interactive participant, and adds new aesthetic dimensions to visual narrative forms. In this context, the thesis is considered significant in that it approaches the artistic production methods of the digital age not merely as technical innovations, but as cultural and aesthetic transformations.