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 v