[eu-gene] Software / generative / whatever

[Marius Watz]

Ok, so I might be guilty of elitism - but not in the sense only in the 
sense that I rarely find great value in the work of someone who has dug 
up sample code for a standard algorithm (i.e. tiling / L-systems / 
circle packing / Voronoi) and applied it with predictable results. To do 
so is perfectly valid as a personal exploration or part of a process of 
learning or simply as an expression of the enjoyment of Making - but it 
rarely makes for great art.

To say that such activities are on a par with Sol Lewitt's body of work 
would seem an extravagant exercise in egalitarianism. This doesn't 
preclude the chance that an "enthusiast" (known elsewhere as an 
"Outsider Artist" - although those are usually a little crazy) might 
produce a thing of great beauty, but it's certainly less likely. More 
probable is the rise of artists outside the conventional mechanisms of 
art schools and gallery world, personally I have no art degree to my 
name so I would be foolish to imply that one was needed.

However, I do think most people who has followed the field for a while 
can discern between art and design, between enthusiast and professional 
artist. The former is a matter of intention, the latter is a matter of 
depth and vision. If there is no way to discern differences then the 
entire notion of an art field is moot.

Having said that, I totally agree about assigning relative value to art 
and design. That's like saying that apples are inherently inferior to 
oranges. The point is not that one is better - the point is that they 
are completely different practices, achieving different ends by 
different means.

-m



On 6/01/12 22:17, John Clavin wrote:
> Statements like: "Art is....." and "Design is less important than art" 
> and "Some are enthusiasts and some are artists" are making me want to 
> go to another planet.
>
> Can anyone here look at a work of generative art and tell if the 
> artist was an artist or an enthisiast? Or if the work is design and 
> not art.
>
> What kind of an elitist group is this! Who are we to judge what is art?
>
> John Clavin
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Gogins <michael.gogins at gmail.com>
> To: generative art <eu-gene at generative.net>
> Sent: Fri, Jan 6, 2012 7:15 am
> Subject: Re: [eu-gene] Software / generative / whatever
>
> Design is less important than art, because design depends upon and
> presupposes art. Art is what creates the template for "the human
> world." Design fills out the template.
>
> Regards,
> Mike
>
> On Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 2:29 PM, Philip Galanter<list at philipgalanter.com  <mailto:list at philipgalanter.com>>  wrote:
> >  Absolutely Rob.  I don't mean to be elitist in these comments at all. And for
> that matter I have nothing but respect for great design. It's different than
> art, but no less difficult or important.
> >
> >  I guess the point I was making was that at this point, at least in the digital
> realm, the making of generative art has gotten in front of the thinking about
> generative art. And so more should be done to nurture criticism, theory, and
> history work related to generative art. What can we do to make that happen?
> >
> >  Phil
> >
> >  On Jan 6, 2012, at 12:12 PM, Rob Myers wrote:
> >
> >>  On 06/01/12 17:33, Marius Watz wrote:
> >>>
> >>>  Most of the work is by enthusiasts, not artists,
> >>
> >>  (Generative) Art For All! :-)
> >>
> >>  - Rob.
> >>  --
> >>  'In this forum this kind of thrown egg is likely to land on your own face.'
> >>  To unsubscribe from eu-gene visit
> >>  http://www.generative.net/mailman/listinfo/eu-gene
> >
> >  --
> >  'In this forum this kind of thrown egg is likely to land on your own face.'
> >  To unsubscribe from eu-gene visit
> >  http://www.generative.net/mailman/listinfo/eu-gene
>
>
>
> -- 
> Michael Gogins
> Irreducible Productions
> http://www.michael-gogins.com
> Michael dot Gogins at gmail dot com
> -- 
> 'In this forum this kind of thrown egg is likely to land on your own face.'
> To unsubscribe from eu-gene visit
> http://www.generative.net/mailman/listinfo/eu-gene
>
>


-- 
//////////////////////////////////////////////////
Marius Watz

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