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One can create almost anything using computer programming. This is not true with any other artistic tool. I think I suffered from this same fallacy >20 years a
by chubot 5y ago
One can create almost anything using computer programming. This is not true with any other artistic tool.
I think I suffered from this same fallacy >20 years ago... I would say it's a "mathematician's view of art", i.e. that generality is better.
I was really into music and audio, and I remember talking to another computer person about how it would be cool to make our own DAW (digital audio workstation), and then presumably make some kind of musical masterpiece because we could create anything!
Aside from the fact that this is a ridiculously large project that was never finished, generality isn't better if you care about good art. Constraints breed creativity, etc.
Spending time around successful artists will cure you of this notion. e.g. I worked with technical artists in video games -- they are using a computer, but they think VERY differently than programmers and mathematicians. I also knew some pretty successful musicians.
Summary: plenty of art is created with computers, but without programming. Teaching programming to artists is probably a good idea in some circumstances, but not obviously better than teaching photography or even say public speaking. That doesn't mean programming is invalid, but it's one tool and it's not especially likely to lead to good artistic results. The balance may change in the future but I suspect it will always be somewhat true, probably just because of the way brains work (both the creator's and audience's)
- amelius 5y ago"One can create almost anything using computer programming. This is not true with any other artistic tool." Well, with computer programming you can generally only create stuff that is displayed on a 2D surface (unless you bring other tools). The same holds for a pen, or a paint-brush.
- dmurray 5y agoWhy? Most things we think of as computers have a screen, for sure, but they also have some way of producing audio output.
- amelius 5y agoYes, and you can attach a 3d-printer and create sculptures. But ... the essence is the computer+screen because that is what you need to learn computer programming.
- Kim_Bruning 5y agoWhile a screen is commonly used these days, it's not the only way to learn programming. (eg see Logo, which included a Physical robot called a "turtle" at one point) Also, I suppose some sequencer/tracker work done by musicians ends up looking like programming at some point. Definitely the entire MOD scene from the 1990's if you'd like to relive that: * https://www.stef.be/bassoontracker/ https://www.stef.be/bassoontracker/ Some of this gets very close to outright programming (this particular mod does a bunch of stuff that seems like it should be impossible in mods at first glance) * https://www.stef.be/bassoontracker/?file=demomods%2Fhoffman_and_daytripper_-_professional_tracker.mod https://www.stef.be/bassoontracker/?file=demomods%2Fhoffman_...
- Kim_Bruning 5y agonone-2D surface things: * 1D: MIDI (music) * 3D: CNC mill/ 3D Printer * 4D: VR (animated) * outright Non-Euclidian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztsi0CLxmjw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztsi0CLxmjw