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> the word evoked the notion of a new kind of geometry — something fragmented, fractional or broken. But that's not what "fractal" means; it means "fractional
by denton-scratch 3y ago
> the word evoked the notion of a new kind of geometry — something fragmented, fractional or broken.
But that's not what "fractal" means; it means "fractional dimension". To say the word "fractal" evoked something is subjective - evoked it for whom?
- pohl 3y agoI suppose the dimension is the something, to be charitable. Compare to the etymology section here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal
- pvg 3y agoFor people who know similar-sounding words. Words can evoke things well outside their etymology or denotation, one of the many reasons people like and use words.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- TheOtherHobbes 3y agoFor people who don't know what a fractional dimension is. And mostly don't care. Fractal art of all kinds was part of a certain trend in 80s/90s culture, which also influenced the look of the early Internet. And electronic dance music, clubs, and raves. It was maximalist, psychedelic, colourful, busy, inclusive, recursive, and complex. Whatever the math was doing, it was a very popular signifier of certain kinds of experience. I suspect it's not a surprise that if faded into the background when the Internet began to commercialise and blandify in the later 90s.