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Suppose I write a cellular automaton in which after some complex dance all the white cells are turned dark. This could clearly be art. Suppose that I write the

by indrax 12y ago

Suppose I write a cellular automaton in which after some complex dance all the white cells are turned dark. This could clearly be art. Suppose that I write the software to implement this CA, but not display it, just jostle the memory locations. That is still art. Suppose the rules are such that it is clear that all the on cells will be turned off, with some perhaps complex interactions in between. Then you don't need to run the code to see the art, just read the source. I think any implementation of Towers of Hanoi is art.

probably_wrong 12y ago
> Suppose that I write the software to implement this CA, but not display it, just jostle the memory locations. That is still art. I'm not entirely sure that's true. I get the feeling that art has to be perceived to be considered so, or otherwise we'd say that a painter thinking about a painting is art, even if he never actually paints it. (note that I have no doubt that someone somewhere will attempt to do this as an art project, but then we'd have to discuss what "art" actually is)