Digital Art and Philosophy

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Contact information: MelanieSwan.com/contact.html.

The University of the Commons presents this free class Tuesdays Feb-Mar 2013 (2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12), 6:30-8:30 PM (Sign Up Here!)

Emerald Tablet Gallery, 80 Fresno St, North Beach, San Francisco CA 94133 (between Romolo Pl & Grant Ave)

Class Flyer

UOTC Syllabus: Philosophy, Computing, and the Arts (5 weeks, 2 hour sessions)

Description: This course examines the ways that computing and the arts are coming together in contemporary society in many exciting and innovative ways. We explore the philosophical, sociological, and design perspectives of the computational and digital arts, where computation, data, and information technology may be expression medium, subject matter, conceptual content, or all three. Format: lecture and discussion. Optional: respond to the class material in writing, performance, or digital art work. Objective: become aware of the context and philosophy of contemporary computing and digital arts. Each session considers the topic from three angles: philosophy, aesthetics in computing, and computing in the arts. Course content may draw from the list of works and authors below and is subject to change.

PDFs of all class readings:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5344454/DigitalArt.zip

2/12     Introduction. Digital Arts and Philosophy.

www.meetup.com/uotcsf/events/101711512/

“What is New Media?” (Lev Manovich, 2002, pp 43-48, from “The Language of New Media”)

“Review of A Philosophy of Computer Art by Dominic Lopes” (Timothy Binkley, 2010, pp 1-3)

2/19     The Design Aesthetics of Meaning-Making: Information Visualization.

http://www.meetup.com/uotcsf/events/101920082/

“Aesthetics of Information Visualization” (Warren Sack, 2013)

“Authenticity and Computer Art” (Margaret A. Boden, 2006, pp 1-11)

2/26     Democratized Creativity: Performance, Music, Virtual Reality, Gaming.

http://www.meetup.com/uotcsf/events/dfvzgfyrdbjc/

“Performance is the Thing” (Dzifa Benson, 2006)

“Videogames and Aesthetics” (Grant Tavinor, 2010)

3/5       Natural Aesthetics: Generative Art, SynBio, Biomimicry, CrowdArt.

http://www.meetup.com/uotcsf/events/dfvzgfyrfbhb/

“What is Generative Art?” (Margaret A. Boden, 2009, Section I and V)

“The Further Exploits of AARON, [the artificial intelligence] Painter” (Harold Cohen, 1995)

3/12     Portable ArtTech: Identity, Fashion, Wearable Electronics, the Future.

http://www.meetup.com/uotcsf/events/101922742/

“Extracts from Gender as Performance: An Interview” (Judith Butler, 1994)

 “Vitality of Digital Creation” (Timothy Binkley, 1997)