1.
Image: Emese
Szorenyi
Digital Art and Philosophy
Melanie Swan
She’s Geeky, Mountain View CA, Jan 2013
http://www.MelanieSwan.com/PCA
http://www.slideshare.net/lablogga

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"Every culture will use the maximum level of technology
available to it to make art" - Scott Draves, Generative Artist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0OK1GiI83s
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What is Digital Art?
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What is Digital Art? ‘Official’
Definitions
• “Digital art is anything involving computers and
art such as using a computer to create art or
digitized art displays” – EB Boyd
• “Digital art is using new technologies for the
digital, computer-based composition, display, and
reproduction of images and sounds” – Katherine
Thomson-Jones
• “Digital art is a general term for a range of artistic
works and practices that use digital technology as
an essential part of the creative and/or
presentation process” – Christiane Paul
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What is [regular] Art?
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Classic definition(s) of art
• “Art is the expression or application of human creative
skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as
painting or sculpture” – Wikipedia
• Art “…is a means of union among men, joining them
together in the same feelings, and indispensable for
the life and progress toward well-being of individuals
and of humanity.” – Leo Tolstoy
• “Art is a discovery and development of elementary
principles of nature into beautiful forms suitable for
human use.” – Frank Lloyd Wright
• “Art is not a thing — it is a way.” - Elbert Hubbard
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7.
What is Digital Art?
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8.
What is Digital Art?
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9.
What is Digital Art?
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10.
What is Digital Art?
Social network visualization
of voting patterns of U. S.
Senators during 2007
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11.
What is Digital Art?
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12.
What is Digital Art?
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13.
What is Digital Art?
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What Philosophical Issues arise with
Digital Art?
• What is art?
• Why does art matter?
• How does art engage us?
• How does digital art change
our notions of
– Identity
– Performance
– Interactivity
– Creativity
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Philosophy of Digital Art
• “The virtual image lacks any material
autonomy of its own and is dependent on the
activity of the [viewer’s] body-brain [for its
existence” – Mark Hansen
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Philosophy of Art
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Image: Emese
Szorenyi
Digital Art and Philosophy
Thank you!!!
Melanie Swan
She’s Geeky, Mountain View CA, Jan 2013
http://www.MelanieSwan.com/PCA
http://www.slideshare.net/lablogga