[ExI] Art and myth as systems thinking of a sort

Natasha Vita-More natasha at natasha.cc
Wed Jul 15 15:47:45 UTC 2009


Sorry, I mean in last paragraph:  "Teaching art and teaching systems
thinking are two different field of study.
They cross over, but I doubt most systems thinking courses would [delete
not] admit to it, outside of a relationship to the role of aesthetics."  And
I say this because they are in two different academic departments and we all
know how academic departments usually keep to their own kind.  


Nlogo1.tif Natasha Vita-More

-----Original Message-----
From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org
[mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of Natasha
Vita-More
Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 10:38 AM
To: 'ExI chat list'
Subject: Re: [ExI] Art and myth as systems thinking of a sort

Dan wrote:
 
"I'm not so sure one way or the other. I think art not as a process of
production or creation, but one of reception or experience does trigger
something like systems thinking. E.g., art objects are typically perceived
as "organic" wholes and not as an assemblage or lump. This often folds into
how they are received and criticized -- as in when Euripedes' "Medea" is
criticized for having a "deus ex machina" ending."

Art as an object is a misconception of art.  The artistic process is equal
to its output.  Conceptual art is a valued genre of the arts and is a valued
aspect of transhumanism.  Also, art is judged by its critics by the parts,
not the lump. But I get what you mean and I agree in large part.

[delete paragraph because I already offered my view on Rand and her
manifesto.]

"Also, as to your remarks on video games, an intereting take on them as a
contemporary art form is that of Paul Cantor in his lecture "Commerce and
Culture." I don't want to overplay my hand here, but it seems there's some
overlap between art (both making and experiencing it; in video games, of
course, part of the experience is usually having many alternatives to choose
from) and systems thinking."

I'm not sure why there is any question about video games being art. Of
course video games are art and gamers are artists.  Even if they are
commercialized.  Films are art, even though they are commercialized.

"To be sure, I'm not offering, here, teaching art or art appreciation as a
substitute for attempting to teach systems thinking."

Teaching art and teaching systems thinking are two different field of study.
They cross over, but I doubt most systems thinking courses would not admit
to it, outside of a relationship to the role of aesthetics.  

Nlogo1.tif Natasha Vita-More


_______________________________________________
extropy-chat mailing list
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org
http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat




More information about the extropy-chat mailing list