[extropy-chat] secular heaven awaits extropes

[Eliezer S. Yudkowsky]

Lee Corbin wrote:
> 
> Now I have to figure out why the old couple had a snowball coming from
> the "little miracle that will save Earth", sigh.

I think the Minus webcomic might actually be Pure Art, which is why 
you're having trouble getting it.

A couple of times, lately, I've suddenly realized:  "Hey, I just had a 
pure artistic experience."  That is, I appreciated the beauty of 
something, and then realized that it wouldn't have made any sense to 
someone not already steeped in the form.  It may be that you've got to 
read a whole bunch of webcomics before you encounter Minus and 
appreciate it as Art; which makes it Pure Art.  Similarly, after 
watching the "Reflections of Style" series, which struck me as highly 
refined, purely stylistic, and executed with exceptional competence, I 
realized that it would probably have made no sense and created no 
aesthetic experience for someone who had never previously watched an 
anime music video.  It may even be that I, who have always considered 
myself a complete cultural barbarian, am beginning to appreciate Pure 
Art.  Ah, well; at least my pure artistic experiences are of anime music 
videos and webcomics.  A cultural barbarian has his pride, after all.

For a webcomic that is High Art but not Pure Art, try "Ozy and Millie".

-- 
Eliezer S. Yudkowsky                          http://singinst.org/
Research Fellow, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence