| Design is form that makes function possible. While that "form" can be contemplated as art, it didn't come into being solely to make art, but to make something that works in a certain way. Ippolito sounds like he's expressing a preference for "pure form," which is a restrictive, dated concept.
I'll try to be more specific. If you, Jim, were to declare that digitalmediatree was a work of art, I'd critique it on two levels. First, is your software design good; does it allow the users to interact in an efficient way, etc? Secondly, is the weblog-cum-chatroom (and the stuff that emerges from it) interesting as art?
If digitalmediatree were a work of art, I'd have to say it's a hybrid. Some of what emerges on the pages is art (photos, narratives, dialogues) and some of it's just mechanics and logistics--where do we meet for drinks? etc. Ippolito, I think, would want it to be all one thing or the other; if it was all mechanics, it would be "too functional" and therefore not art. But I think he would accept the concept of a chatroom or multiple weblogs as art. I, on the other hand, am less interested in that kind of touchy-feely definition of art; I'm more interested in the work that comes out of the process than the process itself.
That makes some sense to me. Thanks.
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I'll try to be more specific. If you, Jim, were to declare that digitalmediatree was a work of art, I'd critique it on two levels. First, is your software design good; does it allow the users to interact in an efficient way, etc? Secondly, is the weblog-cum-chatroom (and the stuff that emerges from it) interesting as art? If digitalmediatree were a work of art, I'd have to say it's a hybrid. Some of what emerges on the pages is art (photos, narratives, dialogues) and some of it's just mechanics and logistics--where do we meet for drinks? etc. Ippolito, I think, would want it to be all one thing or the other; if it was all mechanics, it would be "too functional" and therefore not art. But I think he would accept the concept of a chatroom or multiple weblogs as art.
I, on the other hand, am less interested in that kind of touchy-feely definition of art; I'm more interested in the work that comes out of the process than the process itself.
- tom moody 6-11-2001 10:36 pm
That makes some sense to me. Thanks.
- jim 6-11-2001 11:53 pm [add a comment]