Blog Questions

 Happenings & Cybernetics


What, if anything, do Happenings and Cybernetics have in common? 
Both Happenings and Cybernetics are about people/systems interacting with each other ; cooperating and coming together to reach one same goal/artwork. Both have ever changing natures and evolve in time.

How do they contrast from each other?
They contrast each other in the way that in Happenings the audience is the artwork, there are no artifacts, and on the other hand, in cybernetics there are computers generated/physical systems involved.

 What sort of interactivity do they illustrate?
They illustrate different types of interactivity; Happenings are about human to human interaction while cybernetics is about human to computer interactivity

 Explain what you found interesting and what did not interest you about Happenings or Cybernetics and why?
I didn't find the scientific and theoretical aspects of cybernetics interesting because it was hard to understand and to grasp the notions. I found interesting the ephemeral aspect of Happenings, the fact that it's a once in a lifetime experience that cannot be replicated and is experienced differently by everyone.

Class Notes

Interactive Media 

My definition: interactive media is any type of physical art that involves/interacts/responds to an audience/public in various possible ways, through the use of different types of technology(usually computer generated)

Interactivity 
- message with message in response
- message related to numerous previous messages 

Human to computer interactivity 

- computer responds to human physical manipulation (talking, movement, etc) 

> the experience is physically experienced by the user,

Interactive Art: 

form of art that involves the audience for the artwork to reach its purpose

- dates back to the 20's

- it involves interactivity with viewer(s) or external things like temperature, environment, etc 

- the artwork speaks to viewers
- didn't make its official beginning until the 90's 

Interactivity in Art: 

viewers participate/have physical input in the art work ; the audience and machine(s) work together/in dialogue to produce an unique art work
- the observers make their own interpretation of the work and act upon the artwork 

> they have the power to make the artwork happen/come to life 

example of proto-interactive 

object: Marcel Duchamp's Bicycle Wheel 1951 > early example of kinetic sculpture 

1950's &60's Happenings: not art in object but art as situation and it changes depending on the reaction of the audience  

- without framework of a plot 

- the audience is the spectacle\entertainment  

characteristics: 
- involvement of the viewer
- an unique encounter for each individual during the performance art 
- different performance every time; unique and differs from one another 
- they are ephemeral; no artifact left/no archive ; only memory of participant 
- no hierarchy; people interact with each other(not each person interacting with the artwork alone)

important people:
- Allan Kaprow

introduced dance smell sounds etc 

Happenings can be related to modern things like flashmobs  

Cybernetics 

definition: art of interaction in dynamic networks  

Paskian Artifacts video  

Cybernetics described as being similar to a dancing

the essence of the interaction > 2 systems interact with each other; interact & cooperate to reach one same goal




1. How does the musicullar machine work? What is it?

- it's a performance oriented system > involves looping (constant interaction/continuity)

- musician plays into microphone > machine listens &responds by projecting colours
- musician observes colours and plays accordingly to the flashed colours
- rhythm detector &reacts to rhythm; the machine would get bored and the musician had to work to keep the machine going/lights projecting 

2. What is oblivescence? 

intentional avoidance of learning 

3. What is the Typing Tutor? How does it teach you to type? 

 it's a keyboard (looping)system 
- its goal is to communicate eveness of system > sends queues(lights) to keep you consistant in your typing 

4. Description of Brower 

it's a browser where, if you clicked, you got a personalized answer; if someone else clicked they got a different answer - uses distinction logic - makes you participate in the making of