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