My final blog entry I wanted to discuss my overall thoughts on the class. Its probably not a relative topic, but I felt like it would be a good one. I thought that the material that we covered in the class was interesting, with L-Systems and Cellular Automata being some of my favorite topics.
These topics helped me look at some of the processes used in Computer Science, my major, and helped show some of the technologies they are used in. The main reason I'm excited about those topics is because I want to design games, even as just a hobby. As an avid gamer I want to be able to give something back to the community and show off some of my ideas. Because of this class I have been introduced to some of the technologies that can be used (the Unity game engine, L-Systems for terrain design, cellular automata for basic AI).
Being exposed to the ideas of others in the class was also a big help. There's no guarantee that I'll use what I've seen in this class, but I am glad that I was given the opportunity to work with some of these technologies and experience such a different class.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
ISTA 301: Reflections on Class Presentations
For my last series of posts I want to look at what some of the other people did for their final projects. Having the opportunity to see what some groups came up with I can say that I was pleasantly surprised.
One of the two that is sticking out the most to me is "And Then I Woke Up", the game that was a top down perspective that traversed some amazing works of art. The reason I was so impressed by this is that, yes it was a simple concept, but the fact that the music and some of the artworks featured were created by one of the group members was amazing. I've been aspiring to become a game designer for a while, and so I can understand that they put a lot of work into their game, which was beautifully done. (I'm also reminded of a project called Yume Nikki , an indie project of similar style, though on a much darker scale.)
The other one that is sticking out right now is the MIDI poetic keyboard system. I thought it was a very interesting way to make use of Processing and showcase some of the more advanced things the language can do. Although it didn't have very many options, I still thought it was a fun project, and I actually enjoyed looking at it. I hope that the group will continue to work on it after the class and showcase a more complete version at a later time.
I'm not a huge fan of sitting through presentations, but both of these managed to keep my attention the whole time. So I thought it would be a good mention for one of my last blog entries.
One of the two that is sticking out the most to me is "And Then I Woke Up", the game that was a top down perspective that traversed some amazing works of art. The reason I was so impressed by this is that, yes it was a simple concept, but the fact that the music and some of the artworks featured were created by one of the group members was amazing. I've been aspiring to become a game designer for a while, and so I can understand that they put a lot of work into their game, which was beautifully done. (I'm also reminded of a project called Yume Nikki , an indie project of similar style, though on a much darker scale.)
The other one that is sticking out right now is the MIDI poetic keyboard system. I thought it was a very interesting way to make use of Processing and showcase some of the more advanced things the language can do. Although it didn't have very many options, I still thought it was a fun project, and I actually enjoyed looking at it. I hope that the group will continue to work on it after the class and showcase a more complete version at a later time.
I'm not a huge fan of sitting through presentations, but both of these managed to keep my attention the whole time. So I thought it would be a good mention for one of my last blog entries.
ISTA 301: Creational Technologies Part 2: Older Technologies
In my previous entry I talked about newer technologies that have been used for artworks. This time I want to consider less technologically advanced techniques that still produce high level works of art.
If we consider some of the greatest works of art, they were not made using computers, they were not made from programs or any other electronic source. David and the Sistine Chapel, the Great Wall of China and the Mona Lisa. They were created by hand, and that's just fascinating. The fact that any of these could be created by hand is astounding. Its artworks and artists like these that inspired many of the artists today. These all end up leading into the technologies that would facilitate new technologies.
Without creations like these, modern art may not have been created. These all end up leading into all of the ways we can work with art now. Photoshop, movie making, cartography, data visualizations, and so many other tools are the result of people wanting to build up on what was created. I know these technologies will continue to grow.
If we consider some of the greatest works of art, they were not made using computers, they were not made from programs or any other electronic source. David and the Sistine Chapel, the Great Wall of China and the Mona Lisa. They were created by hand, and that's just fascinating. The fact that any of these could be created by hand is astounding. Its artworks and artists like these that inspired many of the artists today. These all end up leading into the technologies that would facilitate new technologies.
Without creations like these, modern art may not have been created. These all end up leading into all of the ways we can work with art now. Photoshop, movie making, cartography, data visualizations, and so many other tools are the result of people wanting to build up on what was created. I know these technologies will continue to grow.
ISTA 301: Creational Tools Part 1: Digital Technologies and Their Uses
I wanted to look at a very important part of what this course is about: Technology. I've looked at quite a few art forms and so now I want to start making a transition into the technologies that can be used and the ways they are integrated into the art community.
As technology continues to advance, their uses in the art world becomes immeasurable. Perhaps the greatest technology that provided advancement in art is film. Film has managed to branch off to photograph and cinema, which has led to several other forms of art.
Using film editing technologies, augmented realities were allowed to be created in both films and pictures. To help create even more possibilities, more programs and technologies were created. Photoshop, and its siblings such as GIMP, help provide more options to people. These options are what allow people to continue to create beautiful works, and as more people are introduced to these technologies, more advances will be made.
As technology continues to advance, their uses in the art world becomes immeasurable. Perhaps the greatest technology that provided advancement in art is film. Film has managed to branch off to photograph and cinema, which has led to several other forms of art.
Using film editing technologies, augmented realities were allowed to be created in both films and pictures. To help create even more possibilities, more programs and technologies were created. Photoshop, and its siblings such as GIMP, help provide more options to people. These options are what allow people to continue to create beautiful works, and as more people are introduced to these technologies, more advances will be made.
ISTA 301: Cellular Automota
Next up I'll discuss my experiences with Cellular Automota. Back when I first started my CS Major, I got to do an assignment in CS 127A... or was it B? Either way, I got to program a simple Game of Life. I can't remember the exact assignment specs, I believe it was that if there were two or less adjacent neighbors the cell would "die" and if there were four or more adjacent neighbors the cell would also die. This rule set only allowed cells with exactly three adjacent neighbors to populate or remain alive.
This version of Game of Life simply occurred in a 2D Array, but I remember that there was interesting results. The program would take in a number of cells and then randomly place a multiple of that number across a very large grid, probably 80 cells by 80 cells. The program would then change the surrounding cells based on the rules in real time. This allowed a variety of different patterns to emerge, and occasionally a stable island would appear or a wave would cause many a ripple of "births" and "deaths". I would love to work with more Cellular Automota in my CS Career and beyond.
This version of Game of Life simply occurred in a 2D Array, but I remember that there was interesting results. The program would take in a number of cells and then randomly place a multiple of that number across a very large grid, probably 80 cells by 80 cells. The program would then change the surrounding cells based on the rules in real time. This allowed a variety of different patterns to emerge, and occasionally a stable island would appear or a wave would cause many a ripple of "births" and "deaths". I would love to work with more Cellular Automota in my CS Career and beyond.
ISTA 301: Musique Concrete
Musique Concrete is probably the least interesting topic that we covered in this class. I find this actually very interesting because I am, well was, a musician. It seemed like it was going to be one of the more interesting topics at first, but trying to work with it was very difficult and the end results weren't very appealing. I'm not sure if it was simply because I was a poor composer or I just couldn't find good sounds to work with.
I like the idea, but I don't know if I have found many good examples of them. Unfortunately, my interest in looking for a good example is also very low. I'm not the type to just give up on a process that isn't successful on my first try, especially when the process has been proven successful and other people have been able to produce different pieces. This is just one of those styles that just doesn't suit me, which is unfortunate, since I love creating music.
I like the idea, but I don't know if I have found many good examples of them. Unfortunately, my interest in looking for a good example is also very low. I'm not the type to just give up on a process that isn't successful on my first try, especially when the process has been proven successful and other people have been able to produce different pieces. This is just one of those styles that just doesn't suit me, which is unfortunate, since I love creating music.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
ISTA 301 Found Art
For my next post I will be looking towards a found art style. Found art can be used in a variety of ways, and I find the idea fascinating personally.
The main style of found art I like to look at is the "one man's trash is another man's treasure" found art. This is where the piece is comprised of trash and other used objects to create the art. Just a quick Google search led to me this clock made from trash and then a family of robots made from various metals and plastics.
I find it all amazing the different ways that junk can be used in in the creative process. Stuff like this tree just shows how people can see things so completely differently, I know I would never be able to think of something like that. But it has inspired me, although not super creative, I do plan to decorate an entire wall of my house when I'm older with my collection of vinyl records and their sleeves. Hopefully as I look at more found art pieces I'll be able to create something just as impressive. I'm not entirely creative, but I do want to be able to do, for a lack of a better word, cool things like this.
The main style of found art I like to look at is the "one man's trash is another man's treasure" found art. This is where the piece is comprised of trash and other used objects to create the art. Just a quick Google search led to me this clock made from trash and then a family of robots made from various metals and plastics.
I find it all amazing the different ways that junk can be used in in the creative process. Stuff like this tree just shows how people can see things so completely differently, I know I would never be able to think of something like that. But it has inspired me, although not super creative, I do plan to decorate an entire wall of my house when I'm older with my collection of vinyl records and their sleeves. Hopefully as I look at more found art pieces I'll be able to create something just as impressive. I'm not entirely creative, but I do want to be able to do, for a lack of a better word, cool things like this.
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