Jihad Jammal
Intro to IM
Professor Aaron Sherwood
Reading Reflection Week 3
Feb. 5, 2024
Controlled Randomness at the Intersection of Programming and Creativity
After watching the video, my understanding of digital art has been significantly broadened by the concept of “controlled randomness”, especially with the intersection of computer programming and creative exploration. Reas’s explanation, where he describes the process of “simply flipping a coin and drawing a left or right but it creates this pattern where we have open areas and closed areas; it becomes vaguely maze-like, and we are able to approach computing from many different angles just from using a single program,” (31:10 – 32:00) eloquently captures the essence of this innovative method. Because the “controlled randomness” methodology uses unpredictability as a basis for creativity in a digital world that is normally perceived as a rigid and unchanging medium, it has changed my understanding of what may be deemed artistic creation/expression. While I understood that art might be highly personal to the individual, I had always thought of art as a clear expression of the artist’s intention, as seen in the brushstrokes or the chiseled stone. Reas’s work, on the other hand, offers a convincing alternative by demonstrating how artists can create the conditions for chance to occur within limitations, so questioning traditional ideas of artistry and emphasizing the special possibilities that arise from the collaboration of computational processes and human creativity.
Furthermore, Reas’s assertion sheds light on how well-managed randomness can act as a link between the fluidity of artistic expression and the deterministic character of code. This combination elevates programming languages from being only tools to being active players in the creation of art, encouraging a deeper reflection on the creative possibilities they possess. It is both illuminating and encouraging to see that intricate, visually beautiful patterns with substantial artistic value can be produced by basic code. It opens up new avenues for artists to investigate the dynamics of order and chaos, intention, and chance by extending the creative canvas beyond conventional media. As such there is a great deal of room for creativity at any skill level when it comes to transforming computer engineering tools for creative expression, especially now that it is known that specialized equipment is not necessary.
Citations:
Festival, E. (2012). Eyeo2012 – Casey Reas. [online] Vimeo. Available at: https://vimeo.com/45851523 [Accessed 5 Feb. 2024].