Wilson S. Information Arts: Intersections of Art, Science, and Technology

Cambridge, MA; London: The MIT Press. 2003. — 970 p. — ISBN10: 0262731584; ISBN13: 978-0262731584.A new breed of contemporary artist engages science and technology—not just to adopt the vocabulary and gizmos, but to explore and comment on the content, agendas, and possibilities. Indeed, proposes Stephen Wilson, the role of the artist is not only to interpret and to spread scientific knowledge, but to be an active partner in determining the direction of research. Years ago, C. P. Snow wrote about the "two cultures" of science and the humanities; these developments may finally help to change the outlook of those who view science and technology as separate from the general culture. In this rich compendium, Wilson offers the first comprehensive survey of international artists who incorporate concepts and research from mathematics, the physical sciences, biology, kinetics, telecommunications, and experimental digital systems such as artificial intelligence and ubiquitous computing. In addition to visual documentation and statements by the artists, Wilson examines relevant art-theoretical writings and explores emerging scientific and technological research likely to be culturally significant in the future. He also provides lists of resources including organizations, publications, conferences, museums, research centers, and Web sites.Selected artists
Selected technologies
Series foreword
Foreword by joel slaytonIntroduction, Methodology, Definitions, and Theoretical OverviewArt and science as cultural actsA Quiz
Revisiting the Relationship of Art and Techno-Scientific Research
Organization of the Book
The Deficiency of Categorization
What Areas of Technological An Are Included? Which Are Not?
Definitions and Theoretical Reflections
Similarities and Differences between Science and Art
Critical Theory and Problematic Issues in the Integration of Art and
Techno-Scientific Research
Artists' Stances in Integrating Research
Summary: The End of Timelessness?Elaboration on the approach of art as researchCan the Arts Offer Alternatives in Setting Research Agendas, Interpreting Results, and Communicating Findings?
What Is a Viable Role for Artists in Research Settings? What Can Researchers Contribute to Art and What Can Artists Contribute to Research?
What Can High-Tech Companies Gain from Artists Being Involved?
Art Characteristics Useful for Research
Preparing Artists for Research
The Integration of Research and Art
Art and Science/Technology Collaborations
Future PossibilitiesBiology: Microbiology, Animals and Plants, Ecology, and Medicine and the BodyBiology: research agendas and theoretical overviewResearch Agendas in Biology and Medicine
Areas of Cultural Significance in Biological Research
Theoretical Perspectives on Biology and the Body
Rethinking the Body and Medicine
Searching for Aesthetic Form in Art and Science
How Are Biology-Based Theory and Research Important to the Arts?Artists working with microbiologyIntroduction: Microbiology and Genetics as Artistic Interest
Manipulations and Investigations of the Microworld
Creating Forms and Visualizations Based on Its Structures, Including the New Iconography of Gene Mapping
Reflections on the Processes of Genetic Science and Its Social Implications
Summary: Micro StepsPlants and animalsInvertebrates
Arthropods: Insects and Spiders
Plants
Vertebrates
Acoustic EcologyEcological artEcology: Organic Life as a System
Questions Raised by Artistic Interest in Ecology
Historical Examples of Artistic Work
Contemporary Artistic Work with Ecological Concepts
Summary: Linking Science and Art in ActionBody and medicineIntroduction: Bodies, Technology, and Theory
Extropian and Post-Human Approaches
Artists’ Experiments with Technological Stimulation
Artists’ Experiments with Smell
Artists’ Experiments with Surgery
Experiments with Tissue Culture
Body Modification
Brain Processes, Heartbeats, Breath, Biosensors, and Psychology
The Psychological Processes of Perception, Cognition, Appreciation, and Creativity
Body Imaging
Medicine, Hospitals, Bodily Fluids, and Death
Summary: Dissecting the BodyPhysics, Nonlinear Systems, Nanotechnology, Materials Science, Geology, Astronomy, Space Science, Global Positioning System, and CosmologyPhysical science research agendas and theoretical reflectionsIntroduction: Questions about the Biggest and Smallest of Things
Survey of Research Fields and Agendas
Nonlinear Systems, Chaos, and Complexity
Astronomy, Cosmology, and Space Science
Epistemology—How Do We Know What We Know?
Potentially Important Emergent Technologies
Summary: Artist Explorations of Physical Science Research and ConceptsAtomic physics, nanotechnology, and nuclear scienceAtomic Physics
Viewing and Manipulating the Atomic World—Nanotechnology
Nuclear Science
Summary: Difficulties of Working at the Atomic LevelMaterials and natural phenomena: nonlinear dynamic systems, water, weather, solar energy, geology, and mechanical motionNonlinear Systems
Natural Phenomena—Oceans, Water, and Moving Liquid
Natural Phenomena—Erosion and Geological Action
Natural Phenomena—The Sky, Winds, and Weather
Solar Art
Mechanics—Oscillation and Pendulum Action
Fire, Heat, Magnetics, and Electromagnetics
Materials Science, Rapid Prototyping, and Chemistry
Summary: Pattern Finding and Poetry of ManerSpaceArtistic Interest in Space
Views from Space
Art Viewed from Earth
Art Executed in Space and Weightlessness
Painting and Photography Based on Space Expl
Conceptual and Electronic Works
Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI)
Art Critiques of Space Research
Summary: The HopesGlobal Positioning System (GPS)Possibilities and Dangers
Artistic Experimentation with GPS
Summary: Unexpected ImplicationsAlgorithms, Mathematics, Fractals, Genetic Art, and Artificial LifeResearch agendas in mathematics and artificial lifeWhy Is Mathematics Part of a Book on Science, Technology, and Art?
A Review of Research Agendas in Mathematics
Artificial Life
Theoretical Perspectives on A-LifeAlgorithmic art, art and mathematics, and fractalsAlgorithmic Art
Art and Mathematics
Fractals
Promise and Problems in Art and Mathematics and Algorithmic Art
Literacy—Audience Background
Understanding Systems
Abstraction and Cultural TheoryArtificial life and genetic artA-Life Sculpture and Autonomous Agents
Genetic, Evolutionary, and Organic ArtKinetics, Sound Installations, and RobotsRobotics and kineticsIntroduction: Robots—Creatures of Art and Science
An Overview of Scientific and Technological Research Agendas
Examples of Conceptual Challenges and Approaches
Robots and Popular Culture
Summary: Robot Hopes, Fears, and RealitiesConceptual kinetics and electronicsArtistic Research
Kinetic Art Precursors
Kinetics and Light Sculpture
Conceptual Kinetics
Summary: More Than RoboticsKinetic instruments, sound sculpture, and industrial musicA Brief Theoretical Overture
Experiments in Sound Installation
Summary: Research as ArtRobotsRobotic Theater and Robotic Dance
Autonomy
Extreme Performance, Destruction, Mayhem, and Control
Social Metaphors
Extending Robot Motion and Interfaces
Robot Architecture
Summary: Kinetics and Robots—Hybrids of Art and ScienceTelecommunicationsTelecommunications research agendas and theoretical reflectionsIntroduction: Overcoming Distance
Telecommunications Research and Development
Research Trends in Telepresence
The Meaning of the Telecommunications "Revolution"
The Exploration of New Possibilities
Summary: Telecommunications—The Grand Cyber DebateTelephone, radio, and Net.RadioA Brief History of Telematic Art
Theoretical Perspectives on Telephone Art
Examples of Telephone-Based Art
Radio, Television, and Wireless
Radio-Based Art and Theater Installations
Art Radio
The Migration to Net.Radio
Summary: Dangers and Opportunities in ConvergenceTeleconferencing, videoconferencing, satellites, the internet, and telepresenceTeleconferencing, Videoconferencing, Satellites, and Internet Collaboration
Telepresence Definitions
Artists Exploring Telepresence
Visualizing Net Activity
Parapsychological Communication
Summary: Being ThereWeb artCritical Perspectives on Web Art
Archive and Information Sites
Projects to Accumulate Web-Viewer Opinions
Genetic Art Using Web-Visitor Voting
Recomposing Web Resources
Collaborative Environments and Person-to-Person Communication
The Development of New Capabilities
Reflections about the Net
Arrangements That Use Readings of the Physical World to Affect the Web
Cool Sites
Summary: The Web as an Art ArenaDigital Information Systems/ComputersResearch agendas and theoretical overviewIntroduction: The Computer Revolution
Diverse Histories of Technological Imagination
Research Agendas
Theoretical Reflections on the Digital Culture and Art
Summary: Debate in the Art Community—Possibilities of an Enhanced FutureComputer mediaIntroduction: Extensions of Photography, Cinema, Video, and Literature
Deconstructive and Feminist Critiques of Cultural Trends
Extending Poetic and Expressive Capabilities
Art Games
Multi-Person Events
Video Installation
Interactive Documentary
Hyperfiction
Summary: Computer Media—The Next Stages of Cinema and Television?Virtual realityIntroduction: Artists as Architects of Virtual Reality
Unorthodox Spaces and Characters
The Virtual Reality World as Metaphor
Alternative Objects and Creatures
Relationships between the Physical and the Virtual
Information Visualization
Distributed Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality, Music, and Theater
Research and Commercial Virtual Reality EnvironmentsMotion, gesture, touch, gaze, manipulation, and activated objectsIntroduction: Reworking the Interface
Motion
Gesture
Touch and Tactility
Gaze
Face Recognition
Complex Actions—Balance, Walking, and Bicycling
Breath
Activated Objects
Summary: Can a Computer Do More Than See and Hear?Speech synthesis, voice recognition, and 3-d soundSound Research
3-D Sound
Speech Synthesis and Manipulation
Speech Recognition
Summary: Something to Talk AboutArtificial intelligenceArtificial Intelligence Research
Algorithms for Creativity
Image and Speech Recognition
Interactions with Artificial Characters
Affective Computing
Agents
Summary: The Role of the Arts in Artificial Intelligence and Agent ResearchInformation and surveillanceInformation Management, Visualization, Commerce, and Surveillance
Bar Codes and ID Technologies
Surveillance
Databases and Research Processes
Information Visualization
Reflections on Science
Information Organizations and Structures
Summary: Being Formed by InformationResourcesExhibitions and festivals; educational programs; art, and research collaborations; organizational resources, think tanks, and web resourcesPermanent Spaces, Museums, and Comprehensive Institutions
Competitions and Festivals
Organizations and Information Publishers
Art and Science-Technology Sponsors, Competitions, and Academic Convergence
Programs
Think Tanks and University Labs
Educational Resources
Research Conferences, Science Magazines, Trade Magazines, and Science and
Technology Studies
Summary: Institutions as ArtSummary - the futureAppendixesMethodology
Books for further inquiry
Name index
Subject index