CPUFreak91 Member Posts: 2337 From: Registered: 02-01-2005 |
Rather than sidetrack the Videogames as art, I've created a new thread dedicated to coding. Computer programming is an art because it applies acumulated knowledge to the world, because it requires skill and ingenuity and especially because it produces objects of beauty. What are your thoughts on this? Programmers who subconciously view themselves as astists will enjoy what they do and will do it better. More importantly, what are your thoughts on the above quote? Do you believe it's possible for you or for other people to write better code if you/they think of it as an art form? ------------------ "Oh, bother," said the Borg. "We've assimilated Pooh." "Socialism works great... if there are no people involved." -- Pastor David Ginter, Union Church of Guatemala. |
Ereon Member Posts: 1018 From: Ohio, United States Registered: 04-12-2005 |
I think anything you do with an artistic mindset (a mindset of a job well done and done beautifully to your own eyes) then it qualifies as art. I find myself sometimes rewriting my code, doing new identations, and things like that just to make it look and flow better. I don't think you're ever going to see a copy of Doom III's source code hanging in an art museum, but I do think that to the programmer his or her program can be very beautiful art. I think if you view your programming as art and strive to make it elegant and graceful then it is art, at least to your eyes, and in the end you'll also have a more effective, appealing, and easily read piece of work to show for it. ------------------ |
Briant Member Posts: 742 From: Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada Registered: 01-20-2001 |
I definitely agree with the quotes in the first post, and it's probably the main reason I like programming so much. I am not "artsy" but instead very logical and mathematical, and coding is one of the few mediums that allow me to be expressive and "create" through logic/math/etc. (Classical music is another medium, but I don't spend as much time at the piano as I would like to.) To me, the code itself (i.e. the source text files) are not "art", but rather the art is the elegant or efficient high- and low-level designs used, and how everything comes together. ------------------ Check out this webhost! Fantastic prices, features and support! |
MastaLlama Member Posts: 671 From: Houston, TX USA Registered: 08-10-2005 |
music could be expressed in ones and zeros...hrm...maybe I'm changing what I think here... |
steveth45 Member Posts: 536 From: Eugene, OR, USA Registered: 08-10-2005 |
Programming video games is very different than other programming I've done. To me the art goes beyond well engineered systems. Especially in the realm of AI, which is what I've done mostly, you have to have a good feel for your medium--the float. There is an amazing range and depth to the IEEE 32 bit floating point standard. If you know how, you can make those numbers sing. Shifting probabilities and reactive decision making. Much of the visual arts is based on the understanding of proportion and spatial relationships. This transfers over almost directly to game programming. In 3D games, everything is based on spatial relationships. ------------------ |
bennythebear Member Posts: 1225 From: kentucky,usa Registered: 12-13-2003 |
i think the comparison of classincal music and programming is pretty accurate. i'll call them "logical art". it's a way for logically thinking and creative people to be, well, creative. I don't view programming as an art though, more of a creative science. To me art is very open ended without too many, if any, rules. hence the term "poetic license". With programming the route you take between the starting point and destination can be done several ways, but there are very strict rules and guidelines you have to take to get there. So I wouldn't say it is an art form, and least not what I consider art. Of course I picture some guy in a barret, or some really "out there" musician when I think of an artist. That's my two-cents anyway. ------------------ proverbs 25:7 www.gfa.org - Gospel for Asia www.persecution.com - Voice of the Martyrs |
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CPUFreak91 Member Posts: 2337 From: Registered: 02-01-2005 |
quote: If, say, the definition of art was "open ended without too many rules" would you agree that there is virtually no limit to where programming can't go? (Or is my lack of experience showing?). Consider how a new language, new hardware, and new techniques have been, can be, and will be invented constantly redefining and sometimes reducing the rules. I agree with bennythebear about the strict rules (such as syntax) in coding. Does anyone think those could be eliminated in the future? ------------------ "Oh, bother," said the Borg. "We've assimilated Pooh." "Socialism works great... if there are no people involved." -- Pastor David Ginter, Union Church of Guatemala. My Programming and Hacker/Geek related Blog [This message has been edited by CPUFreak91 (edited August 09, 2007).] |
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bennythebear Member Posts: 1225 From: kentucky,usa Registered: 12-13-2003 |
I agree that there is almost no limit to what can be done with programming and technology, but I still wouldn't consider programming, by itself, and art. Now you can use programming to make artistic works. Such as games, certain websites, and if you mess with graphics programming you can make some really awesome looking stuff appear just by typing code. I know it sounds contradictory, but let me try to explain my viewpoint a little better. In music I would say the meaurement of sound waves, and certain notes, and all could/would be considered science. But the peices of music that are composed would be works of art. I'm sorry if I'm not articulating my point well. I guess I just don't want to call myself an artist, I'd rather be a scientist. I like facts and logic, and the occasional random spur of the moment act of stupidity.  ------------------ proverbs 25:7 www.gfa.org - Gospel for Asia www.persecution.com - Voice of the Martyrs |
