Dear all,

James A Stimson wrote:

>  These composing machines and programs seem able to copy lots of things
> about a composer's work, except those things that make the work worthwhile
> -- inspiration, individuality, diversity, unexpected charms, grace,
> elegance, spirit, etc.

Are you really sure? I do not say I disagree, but in communication there 
is the sender and there is the reciever. This question is philosophically
very interesting! And I would certainly not underestimate the reciever -
in our case the listener! Who is the one who really makes the art? Is
the message really sent by the artist? Or is it produced while reciving
by the reciever?

To take an analogy from visual arts: If a painting is defined to be 
painted by Rembrandt, many can see the artistic values. If after a couple
of years it is proofed that the painting was not by Rembrandt, the 
artistic value diminishes - not to speak about the economical value...

To me - in music - the claim that some piece is "composed by J.S. Bach" is 
a kind of red herring (was this the saying?). Every spot of ink by him 
should be a gem - and to me every spot certainly is not. Well, many are...

But at the end, I totally agree with James: The only importantant art is
made by men/women! And the reciever is the judge! There just is, and has
been, that much of "wannabe-art" that could easily been produced by 
machines, too. The "real thing" - whatever it is or could be? - cannot 
be achieved without human makers! 

All the best

Arto



To get on or off this list see list information at
http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html

Reply via email to