Aside from only a handful of historical examples to the contrary, (The
Renaissance and a Corridor work by Bruce Naumann) an abashed answer of
'no' seems to reverberate from Rogers initial question. There is hope
that this contemporary situation can change, and likely in some close
possible future, some characters are reemerging on the scene that will
refresh us with a new language and capacity to communicate and
understand each other better across these borders.
But still, if we made only one slight tweak to the question of ours
and posed it rather from only a slightly different angle, ... but with
a wider scope . . . i believe we can already answer in the
affirmative.
So If we were to ask DOES ART SCIENCE COLLABORATION CONTRIBUTE IN ANY
WAY TO SUCCESSFUL SCIENTIFIC PROGRESSION?
Can we nearly agree on that? I mean scientists and artists ? Can
artists and scientists agree on that? I have to trust that some of us
can.
Again, with some redundancy, agreed, the supposed or imposed
"difference" between art and science, is not in their relevance, their
production, or their contribution per se - because they are in cases
equally rigorous, precise and engaging, even relevant to Life on
spaceship Earth- the difference or problem we face is in how we orient
the domain of these equally valid processes of knowledge and
technology production - One popularly more often engaging in this
practical and pragmatic "realworld", the "one self evident world",
and the other engaged in the ever expanding capacities of thought,
language and experience, its communicative possibilities and
potentials, its multiplicitous behaviors and perspectives.
A preacher preaches - lo siento - my apologies.
What seems to be missing, or even degrading some of the sciences, is
its discursive lack - its inability to reflect on itself, its
histories, implications and divisions, to take measure and
communicate, formulate or articulate to those outside of the reality
of maths and number - to be generous, patient and hospitable to the
other, to share its intentions or plans or hopes and dreams - its
spirit and future.
And of course, the inverse is the challenge for the arts - or the
"fine arts" rather - the incapacity to stop focusing on itself, its
theories and aesthetic principles, collectors galleries, museums, its
economies of self evident worths and constructed values - its
inability to look outside its circles of self generated egocentric
criticism and really engage in an even broader spectrum, to become
scientific without being co-opted or losing its visions and hopes, to
be able to come back to this island of the real, and also help out in
focusing communication, developing new languages, taking a step back,
leading an integrative example.
Happy to be a bit crayzee about this conversation
Even if you heard that one before
It is still imminently relevant
All the Best
On Wed, Aug 7, 2013 at 4:23 PM, Paul Fishwick <metaphorz@gmail.com> wrote:
> I really like Kevin's point below as I think he hits the nail on the head
> with his comments, particularly where he points to a need for
> artists to be able to "convince them [scientists] of the value of
> art practice and theory."
>
> Everyone on this list is already sold on the philosophical leanings
> involving the value of the arts, sciences, and their intersection so
> no need to continue to use this as an argument.
>
> I think a much stronger argument is needed for the future. That
> argument is based on scientific literature to show that under
> a variety of circumstances, the arts can improve something
> fundamental about cognition: for example, attention, memory,
> or a higher level execution function such as learning. If we
> build up this literature to include such findings, this will be
> most convincing to the scientist because all endeavors (inc.
> science) require effective cognition function. If you want to
> teach someone about organic chemistry, students will need a
> good memory, and the ability to command attention during the
> learning or communication activities involved.
>
> Anything short of this makes for "preaching to the choir"
> scenarios we find ourselves in often as we continue to explore
> this interface.
>
> -paul
>
> Paul Fishwick, PhD
> Chair, ACM SIGSIM
> Distinguished Chair of Arts & Technology and Professor of Computer Science
> The University of Texas at Dallas
> Arts & Technology
> 800 West Campbell Road, AT10
> Richardson, TX 75080-3021
>
> On Aug 6, 2013, at 5:59 PM, roger malina <rmalina@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
>
>> DOES ART SCIENCE COLLABORATION CONTRIBUTE IN ANY WAY TO SUCCESSFUL...
>>
>> In collaborations with scientists, I have often found, as an artist,
>> that it is difficult from the outset to convince them of the value of
>> art practice and theory. I agree with the papers quoted by Roger.
>> There is real asymmetry. I think that this in part arises because most
>> scientists operate in very a different academic, institutional and
>> financial environment from most artists. That may well be okay, but it
>> also means that artists will most likely never come to nourish
>> scientific research.
>> By Kevin McCourt
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