URL Krueger on tue 5 jul 05
On Tuesday 05 July 2005 10:01 am, Linda Ferzoco wrote:
> "Science is everything we understand well enough to
> explain to a computer. Art is everything else." (David
> Knuth)
Aw, C'mon Linda, if you're going to put this quote out you
need to explain who David Knuth is. :-)
In the early '70s David Knuth wrote a book entitled "The Art
of Computer Programming" which revolutionized the way
computer programs were written. I still use many of
Knuth's concepts in my day (and night) job to this day.
Knuth could arguably be considered the computer programming
revolutionary equivalent to Voulkos. Except Knuth took
crap and made it art instead of the other way around.
--
Earl K...
Bothell WA, USA
Linda Ferzoco on tue 5 jul 05
This is from someone's email sig on another list I belong to, which has
nothing to do with art. I love the internet.
"Science is everything we understand well enough to explain to a
computer. Art is everything else." (David Knuth)
Chew on that, Linda
URL Krueger on fri 8 jul 05
> >On Tuesday 05 July 2005 10:01 am, Linda Ferzoco wrote:
> >> "Science is everything we understand well enough to
> >> explain to a computer. Art is everything else." (David
> >> Knuth)
More from Knuth:
"I came to the conclusion that "art" must be one of the most
interesting words in the English language."
"(In medieval times) an "art" meant something devised by
man's intellect, as opposed to activities derived from
nature or instinct."
"During the middle ages the word "art" by itself usually
meant logic, which usually meant the study of syllogisms."
"We often hear the saying, 'I don't know anything about art,
but I know what I like.' The important thing is that you
really like the style you are using; it should be the best
way you prefer to express yourself."
"When we apply our own prejudices to 'reform' someone else's
taste, we may be unconsciously denying him some entirely
legitimate pleasure. That's why I don't condemn a lot of
things programmers do, even though I would never enjoy
doing them myself. The important thing is that they are
creating something they feel is beautiful."
"One rather curious thing I've noticed about aesthetic
satisfaction is that our pleasure is significantly enhanced
when we accomplish something with limited tools."
(end quotes)
The complete text of Knuth's Turing Award acceptance speech
entitled "Computer Programming as an Art" published by the
Association of Computing Machinery (ACM), December 1974,
can be found at:
http://fresh.homeunix.net/~luke/misc/knuth-turingaward.pdf
I highly recommend reading it as it presents a viewpoint of
what Art is from someone outside the traditional Art world.
Enjoy.
--
Earl K...
Bothell WA, USA
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