Can a Computer Produce and Critique Art?

 J. C. Sprott
Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA

(Received 26 May 2000)

ABSTRACT

It is well known that certain equations have graphical solutions of incredible beauty and diversity.  The diversity comes from the choice of parameters in the equations, which are like settings on a combination lock, each opening a door to a different image.  However, it is difficult to predict what each image will look like without actually producing it, and most of the images are not interesting.  Without additional guidance, a computer is almost as unlikely to produce good art as a monkey with a typewriter is to produce good literature.

Ref: J. C. Sprott, Leonardo 34, 369 (2001)

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