Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site dciem.UUCP Path: utzoo!dciem!mmt From: mmt@dciem.UUCP (Martin Taylor) Newsgroups: net.books,net.ai Subject: Re: Hofstadter on computer music Message-ID: <1543@dciem.UUCP> Date: Mon, 13-May-85 17:49:27 EDT Article-I.D.: dciem.1543 Posted: Mon May 13 17:49:27 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 13-May-85 18:38:03 EDT References: <582@tpvax.fluke.UUCP> <195@u1100s.UUCP> <14174@watmath.UUCP> <711@gloria.UUCP> <234@sdcc13.UUCP> <5327@ucla-cs.ARPA> graphics artist. However, the best,most realistic graphics made today >is made with the computer, not exclusively by humans. Fractal geometry >provides mathematical principles that describe real-world scenery far >better than the hands of most artists. And it draws scenery with such >precision that it makes human efforts look "like the throw of the dice". > What is to keep us from discovering priciples of music that would >allow us to create the best in auditory mosaics with a computer? NOTHING. >My bet is the computer that makes the best music will be the computer >that incorporates the most understanding of human cognition. It is quite Although I agree with the conclusion, I can't agree that fractal geometry provides more realistic descriptions of scenery than human artists. Real scenery is not fractal except in unusual circumstances. The effects of erosion or biological growth patterns are usually scale-dependent, and directed. For example, folded strata dominate most mountain structures, and the relative hardness and friability of the strata determine the visual appearance of a mountain. Alps don't look like Rockies, for example. One side of a mountain may be almost a mirror-smooth slab, whereas the other shows a dipping saddle of cliffs. Fractal geometry provides aesthetically pleasing pictures that sort-of look right, especially when compared with previous computer-based graphic methods. But it's a long way from there to realism. Music doesn't require realism, and I do think that the right computer-based approach may well provide music of deep aesthetic satisfaction (i.e. "great"). (Of course, visual art doesn't require realism, either). -- Martin Taylor {allegra,linus,ihnp4,floyd,ubc-vision}!utzoo!dciem!mmt {uw-beaver,qucis,watmath}!utcsri!dciem!mmt