On Mar 25, 2010, at 11:33 PM, Kassen wrote:
> Alex;
>
> There's plenty more to add, please be bold with your edits.
>
>
> I'd still like to re-open debate on this sentence;
>
> Live coding is particularly prevalent in computer music, explored as
> a more rigorous alternative to laptop musicians who, live coders
> often feel, lack the charisma and pizzazz of musicians performing
> live.
>
> I know I was already very critical of it before the current version
> but I feel this is a important sentence (perhaps the core of the
> meaning of our little organisation) and I'd like to have another
> look at it. I'd propose;
>
> Live coding is particularly prevalent in computer music, explored as
> a more rigorous elaboration on laptop musicianship which often, live
> coders feel, lacks the charisma and pizzazz of musicians performing
> live.
>
I have some issues with this -
a) Maybe we can be more inclusive of other forms of art beyond
computer music, e.g. visuals, live performance of a theatrical sort.
I don't think livecoding is particularly prevalent in computer
music... I don't think it is "particularly prevalent" in *anything*
right now.
b) Ok, "charisma and pizzazz" are not two camps we can pace the
livecoding tent firmly inside - have you looked at videos of our
performances?? Text_on_screen != pizzazz. We're like the funny old
uncles living in the attic, descending downstairs occasionally and
proclaiming that eating fish heads will make you live forever.
> I'm replying here, as opposed to on the wikipedia talk page, because
> I'm not even sure there is agreement on this list on this subject. I
> don't even feel there needs to be agreement but I would like to face
> the question. Why do we do this at all? I will be frank and admit I
> only started because the idea seemed very far-fetched, a challenge,
> with some dramatic appeal. Not as a criticism of other laptop-based
> performers. Most laptop-based performers bore me to tears but then
> again; so do most guitarists.
I also started livecoding because "the idea seemed very far-fetched, a
challenge, with some dramatic appeal." That, and it really pissed
people off - "What are those guys doing on stage? Did their computer
crash? What the fuck!"
I think of it as a form of performance art that provokes the audience
into reconsidering their relationship with computers and performance,
and forces them to look at what underlies computer art and music.
Really, it violates many of the tried-and-true rules of performance
art, which hides the "magic" from the audience. Computers == magic
for many people today, so revealing the technique behind the magic
breaks that taboo of secrecy, of magicians hiding their tricks for
the (very real) fear that the simplicity of them will disappoint.
Livecoding invites the audience to work with the performer on an
intellectual level, as well as experiential.
-Evan
Received on Fri Mar 26 2010 - 09:58:17 GMT