Course detail

Computer Art

FIT-VINAcad. year: 2017/2018

Introduction into computer art, computer-aided creativity in the context of generalized aesthetics, a brief history of the computer art, aesthetically productive functions (periodic functions, cyclic functions, spiral curves, superformula), creative algorithms with random parameters (generators of pseudo-random numbers with different distributions, generator combinations), context-free graphics and creative automata, geometric substitutions (iterated transformations, graftals), aesthetically productive proportions (golden section in mathematics and arts), fractal graphics (dynamics of a complex plane, 3D projections of quaternions, Lindenmayer rewriting grammars, space-filling curves, iterated affine transformation systems, terrain modeling etc.), chaotic attractors (differential equations), mathematical knots (topology, graphs, spatial transformations), periodic tiling (symmetry groups, friezes, rosettes, interlocking ornaments), non-periodic tiling (hierarchical, spiral, aperiodic mosaics), exact aesthetics (beauty in numbers, mathematical appraisal of proportions, composition and aesthetic information).

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Martin Čadík, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Computer Graphics and Multimedia (UPGM)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will get acquainted with the principles of mathematics and computer science in the artistic fields, understand theoretical foundations of algorithmic creativity and software aesthetics, get acquainted with examples of the applied computer art, its history, current tendencies and future development, students will also learn practical skills from the field of computer art and finally, they will realize practically artistic creations with the aid of computer.

Prerequisites

Artistic sense, basic mathematical knowledge, basic knowledge of computer graphics principles.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Not applicable.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Výuka není kontrolována.

Course curriculum

    Syllabus of lectures:
    1. Towards mathematical art: Art overview in the 20th and 21st centuries.
    2. Software aesthetics: Visual forms of computer art.
    3. History of computer art: From analog oscillograms to interactive media.
    4. Aesthetic functions: From sinus and cosinus to the superformula.
    5. Aesthetic transformations: Repetition, parametrization and the rhythm of algorithms.
    6. Aesthetic proportions: Golden section in mathematics, art and design.
    7. Spirals and graftals: Models of growth and branching in nature.
    8. Geometric fractals: Iterated functions and space-filling curves.
    9. Algebraic fractals: From the complex plane to higher dimensions.
    10. Chaotic fractals: Visual chaos of strange attractors.
    11. Symmetry and ornament: Periodic tiling and interlocking mosaics.
    12. Nonperiodic and special ornament: Semiperiodic, aperiodic and hyperbolic tiling.
    13. Mathematical knots: Knots and braids from the Celts to modern topology.

    Syllabus of computer exercises:

    Syllabus - others, projects and individual work of students:
    Creative assignments follow the lecture topics and are realized in a form of non-supervised projects supported by freely available creative applications for each topic. Outputs will be exhibited in students' virtual gallery.
    1. Letterism and ASCII art
    2. Digital improvisation
    3. Computer-aided rollage
    4. Generated graphics
    5. Quantized functions
    6. Algorithmic op-art
    7. Genetic algorithms
    8. Chaotic attractors
    9. Context-free graphics
    10. Fractal flames
    11. Quaternion fractals
    12. Fractal landscape
    13. Escher's tiling
    14. Islamic ornament
    15. Circle limit mosaics
    16. Knotting
    17. Digital collage
    18. Graphic poster
    19. Artistic image stylization
    20. Generated sculpture

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim of the course (http://artgorithms.droppages.com) is to get acquainted with the principles of mathematics and computer science in the artistic fields, to understand theoretical foundations of algorithmic creativity and software aesthetics, to get acquainted with examples of the applied computer art, its history, current tendencies and future development, to learn practical skills from the field of computer art and realize practically artistic creations with the aid of computer.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The monitored teaching activities include lectures, individual creative assignments, and the final project in a form of a creative graphics application. The classified credit has two possible correction terms.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Bruter, C. P.: Mathematics and Art. Springer Verlag, 2002.Caplan, C. S. The Bridges Archive. The Bridges Organization, 2013. Emmer, M., ed.: Mathematics and Culture II: Visual Perfection. Mathematics and Creativity. Springer Verlag, 2005.Emmer, M., ed.: The Visual Mind II. The MIT Press, 2005.Friedman, N., Akleman, E.: HYPERSEEING. The International Society of the Arts, Mathematics, and Architecture (ISAMA), 2012. Kapraff, J.: Connections: The Geometric Bridge Between Art and Science. World Scientific Publishing Company; 2nd edition, 2002.Manovich, L.: Software Takes Command. Bloomsbury Academic, 2013.McCormack, J., et al.: Ten Questions Concerning Generative Computer Art. Leonardo: Journal of Arts, Sciences and Technology, 2012.Peterson, I.: Fragments of Infinity: A Kaleidoscope of Math and Art. John Wiley & Sons, 2001.Radovic, L.: VisMath. Mathematical Institute SASA, Belgrade, 2014.

Recommended reading

Adams, C. C.: The Knot Book. Freeman, New York, 1994.Barnsley, M.: Fractals Everywhere. Academic Press, Inc., 1988.Bentley, P. J.: Evolutionary Design by Computers.Morgan Kaufmann, 1999.Deussen, O., Lintermann, B.: Digital Design of Nature: Computer Generated Plants and Organics.X.media.publishing, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2005.Glasner, A. S.: Frieze Groups. In: IEEE Computer Graphics & Applications, pp. 78-83, 1996.Grünbaum, B., Shephard, G. C.: Tilings and Patterns. W. H. Freeman, San Francisco, 1987.Livingstone, C.: Knot Theory. The Mathematical Association of America, Washington D.C., 1993.Lord, E. A., Wilson, C. B.: The Mathematical Description of Shape and Form. John Wiley & Sons, 1984.Mandelbrot, B.: The Fractal Geometry of Nature. W. H. Freeman, New York - San Francisco, 1982.Moon, F.: Chaotic and Fractal Dynamics. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1990.Ngo, D. C. L et al. Aesthetic Measure for Assessing Graphic Screens. In: Journal of Information Science and Engineering, No. 16, 2000.Peitgen, H. O., Richter, P. H.: The Beauty of Fractals. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1986.Pickover, C. A.: Computers, Pattern, Chaos and Beauty. St. Martin's Press, New York, 1991.Prusinkiewicz, P., Lindenmayer, A.: The Algorithmic Beauty of Plants. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1990.Schattschneider, D.: Visions of Symmetry (Notebooks, Periodic Drawings, and Related Work of M. C. Escher). W. H. Freeman & Co., New York, 1990.Sequin, C. H.: Procedural Generation of Geometric Objects. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 1999.Spalter, A. M.: The Computer in the Visual Arts. Addison Weslley Professional, 1999.Stiny, G., Gips, J.: Algorithmic Aesthetics; Computer Models for Criticism and Design in the Arts. University of California Press, 1978.Todd, S., Latham, W.: Evolutionary Art and Computers.Academic Press Inc., 1992.Turnet, J. C., van der Griend, P. (eds.): History and Science of Knots. World Scientific, London, 1995.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme IT-MSC-2 Master's

    branch MMI , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch MBI , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch MSK , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch MMM , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch MBS , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch MPV , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch MIS , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch MGM , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective