Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 4: Digital Era (1960s)
1964
First version of BASIC Released
John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz released version 1 of the programming language, BASIC (Beginner’s All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code). Designed for beginners, BASIC made computer programming accessible and increased its overall use, including in the arts.
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random.
Sources
People
John G. Kemeny, Thomas E. Kurtz
Movements
computer art
Filed under
- Ideas
- accessibility, democratization
- Technologies
- BASIC, computer art, programming
- People
- John G. Kemeny, Thomas E. Kurtz
- Works
- Instruction
Related moments
Echoes across time
- 1989 · Roman Verostko, Carnival, Pathway Series
- 1985 · Mark Wilson Publishes Drawing with Computers
- 2013 · Lauren Lee McCarthy Creates p5.js
Le Random editorials
- Travess Smalley Profiles Mark Wilson, Travess Smalley, March 12, 2024
- Jane Veeder on Loving Change, Copper Giloth & Peter Bauman, April 27, 2026
Le Random podcast
- Timeline Ch 4—Digital Era Pt II (1960s) with Michael Spalter — listen with transcript on Le Random (21 Sep 2023, 77 min). Transcript mentions BASIC. Chapter 4’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 5—Artist-Programmer Era (1970s) with Joan Truckenbrod, Hans Dehlinger & Anika Meier — listen with transcript on Le Random (14 Jan 2024, 65 min). Transcript mentions BASIC. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 6—Personal Computer Era (1980s) with Mark Wilson, Copper Giloth, Dan Sandin, David Em, William Latham, Stephen Todd, Darcy Gerbarg & Geoff Davis — listen with transcript on Le Random (08 Feb 2024, 85 min). Transcript mentions BASIC. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 4—Digital Era Pt I (1960s) with Dr A Michael Noll — listen with transcript on Le Random (07 Sep 2023, 60 min). Chapter 4’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify