Ten Questions Concerning Generative Computer Art by McCormack et al.

In a text critical to both Philip Galanter’s and my own understanding of generative art, Jon McCormack and his colleagues examined the complexities and evolving nature of generative computer art in their article in the April 2014 issue of Leonardo. They probe the philosophical and practical aspects of computer-generated art, posing ten pivotal questions about the identity, originality and future of generative art. These questions explore the role of machines in the creative process and challenge traditional notions of artistic authorship and creativity. The article positions generative art at a crossroads of technology and traditional artistry, contemplating its potential to redefine artistic practices in the digital age, unaware that twin revolutions—I don’t use the word lightly—were simultaneously occurring in AI and blockchain that would forever change generative art, making the questions raised by McCormack even more pertinent to consider.