Construction and intuition: Creativity in early computer art

Abstract

This chapter takes some facets from the early history of computer art (or what would be better called algorithmic art), as the background for a discussion of the question: how does the invention and use of algorithms influence creativity? Marcel Duchamp's position is positively referred to, according to which the spectator and society play an important role in the creative process. If creativity is the process of surmounting the resistance of some material, it is the algorithm that takes on the role of the material in algorithmic art. Thus, creativity has become relative to semiotic situations and processes more than to material situations and processes. A small selection of works from the history of algorithmic art are used for case studies.