Machines, Computers and Art

Course Title: Machines, Computers and Art: A History of Mechanical Creativity

Type of Course: Adult Education

Credit: Not credit bearing

Taught Hours: 20

Session Titles

1. The Mechanical Origins of Art

2. The Birth of Algorithmic and Computational Art

3. Cybernetics, Systems Art, and Generative Processes

4. The Emergence of Digital Art and Early Computer Graphics

5. Interactive, Generative, and AI Art

6. Digital Art in the Post-Internet Era

7. The NFT Phenomenon & the Digital Art Market

8. The Role of Machines in Art: Creativity, Automation, and Collaboration

9. The Philosophy of Originality in Machine-Generated Art

10. Ethical and Future Perspectives on AI & Digital Art

Course Overview

Art and technology have always been intertwined, from the earliest mechanical drawing tools to today’s AI-generated masterpieces. The history of machines in art is as old as the Antikythera mechanism of ancient Greece, as intricate as the automata of the Islamic Golden Age, and as revolutionary as the first computer-generated images of the 20th century.

In this course, we will explore the evolving role of mechanical and digital processes in artistic creation. We will trace the lineage of computational creativity, from the first algorithmic artworks to the contemporary use of artificial intelligence. Along the way, we will consider questions of authorship, originality, and the ethics of machine-generated art.

While modern AI tools like Midjourney and DeepDream have sparked debates about the role of machines in creative practice, they are part of a much longer tradition of artists using technology to extend, transform, or even replace human expression.

Required Previous Experience (if any)

None required.

Required Reading Material or Special Equipment Needed (if any)

None required.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course you will be better prepared to:

• Identify key developments in the use of mechanical, computational and AI technologies in art from antiquity to the present.
• Explain how tools such as automata, algorithms, and neural networks have challenged traditional concepts of creativity, authorship, and originality.
• Discuss the ethical, philosophical and cultural implications of machine-generated art and its role in shaping the future of artistic practice.

Teaching and Learning Approach

The teaching and learning approach for this course combines tutor-led instruction, group activities, and independent study supported by individual guidance from the tutor. Classes are conducted face-to-face in a classroom setting and utilise diverse teaching methods, including presentations, multimedia resources, class discussions, and interactive activities.

These methods are selected to engage students, accommodate varied learning styles, and support effective understanding of the subject matter. The approach is also designed to recognise and be responsive to the diverse experiences, backgrounds, identities, and cultural perspectives represented within the student cohort, fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.

Additional Information

This course descriptor may be subject to change during the delivery of the course, depending on the specific direction and nature of the learner cohort, and is intended to be responsive to the group dynamics as they emerge during the delivery of the course.