Re: Smells like teen spirit . . .

From: Michael Marinacci <mikalm_at_ix.netcom.com_at_hypermail.org>
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 14:59:21 -0800

> Alvy Ray Smith (formerly Pixar, now Microsoft Research) once
> gave a lecture on computer graphics, lamenting the persistence
> of the continued jagged or stairstepped look of many computer
> generated images. He poked fun at people for 'celebrating the
> jaggies' by creating on-antialiased content on purpose in an
> era where that problem had largely been solved.
>
> That was around 1984.
>
> Of course it's a rare artist who considers such technological
> artifacts problems to be solved at all, and will more likely
> harness them in every possible way..
>
Reminds me of the case of the Fisher-Price PXL 2000. A cheap, crude video
camera for kids issued in 1987, it was deleted from the FP line after only a
year in the market. However, various video artists found it rendered
uniquely grainy, almost dream-like visuals, and it became a big "cult" item
among videographers. I believe there have been entire PXL 2000 video
festivals, with professional, full-length pieces all shot on this
rudimentary piece of equipment.
Received on 2004-02-10 14:57:14