From: jwilkins@ccrs.emr.ca (John Wilkinson)
Subject: Re: PHIL: VR is not Art
Date: Tue, 18 May 1993 17:14:20 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Energy, Mines, and Resources, Ottawa


In article <1ta60iINNc0i@news.u.washington.edu> aschmitt@NeXT.COM (Antoine Schmitt) writes:
>Suppose we provide means for a creator to express himself by creating
>a Virtual Reality world.
>
>Is the result a piece of art, or is it a game ?
>
>Antoine Schmitt 
>(Antoine_Schmitt@next.com)

	Yes.
	Ever since becoming involved with VR, the concept of 'virtual art'
has excited me.  One of the basic motivations behind any artistic project is
the desire to create, and to communicate that creation.  With VR, we have the 
potential to fulfill this creative instinct in an entirely new and potentially
more complete way.  Imagine the work of Salvador Dali, or Roger Dean, in full
immersive 3d!
	The question of art vs. entertainment is not really an issue here, IMHO.
The creation of virtual objects, scenes, and worlds is an artistic endeavour
whatever final use they are put to.
	Perhaps the value of your question lies in the emphasis of the
possibilities; it is important to consider the artistic potential in addition 
to the entertainment in order to benefit from VR fully. 

	John Wilkinson--(shhhh! My opinions are my own; I'm not even supposed
			       to be posting from here.)