At February 1996

At May 1996

THE SPIRITUAL IN ART

1. ARCO would like to be (or become) a multi and trans-cultural list, to
which
        are invited to participate people that do and/or like arts (in all
its
        expressions), literature, psychology, (science of) communication.
        Which is the main interest that made you subscribe this list ?
I would like to land on a planet where there are people like myself. Here I
am, feet just touching, like the little prince.
2. Where are you from: country, town, language, culture, experiences... ?
White male. From Ohio, but in the northeast (Albany, NY) for 25 years now (49
altogether). Half Russian, half Wasp. Mercun boy. Not particularly trained,
but obviously born--to art trade.
3. Wich topics are you more interested on, among them proposed in the
        "Welcome" message ? Or: would you propose one or more new topics?
Topics are intriguing, I like the one about pain and pleasure (6) looks like
I'm in a good place.
4. What do you think about communicating between people about topics
        of ARCO list using the medium of Internet and of a mailing-list?
This is my first list, don't know how it is going to work out. I have found
online forums to be pretty deadening in general, but have had real glimpses
of light at times. I believe that this kind of communication has the
potential to be delightful and inspiring.
5. Which "rules" do you think we should explicitely or implicitely accept
        to improve the communication avoiding too much flaming ?
Flaming can get tiresome, but so can polite interchange. No rules necessary.
Maybe the golden rule.

I`ve been wired only recently, and explored the lists for awhile.
And guess who is the friendliest, most pleasant and reasnobale of all?
It`s just a pity that there is such little activity on ARCO list, I
suppose it`s the season - are you all in holiday over there in the snow?
I think I might have made a mistake because I registered to the DIGEST -
can someone tell me if this is why I`m not getting any post from ARCO?
Well, as to the introduction - I`m from Haifa University in Israel, Dep.
of Comparative Literature and Communications. I would like to participate
in interdisciplinary discussion in the fields of literature, film, media,
[inc. newsmedia] - developing connections.
As for NET communication, I think I would like to see some kind of
advanced atmosphere of peace and intelligence, stemming from this
achievment. In the year`s summations on the major TV int.networks
everybody said that this was the NET year, etc. So if it`s a new era, why
not making some effort?
As for rules, I don`t think there should be any - but just DO write!!!!

  1. Is Art, now, at the and of this century, alive?
Yes, especially music and video, the commercially viable arts.
  2. What actually is a common sense of beauty ?
Shared appreciation of shared experience.
  3. Can people living in an "artistic way", making art and
  literature or other forms of products of their own
  creativity, without suffering?
Some people just naturally have fun creating.
  4. Art is or may be an answer to actual big problems of
  human beings?
Yeah, no use looking for answers in the back of a turnip truck.
  5. Or, on the contrary, does actually art just "reflect" the
  human confusion about the future of we all?
Might be good to figure out what's going on before we start changing things.
  6. Pleasure and/or suffering, are they different in
  "artists" and in people suffering for mental or physical
  pains? Which is the "quality" of this difference ?
Yes, artistic suffering seems to be a state sought, a possession welcomed.
  7. Can be Art a therapy, or better should therapists become
  in someway artists to really communicate an helpful way to
  "do" an artistic work, or to enjoy artistic products?
Art as a part of living well is a part of the way.
  8. Is Literature, now, alive ? I mean big literature, but
  also the little one, for exemple exchanging mails between
  people as it happens on Internet.
We live in the golden age, the classical age of creation, the creations
of our time will be enjoyed for millenia.  Even our little e-mail essays.
  9. Is Internet, and more generally speaking, are new
  multimedia technologies a way to let human beings live many
  different dimensions of theirselves and of the relationships
  with other (real) human beings?
Any new vehicle offers new opportunities for self-realization and human
connection.
  10. Is there a risk that new technologies improve the
  difficulties of communication between human beings ?
  How can we solve this problem, if it does exist, without
  destroying our actual way of life and our civilization?
Increase the difficulties?   No, the new technologies are interactive;
that makes a big difference.
Well, now I have answered all those questions and will now have to make
up some new ones.

My name is Garland Black, Cincinnati, OH USA - My livelihood is computers as
I am an analyst who cannot get away from the "hands on" of design.  I enjoy
the challenge of interpreting a business idea into a computer program, the
"elegance" of an efficient design (although this idea is being displaced by
"fatware"), and the joy of working alone.

However, my real pleasure comes from literature, writing, reading,
critiquing, discussing.