Emergence in Depth

Abstract

The preceding chapters have provided a foundation for emergence in interactive art. In this chapter the interested reader will find an expansion of the theoretical discussions presented in Chap. 2, facilitating insight into some of the debates and concerns surrounding emergence. As well as theoretical, however, the focus of this discussion is also illustrative and pragmatic, its aim being to find a useful understanding of emergence in the context of interactive art. I will begin with the challenge of explaining emergence. This involves reviewing reductionist through to deterministic and complex systems approaches. Digital art and computational models for emergence are also presented. The processes of perception that inform how we see are then reviewed. These can help us understand how designers perceive emergent shapes, as well as creative, visual thinking more generally. There is still much to understand when it comes to creative,perceptual emergence perceptual emergence and the physical emergence of our complex, natural world, but the application of deep understandings of emergence to interactive art experiences will move enquiry forward.