roundtable: Re: visions of Content

roundtable: Re: visions of Content

Re: visions of Content

Jeff Briggs (jbriggs@capital.edu)
Fri, 24 Mar 1995 03:47:54 +0500 

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 1995 03:47:54 +0500
From: jbriggs@capital.edu (Jeff Briggs)
Message-Id: <9503240847.AA00102@athena.capital.edu>
To: roundtable@cni.org
Subject: Re: visions of Content


I always enjoy your literate and thoughtful contributions. I'm still
thinking about the Panopticon...

     These points [the first paragraph was directed to Rick Crwford]
are well taken - but there are many more advantages to exploring
computers than the checkbook-shopping list ilk. Apart from the
intelligent and stimulating discussions (which did not exist in this
form, spontaneity, interactivity, and geographical splendor before
these dread machines), the whole realm of personal creative growth
must be mentioned. 

     I use the computer to paint, draw, digitize images and sounds,
process the images, write, compose MIDI music, transcribe sheet music
to sequencer programs to hear how it sounds, print out notations from
improvizations, do 2-D and 3-D animations, and soon to digitize, edit,
and process video with some hardware/software Capital University is
about to buy.

     Anyone can do these things. Children who visit here always
end up doing some of these activities. Almost anyone can afford a 
computer - no - I would say ANYONE can buy one who's willing to
work, regardless of education. 

     Computers are learning and self-teaching machines that can
sharpen awareness and self-awareness. 

     These benefits for individuals are an amazing advance in the
history of the human race. The creative use of computers has not been
talked up sufficiently because of the cultural prejudice against
personal freedom and creativity and art and artists. That's not
just rhetoric.

     All said in Rick's post was true - but these dentists and mechanics
and bricklayers have an open door through which they only have to walk
to discover myriad reflections of themselves. Socially, politically, and 
fiancially speaking, undemocratic control forces have greatly increased 
the efficeiency of their control.

     But in the long run personal liberation is revolutionary. A
change in consciousness must preceed any meaningful social 
transformation - the lack of which we have seen in the long debate about 
the I-Way.
	
     Placing these ideas of personal creative liberation next to
the military, marketers, and the Republi-pulsive party may seem a
kind of Polyannesque naivete worth only a snicker before charging
on to the nest e-letter. But if there ever will be progress in
human enlightenment, and then human conduct (which is debateable),
it will take the path of internet communications, continual 
education, and personal liberation.

Jeffrey Briggs
<jbriggs@capital.edu>

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