Software Art Practice in Aesthetic Programming

• In Event: Crafting Critical Methodologies in Computing: Theories, Practices and Future Directions (B)

Abstract

This presentation addresses the role of software art in programming practice and pedagogy. By introducing the forthcoming book “Aesthetic Programming: A Handbook of Software Studies” with a focus on power relations that are under-acknowledged, such as inequalities related to class, gender, and race, we draw upon examples from artistic (and critical design) practices as part of our argument that programming is not simply a practical tool that produces an artwork but is a critical-aesthetic object in its own right. The incorporation of software artworks explore the material conditions of software and operations of computational processes as practical and theoretical examples in the book, demonstrating some of the ideas in practice and offer unexpected epistemic insights to reflect deeply on the pervasiveness of computational culture and its social and cultural effects. Aesthetic Programming in this sense is considered as a practice to build things but also with the need, as we argue, to produce "reflexive work of critique". This comes close to Philip Agre's notion of "critical technical practice" with the drawing together of two different perspectives: formal technical logic and discursive cultural meaning. In other words, this necessitates practical understanding and knowledge of programming to underpin critical understanding of techno-cultural systems. This paper will shed light on ways to introduce technical materials in humanistic education, including STS, beyond just STEM curriculum, and how might we embrace both the technical aspect and formal qualities of code as well as imaginaries of code in scholarly works.

Author

• Winnie Soon, Aarhus University