Re: Extropic art: symbolism, interpretation & association

Natasha V. More (flexeon@primenet.com)
Sat, 15 Mar 1997 12:51:54 -0700 (MST)


At 10:41 AM 3/15/97 +0000, Sarah Marr wrote:

>Kathryn Aegis wrote:
>
>>Sarah Marr:
>>>Art is a discourse, and the creators of Extropic Art act as a voice for
>>>Extropianism;

There are many extropian voices:

Dr. Ralph Merkle is a voice for his views about extreme life extension, he
is also an extropian. Yet, some extropians are not cryonicists. Dr. Roy
Walford acts as a voice for low-caloric intake. Some extropians are not
slender, but Roy is an extropian. Hans Morovec is an extropian and also acts
as a voice for robotics. Some extropians think his work is science fiction,
rather than fact. Minksy is an extropian. He is the "father" of AI, not
neural networks.

>>>indeed, they may define Extropianism.

>>I disagree. I have never heard of a philosophy, a movement, or a
>>religion that has been defined by its artists or by their artwork.

Extropic Artists act as a voice for their own individual extropic
creativity. (Extropy has been defined by Max More.)

(Kathryn)
>>To make artists definers or cheerleaders..

>If I created art-work
>showing graphic and cruel vivisection, called myself an Extropian artist
>and displayed all over Britain

You would not be an Extropic Artist unless the work was produced to provoke
an extropic view of such vivisection.

There are many people who make false claims about who they are, from art to
politics to science.

>A piece of artwork cannot challenge generic 'assumptions'. It can only
>challenge the particular assumptions of its audience. Very few people have
>any assumptions at all about Extropianism,

This is not accurate.

>so artwork has the ability to
>create, rather than challenge, any assumptions about Extropy.

According to the defection of Extropic Art, the art is extropic. Basic.

>Another
>example: if I paint a series of pictures showing Max wearing flowing robes,
>in front of a cross,

I don't think Max would buy it -:)

>may not see the imagery, but that's my point exactly.)

And, thus, a reason for words.

This point is interesting, but doesn't hold because extropianism is not a
stand-alone. One venue does not have a monopoly on extropian ideas. Nor
will it. Simultaneously, books are written about extropy, articles about
extropy and extropians appear in widely read magazines and newspapers, BBC
and PBS films appear on TV with extropians, films with extropians, poems
about extropy, plays, conferences, technologies, ways of thinking, and so
forth.

Natasha Vita More [fka Nancie Clark]
http://www.primenet.com/~flexeon
Extropic Art Manifesto!: http://www.primenet.com/~flexeon/extropic.htm
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