Art: Interaction vs Participation :: Graduate Admissions Essays

Art  Interaction vs Participation   I am a Burning human being segmenticipant since 1998. Last year when I went to SIGgraph -- my archetypal-class honours degree since I began participating in Burning Man -- the artwork thither left me utterly uninspired. Nothing thither brought to life a deeper disposition to create like the artwork at Burning Man did, though both events deliver similar kinds of artwork.   Dont get me wrong. The art at SIGgraph was earnest but it didnt change me like the art at Burning Man does. I have been trying to define what that difference is. And more importantly, how to predominate whatever aspect of Burning Man art makes it so more more deeply inspiring. I believe I am at last able to draw that line, and that line is what seperates interaction from participation.   What is the definition of interaction? The on-line(a) Mirriam Webster dictionary defines interation thus mutual or reciprocal action or influence. In art, interaction can be a dismissal or control that has influence all over the art in well-nigh way. Interaction in art brings the dish into the art by allowing the viewer to have control over aspects of the art itself. This adds a dimention of action vs. passiveness, inclusion vs. exclusion, direction vs. submission. Interactivity allows a viewer to have defined control over the art in most form.   So what makes participation different from interaction? The second M-W definition of participation is this the state of being related to a larger whole. A very powerful statement in the vault of heaven of art, but what does it mean? How can the viewer become a part of the greater whole in a piece of artwork? I have an answer for this question, but initiatory let me describe some examples of participation and interaction and see if that line becomes easier to draw   At SIGgraph 1999, there was a marble-maze game. The viewers step on the virtual maze to extremum it to make the virtual marble roll through part of the maze.   The first act of participation at Burning Man was at the first Burn. Larry Harvey built a large wooden man and took him to Bakers Beach to rationalise him. People began gathering around. While he burned, a woman went over and held the Mans hand.   I read a story about a assort that brought materials for building sock puppets.