I Think You Know That I Know That You Think : Epistemology and Interactive Digital Art

Contents 1 Abstract 2 Introduction 3 Discovery 9 Reflection 13 Synthesis 18 Conclusion 20 Appendix 21 Glossary 22 Bibliography 1 Abstract I create computer simulations that illustrate some aspect of meta-knowledge (ie. knowledge about knowledge.) Building from my earlier art and a discussion about epistemology (the scholarly discipline of meta-knowledge,) my thesis artwork is based on the principles of memetics. That is, the artwork incorporates ideas from the branch of epistemology called memetics. These ideas provide the conceptual framework for an ALife (artificial life) simulation, with programmed 3D graphics that visualize packets of knowledge as organisms. I will explore epistemology from two directions: first a bottom-up approach in which I uncover unconscious elements of my work, and then a top-down methodology that incorporates meta-knowledge in a purposeful way. The bottom-up approach, in the section titled " Discovery, " consists of a chronological review of my interactive art pieces. This review leads into a discussion (titled " Reflection ") about epistemology, with particular attention paid to the ideas of Robert Anton Wilson. Then, in the section titled " Synthesis, " this discussion crescendos into my thesis artwork, a piece titled memetics simulation no. 1. As implied by the title, memetics simulation no. 1 attempts to visually and interactively demonstrate memetics. Memetics is an epistemological theory in which information transference is modeled according to evolutionary ideas, with information treated like genes. memetics simulation no. 1 concretizes the evolutionary metaphor, with memes (ie. packets of information) existing as oddly shaped creatures that walk around a virtual space. Participants with the piece can kill or mate the creatures, as well as read the memes associated with the various creatures. Memes are passed on from parents to offspring in the same way that genes normally are, so participants' choices about which creatures to mate and which creatures to kill will have a controlling impact on the information space of the piece.