Algorithmic Art

My most recent homework on the topic of Algorithmic Art, I decided to make a random music playlist generator based in a Python Program. Now, my inspiration for this piece came from the works of Sol Lewitt and his instructions for making his pieces. Technically, my program is in its rough stages, but the logic is basically like Lewitt's instructions.

The program basically asks for some user input (a number between 1 and 100) and randomly generates a series of numbers that are a playlist in which the odds are sharp (warm songs) while the even numbered are flat (cooler songs). This is where the entropy comes into play. Python has a module, a series of instructions if you will, that randomizes numbers. My code takes a number from the user how many songs they want for their playlist. The randomized playlist has relatively high entropy since any song can be chosen at random.

In class, an instruction-based program like mine can have many authors. The user input and the list created from that gives the notion that anyone can use it. Plus, the program is not write-protected, so anyone can improve it while giving credit and not use it for monetary gain. In the aspect of the creation of the piece, it's pretty much up to the user. For example, if I distribute the program and a user downloads it; if the user doesn't use it in 10-15 years, the creation date will be when the program generates its first list of randomly generated numbers. There is very low predictability of the output since the numbers are randomized where no playlist is the same.

As far as I'm concerned, the output of my program was very positive. I see this piece as an expression of the user's taste in music and not exclusively mine with only one outcome. Basically, anyone can use my program and express their musical tastes through a simple playlist in which they can share with others or keep to themselves.