APIs, Formulas, and Art

My Recipe

My first recipe sends me a text at midnight telling me to dim the lights. I like it because it is a practical way for me to remind myself that it’s getting late and I should sleep soon.

My second recipe is more about thinking. I’ve had times in my life where I get up around sunset, and go to bed not too much after it’s dark. Those times are very different from now, when artificial lighting and lots of time indoors means I don’t notice the sunrise or sunset as much. So, I made a recipe to put it on my calendar, and hey, maybe I’ll watch a few more sunsets because of it.

IFTT & Campbell’s Formula for Computer Art

Jim Campbell’s formula for computer art, to be, is accurate observation tinged with satire; many projects really are that way (neither first word, and not often last word art.) However, I think that Campbell’s general formula could still generate meaningful “last word” art. IFTT (as a wrapper for APIs) and APIs both enable different inputs and outputs into the formula, though I do think IFTT is less likely to generate meaningful art (vs. working directly with APIs) because it constrains inputs and outputs so much.