{"id":12059,"date":"2013-05-02T06:43:35","date_gmt":"2013-05-02T11:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=12059"},"modified":"2013-05-02T06:43:35","modified_gmt":"2013-05-02T11:43:35","slug":"the-ultimate-challenge-if-the-world-is-so-predictable-how-is-it-that-some-works-of-art-fail-while-others-succeed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2013\/05\/02\/the-ultimate-challenge-if-the-world-is-so-predictable-how-is-it-that-some-works-of-art-fail-while-others-succeed\/","title":{"rendered":"The ultimate challenge: If the world is so predictable, how is it that some works of art fail while others succeed?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"(A<\/a>
(A User’s Guide to the Universe cartoon.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The scientists around us are working ever harder to turn human beings into vectors with predictable paths — and a lot of this research is going into helping businesses market their products more effectively. Think Google ads, or Amazon recommendations as two prime examples.<\/p>\n

British scientist Stephen Wolfram revealed to Germany’s Der Spiegel<\/em> this week that he was able to process data from about 1 million Facebook users to draw all sorts of conclusions about friendships, lifestyle patterns and other human behavioural traits.<\/p>\n

The most surprising result of his research? I’ll let him answer:<\/p>\n

We had a joke at our company a while ago: Our web analytics team was full of former experimental particle physicists. They were used to doing experiments on neutrinos or something, where they get data at some rate and make these plots on the behavior of particles and so on. The data rate in our web analytics system is about the same as the one they got in their particle physics experiments, the number of clicks is about the same as the number of particles going through a detector. The surprising thing is: The curves in web analytics are actually smoother than those they were used to in particle physics. People are, in a sense, more predictable than the quantum mechanics of particles.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If this is true — and who am I to question 1 million real people — how is it that one genre novel becomes a bestseller while another ends up at the pop-up discount store? Why does an established playwright create a hit, then a flop? Why does one opera production succeed while another draws choruses of boos?<\/p>\n

We have already known for centuries that there is nothing basically new under the sun of human storytelling. Some people say there are seven basic plots. Some say it’s 20. I want to be generous and support 18th century Venetian playwright Carlo Gozzi, who decided there were 36 basic plots.<\/p>\n

(I think it would be brilliant to write 36 operas with these titles, the arts lover’s equivalent of No Name food.)<\/p>\n

Supplication
\nDeliverance
\nCrime pursued by vengeance
\nVengeance taken for kindred upon kindred
\nPursuit
\nDisaster
\nFalling prey to cruelty of misfortune
\nRevolt
\nDaring enterprise
\nAbduction
\nThe Enigma
\nObtaining
\nEnmity of kinsmen
\nRivalry of kinsmen
\nMurderous adultery
\nMadness
\nFatal imprudence
\nInvoluntary crimes of love
\nSlaying of a kinsman unrecognized
\nSelf-sacrificing for an ideal
\nSelf-sacrifice for kindred
\nAll sacrificed for passion
\nNecessity of sacrificing loved ones
\nRivalry of superior and inferior
\nAdultery
\nCrimes of love
\nDiscovery of the dishonour of a loved one
\nObstacles to love
\nAn enemy loved
\nAmbition
\nConflict with a god
\nMistaken jealousy
\nErroneous judgement
\nRemorse
\nLoss of a loved ones
\nRecovery of a lost one<\/p>\n

To mix food metaphors, very fibre and cell in me recoils at the thought of having my behaviour become the equivalent of sausage filling for marketers, but at the same time, I accept that advertisers will become ever more adept at following my virtual cookie trail straight into my home and straight to my neurological receptors.<\/p>\n

But —<\/p>\n

Why not make this the ultimate challenge for the artist?<\/p>\n

So much of what we consider to be the masterworks of Western art in their day shattered patterns, defied stereotypes and generally afflicted the comfortable.<\/p>\n

Let the true artist be less<\/em> “predictable than the quantum mechanics of particles.” Otherwise, I think we may as well hang up our keyboards and tools and lock the doors to our theatres.<\/p>\n

You can read the full interview with Wolfram, in English, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n

I want to draw on an obscure musical example for inspiration: William Lawes. He was an English composer who lived during the first half of the 17th century, becoming a court musician for Charles I. His music is at once entirely of its time, yet also full of unpredictable little twists and turns. In all sorts of small ways, he proved himself unpredictable.<\/p>\n

For that, his works were cast aside for three centuries. But now we can listen and appreciate the man’s genius.<\/p>\n

Here is the British ensemble Fretwork<\/a> performing Three Dances for Lyra Viol<\/em>:<\/p>\n