Blog Entry Class 2

It is difficult to compare happenings and cybernetics to each other because, in theory, they seem quite different. Happenings mostly involve performance art pieces that involve the audience and is conceptualized largely around the idea of the interaction between  the artwork and the spectator. Cybernetics on the other hand is more about the idea of testing what a machine can do and the limits and capabilities it can perform. The two areas deal with opposite subjects, humans and machines, and differ in many ways because of that. I think one of the core differences of the happenings and cybernetics is, in part, the idea of spontaneity. With happenings, while key elements are planned, because there is so much focus on audience interaction, an unpredictable move from the audience can change the artwork completely and such a thing cannot be predicted. However, with Cybernetics, artists work within the constraints of a man-made device that has every detail about it planned out.

I think they do share similarities though. One of the main similarities I have found between happenings and cybernetics is that they both orient around human interaction, whether with machines or with other people. Neither present art as one fixed object or piece but rather invite people to manipulate the art and experiment with it.l-50t=-6nh-ghj3``````

The level of interaction with humans differs slightly, however. Happenings invite audience members in to become a part of the art and from there, each spectator can more or less change the art from the inside. In cybernetics, the humans are encouraged to change the art and challenge the boundaries of the technology they are presented with.

Happenings, to me, are extremely interesting because they are similar to theatre in the sense that no two performances will ever be the same, even if the same key elements are used. Different reactions and interactions from the spectator change the work and make it unique every time. Based on environment, the amount of spectators, etc. you can have two of the same “shows” that are drastically different.

Cybernetics was interesting because of different machines that were shown to us and that could perform many interesting functions on their own.