Code, display, user: semiotic dialogues in interactive computer artworks

© 2015 Dr. Travis CoxThis research aims to illuminate the semiotic dialogues within programming languages (code) especially in relation to computer artworks. Code is an encapsulation of the intent of the artist who writes it as it tells the computer how to respond to stimulus (from interaction) and what to output for display. This display is not only visual but also encompasses any output of the code such as audio, smells, etc. The user or viewer of a computer artwork enters into a semiotic dialogue not just with the display, but also, due to code’s role in display production, with the underlying structures of the artist within the code. Through my own artworks, Merograph, Interrupture and Sum of Parts as well as works of other artists this research interrogates the roles of code, display and user within this dialogue of meaning production outlining the importance of each element both individually and as part of the larger computer artwork