Beyond the Creative Species

A multidisciplinary introduction to the field of computational creativity, analyzing the impact of advanced generative technologies on art and music.

As algorithms get smarter, what role will computers play in the creation of music, art, and other cultural artifacts? Will they be able to create such things from the ground up, and will such creations be meaningful? In Beyond the Creative Species, Oliver Bown offers a multidisciplinary examination of computational creativity, analyzing the impact of advanced generative technologies on art and music. Drawing on a wide range of disciplines, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, design, social theory, the psychology of creativity, and creative practice research, Bown argues that to understand computational creativity, we must not only consider what computationally creative algorithms actually do, but also examine creative artistic activity itself.“Bown brings together art, music theory, sociology, and philosophy to address the single biggest gap in AI research: artificial creativity. This book is a must for anyone interested in the extension of AI to creative behavior."
—Geraint A. Wiggins, Professor of Computational Creativity, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
 
“Oliver Bown takes us on a tour of computational creativity viewed through the lenses of history, culture, and society. His writing is entertaining and informative, thoughtful and thought provoking.”
—Dan Ventura, Professor of Computer Science, Brigham Young University
 
"The breadth of this work is astonishing. Bown interconnects knowledge across different fields, bringing a new perspective on our understanding of creativity, machines, and being human. Important reading for anyone interested in the future of creativity and computing.”
— Jon McCormack, Professor and Director, SensiLab, Monash UniversityOliver Bown is Senior Lecturer and Researcher in the Interactive Media Lab at the University of New South Wales.