A brief taxonomy of chance in art

== Composition ==

== Composition ==

<SPAN STYLE="font-size: larger;">The conceptualization phase prior to the creation of the physical object or event. </SPAN>

<SPAN STYLE="font-size: larger;">The conceptualization phase prior to the creation of the physical object or event. </SPAN>

'''Procedural Randomization''' - In the most popular notion of chance art, a procedure such as rolling dice, drawing slips of paper out of a hat, etc. can be used to order the micro-events making up the composition. For example, [[John Cage]] would flip coins to determine the pitches and durations for a musical score, and [[Ellsworth Kelly]] used dice to determine  the color and placement of elements in visual works.

'''Procedural Randomization''' - In the most popular notion of chance art, a procedure such as rolling dice, drawing slips of paper out of a hat, etc. can be used to order the micro-events making up the composition. For example, [[John Cage]] would flip coins to determine the pitches and durations for a musical score, and [[Ellsworth Kelly]] used dice to determine  the color and placement of elements in visual works.

== Execution ==

== Execution ==

<SPAN STYLE="font-size: larger;">The actual creation of the physical object or event. </SPAN>

<SPAN STYLE="font-size: larger;">The actual creation of the physical object or event. </SPAN>

'''Ambiguity, Interpretation, and Error''' - There is always an unpredictable gap between the conception and the realization of a physical artwork or performance. Contributing factors include ambiguity within the composition, and interpretation or errors on the part of the fabricator or performer. A composer may actively encourage such variance by obscuring the instructions in some way, or by intentionally providing instructions which are nonsensical or impossible to implement.

'''Ambiguity, Interpretation, and Error''' - There is always an unpredictable gap between the conception and the realization of a physical artwork or performance. Contributing factors include ambiguity within the composition, and interpretation or errors on the part of the fabricator or performer. A composer may actively encourage such variance by obscuring the instructions in some way, or by intentionally providing instructions which are nonsensical or impossible to implement.

== Presentation ==

== Presentation ==

<SPAN STYLE="font-size: larger;">Art is never experienced as an insulated and isolated event.</SPAN>

<SPAN STYLE="font-size: larger;">Art is never experienced as an insulated and isolated event.</SPAN>

'''Audience Mood''' - As every performer eventually finds out, &quot;bad&quot; audiences exist, and there is usually little the artist can do about it. This is, in part, a statistical reality akin to a streak of bad hands in a poker game. But sometimes there is a specific cause, such as the audience standing in the rain waiting for tickets. Fortunately &quot;good&quot; audiences also exist.  

'''Audience Mood''' - As every performer eventually finds out, &quot;bad&quot; audiences exist, and there is usually little the artist can do about it. This is, in part, a statistical reality akin to a streak of bad hands in a poker game. But sometimes there is a specific cause, such as the audience standing in the rain waiting for tickets. Fortunately &quot;good&quot; audiences also exist.