Re: Question 'bout ascii-art

dom...@polbox.com wrote:
> 
> Hello, everybode !
> I've visited this newsgroup 1st time several weeks ago, and I found it
> really interesting, so, coz I'm going (with some friends) to fold a
> free-Inet magazine, I'd like to write 'bout the ascii-art and
> ascii-artists.
> I'll be very grateful if anyone could help me by sending messages
> 'bout
> history and creation of ascii-pictures (when, where and by who it was
> started - please don't double FAQ data)
> All links are also desirable.
> (if U don't want to spam the group with information widely known, sent
> it on private e-mail)
> Thanks in advence.

Well, a few months ago, we were discussing the oldest method or form of
ascii art. The one I came up with that has held up has been poetry.
Centuries ago, they wrote poetry in the shapes of things. And it was the
consensus of our newsgroup (at that time) that this must have been the
oldest form of ascii art. Of course it wasn't called ascii art.

Joan seems to be the only one who can ever remember the name of that
kind poetry. 

              HELP JOAN...FOR THE 10TH TIME!!!!  LOL
 
Anyway here is a modern-day example of such poetry:


                                        The Dolphins' Way,
                      In Me          Aspirations of the living
                   sea The dolphins do move within    me The aura of
                     their soul, I feel deep down To be in the water
                        and not on ground Sifting through the
                          ocean, an expressing show Communi-
                        cation of a song and a blow Pro-
                     tecting even those not of their
                  kind They ask nothing in return,
             they do not mind The most gracious
          and unselfish of all that wander I
      wish to swim with them, nothing   could
    be fonder The dolphins mean so     much
 to me, you see I need to thank      them,
for showing us how to be                           (Donovan 1997)

I hope this will help you a little bit with the origination of ascii
art. Of course when computers came along that is when it became popular
and got it's name. But as a group we all agreed that this form of poetry
was probably the thing that started it all. 

If you find out anything older more factual please let us know here! *S*
Also please post a copy of your paper on here so that we may read it.
*bigger S*


Peace,

Donovan
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