Talk: GIF->ASCII: Is it Art?

In article <199...@acad.drake.edu>,  <pk6...@acad.drake.edu> wrote:
>> I'm sorry, call me ignorant, but where is the challenge behing using a 
>> converter (I am asuming that is what is indicated by "GIF->ASCII") to create 
>> this "art" when it is such basic forms, someone could most likely do them 
>> real easy, freehand????  
>> I mean, is it art to use a photocopier when you could use a pencil???
>> Sorry...I just don't understand...
>> aDRIAN.
>
>You are absolutely right.  Given unlimited time and sufficient experience
>and imagination any number of pre-existing artworks could be redrawn in
>ascii chars.  Not to mention any number of NEW artworks (usually the most
>impressive anyway :-).
>
>However, the number of available ascii drawings is totally dwarfed by the
>number of available bit-mapped graphics, and if you want to create a few
>pics for display on non-graphics terminals conversion is one way to do 
>that.
>
>Anyway, my experience is that after people play around with the conversion
>program for a while they understand its limitations and not that much
>converted art gets uploaded.
>
>For the many non-graphics-terminal users out there it comes as a big WOW
>when they see a 'picture' on their screen for the first time.  They
>aren't sophisticated enough to appreciate the difference between converted
>and hand-drawn pics.
>
>As for what 'art' is... 

   Art is whatever creates a, usually, desired impression.  Clouds are 
art, splattered paint is art, arrangement of objects is art.  So is page 
making, cooking, making hot air balloons, architecture, music, and 
anything else you can think of.

   My comments on GIF conversions is that they serve their purpose.  
Somebody who is not that talented, can make a picture that may give 
pleasure to those who view it.  Great.

   And BTW, making a 'good' conversion isn't necessarily that easy 
either.  If you read about it in the FAQ, you have an understanding of 
it, even without doing it.

   Here's to all kinds of ASCII art.

--
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//////##### //### //#### //##### //#### //### /##### ///#### //## /## /## /
////## /////## ///## /## /## /## /## ///## ///## /## /## /## /## /## /## //
////#### //## ///###### /##### //#### /## ///##### //## /## /## /## /## ///
//////## /## ///## /## /## ## //## ///## ///## ## //## /## /## /## /## ////
/##### ///### /## /## /## /## /#### //### /## /## //#### ///######## //////
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

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|/\   __/
    //

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 ( T   )     /
(((^_(((/(((_/

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/'` ' `'\
|'''''''|
|\\'''//|
   """

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|| |~ |`,/-\
*\_) \_) `-'

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