Culture, a brief history.

[johnroe]

These two images are the history of human culture, and our ability to think in an abstract way.

[atemporal]

These two images are the history of human culture, and our ability to think in an abstract way.

is this a pictures only thread or something?

[atemporal]

or maybe:

[johnroe]

(Give me a chance^) I was thinking about that idea, that because the laws of physics are universal, we could if we knew the environment on another planet predict what life would look like. But would species on that planet rise above their basic needs and become unique intellects like humans(generative computation, combining ideas to create new ones, use of symbols and abstract thought).

Other species rely on traits and learning being passed down from family members to survive. Humans used tools and ideas to transcend their basic needs, and then they developed tools to share information, ideas and concepts more widely, creating a common culture. Initially sticks dipped in pigment, then the printing press and now the ultimate, The World Wide Web. A tool that facilitates cultural evolution.

Looking at those two images, they require the same skills to create and interpret, the use of symbols and ability to abstract, in terms of being able to contemplate something in an abstract way. But do they also indicate that game developers are reviving in games the same instincts(hunting, gathering,tribal warfare,etc) that we share with our earliest ancestors?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

These two images are the history of human culture, and our ability to think in an abstract way.

Then a Moose trundles along and causes havoc.

[DanceswithUnix]

The first picture is interesting, but the game shot is not really any big part of modern culture. Replace that with a kitten video and you might have a starting point for discussion of old vs new, though I have no idea if I could say anything meaningful or where that would go. So I think I'll just leave it at that

[johnroe]

Good point. The WWW facilitates many of the ideas of post modernism; there is no longer a hierarchy within culture, high to low. All culture from any other cultures(multiculturalism), or past cultures and sub cultures are seen as a source of ideas. Everything is accessible to all.

I think what made humans unique was their sociability, their willingness to share ideas. In the 70's I could have used an image from The Deer Hunter, before that an images drawn on the side of a medieval manuscript.

[atemporal]

[johnroe]

So I suppose before culture we relied on natural selection. Now we rely on cultural selection to decide what is of value to our survival as well. Ideas flow, Amazonian tribes like the Sirui, use the internet to promote their values and sat nav to protect their territorial homelands from loggers.

[atemporal]

So I suppose before culture we relied on natural selection. Now we rely on cultural selection to decide what is of value to our survival as well. Ideas flow, Amazonian tribes like the Sirui, use the internet to promote their values and sat nav to protect their territorial homelands from loggers.

[johnroe]

So each person makes these choices, some look at cats, some a vacuous series of images, how you choose to use the repository of all human knowledge is reflective of your intellect.

Others take these choices and create something new like Donald Glover and Hiro Murai. This is America, requires the video to understand it. I can't remember a music video being decoded like this before. It seems to reference the whole of how Africans have been perceived in America, and the music/dance and cultural shifts between continents. Explains the 300 million views. Now that's cultural power.

[atemporal]

So each person makes these choices, some look at cats, some a vacuous series of images, how you choose to use the repository of all human knowledge is reflective of your intellect.

I do hope that's not intended as an unsubtle dig at me posting images in your "abstract thinking" images thread. Far from being "vacuous" as you put it, they have been carefully selected and fit the abstract narrative you were promoting. Surely you can see the abstract thinking that links them? Or is it abstract thinking, but not for new forum members? Is this one of those in-jokes for old members and I'm not welcome? I got the impression this forum wasn't that kind of place?

[Butcher]

I do hope that's not intended as an unsubtle dig at me posting images in your "abstract thinking" images thread. Far from being "vacuous" as you put it, they have been carefully selected and fit the abstract narrative you were promoting. Surely you can see the abstract thinking that links them? Or is it abstract thinking, but not for new forum members? Is this one of those in-jokes for old members and I'm not welcome? I got the impression this forum wasn't that kind of place?

I don't think it is. John isn't an old member to have in jokes in any event, though his brain dump method of posting means is hard to say what he intends with any post.
I found your posts more interesting fwiw.

[DanceswithUnix]

Explains the 300 million views. Now that's cultural power.

Yet the work by Psy, "Gangnam Style" achieved over 3B views, a magnitude more.

[johnroe]

Like I say it's cultural selection. I've never seen gangnam.

I think music videos have often been used in different ways, in it's early days it kept experimental film makers involved. But the whole media business model is changed, no longer do record companies control, and musical artist's see it's potential as an expressive medium. I think it's something like 800 views equals one sale, but measuring media usage based on sales may be ending.

The first two images show just how embedded in our culture we are. How we perceive, understand, interpret, is determined by our culture. Therefore only humans would instantly know what those images are, understand the context, see the time line between them. Also humans see what links the images(use of tools) and the differences between them. We can view the images in abstract ways; imagine being in the cave, or imagine being the bear. Our values and our behaviour are also determined by our culture. But all the other species that have existed, and non of the other hominds did this. I've always thought cave paintings were sophisticated in terms of the art.

Welcome atemporal.

[Ttaskmaster]

So each person makes these choices, some look at cats, some a vacuous series of images, how you choose to use the repository of all human knowledge is reflective of your intellect.

Did it hurt when ^that particular door swung back and hit you squarely in your own face?

Explains the 300 million views. Now that's cultural power.

No, that's monetisation and social media distribution power.

Like I say it's cultural selection. I've never seen gangnam.

LIAR!!
With all the cultural knowledge, intellect and education you lay claim to, you would have had to, at some stage, studied the most common cultural trends and with BILLIONS of views you would have had to encounter Gangnam Style in order to understand the numerous cultural instances that reference it.... for without that, your arguments and perspectives would be incomplete and invalid.

musical artist's see it's potential as an expressive medium.

So no change from the early days, then.....

How we perceive, understand, interpret, is determined by our culture.

Of course it isn't.
If that were the case, our cultures would never change.

Our values and our behaviour are also determined by our culture.

Again, wrong - Else they'd never change either.