John Whitney-Permutations (1966)

"In PERMUTATIONS, each point moves at a different speed and moves in a direction independent according to natural laws' quite as valid as those of Pythagoras, while moving in their circular field. Their action produces a phenomenon more or less equivalent to the musical harmonies. When the points reach certain relationships (harmonic) numerical to other parameters of the equation, they form elementary figures."- John Whitney

[@mushroomagical]

Absolutely marvelous. I've watched this several times (relatively sober) and enjoyed it each time. Would love to eat a psilocybin mushroom and watch this.

[@binary132]

BLOWING MY MIND. wow. this guy was a genius!

[@atwaterpub]

Love to see this uploaded in HQ.

[@atwaterpub]

I actually saw this on film once over twenty years ago. Fantastic in a big theater. Love to see it in a digitally restored version.

[@PeeteyP]

according to wikipedia, he used analog computers until the 70's when started using digital computers- none of the sites I checked give any info on his actual production techniques (for his computer works)- he wrote a paper called computational periodics, which would suggest he was using mathematical formulae like sine waves and other periodics.

[@guneyozsan]

This kind of studies can also help people with hearing disability to imagine the concept of music.

[@leap2222]

Mirando este video debe ser lo mas bizarro del mundo sentir 'John Whitney te odio! John Whitney te amo!'. Con la limitacion de recursos de todo estilo que habia en esa epoca llega a lograr algo tan nerdo como eso. Eso si que es admirable. Lo envidio totalmente, jeje!

[@marymeixner5556]

"Od roku 1966 spolupracoval s firmou IBM na počítači System 360, na němž vytvořil Permutations (1966), jeden z prvních filmů považovaných za umělecké dílo realizované plně pomocí počítače." (Martin Čihák, Ponorná řeka kinematografie. NAMU, Praha 2013. s. 113)

[@Babintone]

I love. ♥

[@KENKENNIFF]

Amazing, I wish it was early electronic music though.

[@CocoaValley]

mmmmmm... bliss :)

[@ephemeralife]

Awesome!

[@omgtkseth]

@mariothepookster Just saying in case you didnt know. Its kinda obvious to people that are familiar with serial music, that its based on permutations, and that puts things in focus, Whitney's focus. But many people have never heard of serial music, and since there are only vague references in the description...

[@jacketsblue]

Flower of creation

[@omgtkseth]

@mariothepookster What? Whitney studied serial music with Leibowitz, and I think that this is analogy to serial music (point music), hence the name permutations. In case you dont know who Leibowitz is, he was pupil of Ravel, and teacher of Boulez.

[@relevance8]

@trojanlol It's on the original film. I saw this years ago on VHS, and it had the same music. Don't know where Whitney himself got it from, though.

[@hoosahfudge]

awesome!

[@mariothepookster]

@omgtkseth sorry i was referring to what the video reminded me of. in this case, "string theory" as in physics and not to whom Whitney was influenced by or studied with.

[@GabrielLyrio369]

Does anyone know the name of the music? Thanks!!

[@mariothepookster]

pretty cool ... reminds me of string theory

[@puchindika]

Todo muy curioso

[@Vamoshh]

Where can i get these in better quality?

[@Gurbz55]

One word "TRIIIPPY"

[@rhythmdroid]

@PikoInit Specifically, AfterDark's program "Satori" heh heh heh

[@PeeteyP]

what's "polar form" - and how can I get it on my computer

[@gatolocojko]

la cagooooooooooooooooooo
!!!!!!

[@mariothepookster]

@omgtkseth i guess i didn't get the memo

[@JeDorsBeaucoupTrop]

aRt !