Artistic and Musical Applications of Internet Search Technologies: Prospects and a Case Study

This paper explores the idea of internet search as a technology to underpin artistic creation. Concepts of interactivity in art and music are explored, and then an overview of different types of internet-based art is presented. A number of different ways in which internet search have the potential to underpin artistic and musical activity are then discussed, with ideas such as the idea of a collective readymade and aesthetics of mass and unexpected connections are used to give this discussion a theoretical basis. Finally, a case study is given, in which the author discusses one of their own multimedia artworks that makes substantial use of internet search.