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Aesthetics of Visual Music

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Visual music is a relatively recent development in the history of art. It is not yet a very well defined or known subject, as it is a blend of other forms of media and is similar to certain art forms that already exist. This article will be an exploration of the aesthetics of visual music, its history, and its modern state.

The term visual music has been used to describe everything from abstract paintings to silent films. However, a more specific definition can objectively be applied. For the basis of this definition, one should look to the work of Oskar Fischinger. His early experiments in visual music feature shapes, colors, and designs in motion with accompanying music. This would seem to be the best starting point for what the term visual music should describe. There is no need for another term for paintings or silent films, visual music should be visuals in motion with music.

There still needs to be a differentiation between visual music and music videos though. Music videos often have shots of the band performing the music or some sort of direct storyline. Visual music has to be something more abstract that works in the same way as music to present an atmosphere rather than specific connections. Fischinger's work consists mainly of shapes of color that move in time with music, so that no idea is really gained from them that the music is not already presenting. This is not to say that the visuals are not important in visual music, the key is that the visuals must be in connection with the music and not overriding it.

Many techniques and forms have been used besides colors and shapes to construct visual music. One composer, Michael Farkas, uses film clips to construct a collage of video to go along with the music. The distinction between visual music and music videos remains in cases like this, because the visuals only suggest an atmosphere and work together with the music, never becoming a separate entity.

Today visual music is an ever-expanding area. With most computers and music players coming with music visualizers, which can create some impressive visual music in real time, many more people have become familiar with the concept. The growing availability of video, animation, and music software has created a larger pool of artists, and the trend towards multimedia is a natural occurrence. With this modern interest in new forms of art and media, visual music should continue to grow and become more widespread. The new technologies of today and the near future should continue to find their way into the arts, as they usually do.