{"id":466,"date":"2009-11-10T17:05:50","date_gmt":"2009-11-10T22:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=466"},"modified":"2009-11-10T17:05:38","modified_gmt":"2009-11-10T22:05:38","slug":"the-fractal-art-guild-how-it-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=466","title":{"rendered":"The Fractal Art Guild: How it works"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Part 1<\/a> I had said that Part 2 would be the Guild in action, but I think I need to clarify this whole notion of a Fractal Art Guild a bit better before going on.  I really think most of the fractal art world functions<\/i> like a large association of craftsmen whose closest analogy would be a medieval guild<\/a>.  I emphasize the world “functions” because the members of this guild do not formally identify with such an association.  In fact, the idea that they’re all part of some guild-like structure probably sounds semi-insane to them or conspiratorial.  But that’s because the 21st century online world has changed the way people associate and similarly changes the appearance of such associations that they often aren’t recognized as formal associations even thought that’s exactly how they function.<\/i><\/p>\n

The Fractal Art Guild is informal.  One’s membership is really nothing more that an attitude of cooperation and agreement. This shared interest in the things of the Guild is the only thing that defines it in the online context. But that’s all it really needs because ultimately the Guild is a collection of like-minded people, not an ideology or constitution. Membership is dedication to the group and this sort of friendship association appeals very much to people today and functions easily in an online context of email, chat, forums, and mailing lists. It’s the daily or regular online interaction with the Guild which serves to initiate, maintain and renew one’s membership in the Guild as well as to foster it’s development taking eager members to higher levels. The online environment creates a sort of dynamic, living association which makes the traditional, formal indicators of membership: applications; membership cards; meetings; newsletters; and annual dinners look trivial and superficial –mere tokens of membership. In the online environment where people network on a daily or even hourly basis, membership is proven and demonstrated (or disproven and betrayed) in a much more meaningful way that it is in offline groups where interaction between most members is remote and occasional.<\/p>\n

I said, the things of the Guild<\/i>, I should explain that.  The interests of the Guild, as I see it (am I the only one who sees it?), are:<\/p>\n