The Art of Language: Daniel Temkin Reveals The Inner Workings of Esolangs
In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Daniel Temkin and Luna Lu discussed the artistic possibilities of code, focusing on esoteric programming languages (esolangs) and how they can function as a medium for art and human expression. Temkin explained that his interest began with experimenting in existing esolangs (like Brainfuck) around 2007-2008, leading him to create his own and document them conceptually, moving away from overly technical documentation. The conversation highlighted how giving up on the idea that programming must be practical allows for artistic exploration, connecting esolangs to idea art, constraint-based work (such as the Oulipo Group), and performance art. Temkin detailed the structure of his book, which presents programming languages as idea-based art, containing both realized works and conceptual prompts inspired by artists like Yoko Ono, and described how his languages — such as Fat Finger, which inspired code poetry, and Folders, which manipulates file system hierarchy — explore themes of collaboration, human irrationality, and the extreme constraints of logical systems. Listeners were also encouraged to explore existing esolangs on the Esolang Wiki before trying to design their own. See AMT Lab Website for transcript SHOW NOTES Book: Forty-Four Esolangs—The Art of Esoteric Code Website: https://danieltemkin.com/About Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danieltemkin_/?hl=en Â
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Politics and Portrayal: The Impact of AI and Our Lives
In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Melida Hernandez and Christine Rivera dive into the intersections of technology, identity, and representation in digital spaces and media. Melida explores how AI-based recognition systems, often trained on biased datasets, misclassify transgender and non-binary individuals, which impacts their self-presentation, psychological well-being, and digital agency. Melida also discusses how these technologies replicate real-world prejudices, limiting the fluidity of gender expression online, and highlights the lack of diversity in AI research teams, where women make up only 10–15% of staff. Christine's research, on the other hand, focuses on how scripted and streaming television depicts motherhood and women's reproductive choices, connecting these portrayals to broader issues such as policy, workplace inequality, and the "motherhood penalty." Together, they unpack how media archetypes, algorithmic bias, and social platforms shape public perception and reinforce gender roles, calling for more inclusive storytelling, equitable AI design, and better systemic support for women and marginalized communities. See https://amt-lab.org/podcasts-interviews for transcript Show Notes The Politics of Portrayal: Motherhood Narratives on Television During Policy Transformation Christine Rivera Melida Hernandez     Â
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The Future of Technology in the Performing Arts: VR versus Broadcast
Alexann Sharp and Lehan Xu discuss the impact of technology on performance industries, particularly VR concerts and broadcast theater. They note that COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of VR concerts, initially by smaller artists due to cost and uncertainty. Examples include Sabrina Carpenter and Kid Leroy's Meta collaborations. They highlight technical challenges like audio quality and headset comfort. In broadcast theater, historical examples date back to the 1930s, with modern initiatives like the Met Opera's "Live in HD" and National Theater Live. Both discuss the balance between accessibility and maintaining the authenticity of live performances. Â SHOW NOTES: National Theatre Live/ Met Opera "Live in HD" Amaze VR Transcript available at the Arts Management and Technology Lab: PodcastsÂ
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Ethics, AI, and Sustainability in the Arts
In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Hannah Brainard and Anuja Uppuluri explore two significant threats to artists and cultural institutions: the ethical and legal implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically its pre-training practices, and the impact of climate change on art and cultural heritage. They discuss how AI models often exploit artists' work without consent or compensation, leading to calls for dynamic consent systems, robust attribution, and fair compensation models. Concurrently, they examine how climate change amplifies natural disasters, posing existential threats to museums and collections, particularly impacting under-resourced and historically marginalized communities. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for systemic change and equitable allocation of resources to ensure the long-term sustainability and preservation of creative works and cultural heritage in both domains.  Transcsript and show notes can be found at https://amt-lab.org/podcasts-interviews/2025/7/ethics-ai-sustainabilityÂ
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Digital Marketing in the Age of AI: Insights From Grapeseed Media's Bill Updegraff
In this episode of Tech in the Arts, Dr. Brett Ashley Crawford of the Arts Management and interviews Bill Updegraff, founder and CEO of Grapeseed Media, a programmatic digital advertising firm. Grapeseed Media, established in 2013, has grown into a trusted partner for brands and agencies in digital advertising, earning recognition on Inc.'s 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies. In this episode, Updegraff explains that Grapeseed Media's initial goal was to provide arts organizations with access to programmatic advertising, a concept he once thought was exclusive to larger corporations. The company's role has since evolved from introducing programmatic advertising to guiding clients through its complexities. He highlights three approaches to programmatic advertising: in-house management, managed service partnerships, or working with a single, agnostic programmatic partner like Grapeseed Media, which provides unbiased access to all programmatic channels and consolidated reporting. Updegraff also differentiates programmatic advertising from search and paid social media, noting that programmatic is more "open market" compared to the "walled gardens" of platforms like Google and Meta. He also discusses the growing integration of programmatic into digital out-of-home advertising, offering hyper-targeting and data collection capabilities. Of course, they also discuss the ethical uses of AI in marketing, particularly in data analysis and creative ideation. Show Notes Grapeseed Media Programmatic Marketing (Video) Bill Updegraff Brett Ashley Crawford, PhD Read the transcript at amt-lab.org.Â
This monthly podcast explores the intersection of technology and arts management through interviews, product reviews, humorous dialogue, and more! The Technology in the Arts podcast is produced by the Arts Management and Technology Lab, a research center of the Master of Arts Management program in Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University. The AMT Lab staff currently includes Dr. Brett Crawford (Executive Director), Lutie Rodriguez (Chief Editor of Research), Angela Johnson (Podcast Producer), B Crittenden (Technology and Interactive Content Manager), and Devyn Hinkle (Social Media and Marketing Manager).
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