Beyond the Algorithm
Abstract
This chapter explores the transformation of authorship in the post-digital era, where human creativity converges with algorithmic agency and audience participation. Tracing historical shifts from modernist notions of the “artist-genius” to postmodern intertextuality and computational creativity, it examines how algorithms evolve from passive tools to active co-creators. Through theoretical discussion and case studies on generative art, AI-assisted product design, and algorithmically curated exhibitions, the chapter highlights hybrid authorship as a relational and networked practice. Ethical, legal, and philosophical concerns ranging from intellectual property and authenticity to bias and accountability are critically analyzed. The proposed model emphasizes inclusive, collaborative, and ethically responsible creativity, offering pathways for design education, cultural production, and future research.