4 ms·

I see things like Stable Diffusion as just another tool in humans’ creativity toolbox. If it leads its enthusiasts into a purely nihilistic state where art lose

I see things like Stable Diffusion as just another tool in humans’ creativity toolbox. If it leads its enthusiasts into a purely nihilistic state where art loses all meaning to them, that’s their problem. Long after AI, people will still be happy to strum on a guitar, because it feels good. Sure there’s also fame and fortune possible, but I don’t believe those are the sole reasons all people embark on artistic or philosophical pursuits. Some people really are trying to work something out or, again, just feel good.

nonrandomstring 4y ago
Dylan quite famously had a "split" with the folk purists for his love of electric guitar, so isn't sentimental about traditions, tools and technologies. The content he seems to admire in folk and blues could hardly be more scathing of the "violence of the man", making him a paragon of protest and anti-corporatism for 7 decades. Most successful artists seem to trade their right to rail against power for fame, but Dylan still managed to speak powerfully through his BBC Radio 6 Music show, mainly by his playlist choices and adding short, knowing commentary. A message I still think he speaks is on art as a tool for social change, which seems increasingly crushed by the nihilism of "comfort and convenience".
- sixstringtheory 4y ago
  I think I get that, but I wonder if all artists make art with the explicit intention to instigate social change, or if some simply express their dissatisfaction and others pick it up and run with it? That’s a funny thing about the subjectivity of art, people can run in unexpected directions. See Republicans using Bruce Springsteen songs at rallys. I also wonder about the inevitability of people who wouldn’t lift a finger for a social cause anyways. I don’t think it’s inevitable so I agree that there is danger in pulling more people into potential nihilism. I really seek out and admire those artists that seem to just not care what others think about them or their art and engage in a purely self-indulgent expression. I don’t think people will just stop that, it might go more underground though. I wouldn’t be surprised by that as a reaction to this centralized, always-online trend we’re in the midst of (and previously, gameshow fame like American Idol).
  - nonrandomstring 4y ago
    > I don’t think people will just stop that, it might go more underground though. I wouldn’t be surprised by that as a reaction to this centralized, always-online trend we’re in the midst of (and previously, gameshow fame like American Idol). I agree. It's a good point and I think likely as well. An artist friend touched this "where now for art" thing a week ago [1] in some writing. I think it's on all artists' minds more than ever. [1] https://hyperallergic.com/772848/ai-art-is-soft-propaganda-for-the-global-north/ https://hyperallergic.com/772848/ai-art-is-soft-propaganda-f...
    - sixstringtheory 4y ago
      Just wanted to say thanks for some thought provoking discussion here, cheers! ETA: Will give that a read, looks good from the first couple paragraphs. I feel lucky to have read The Alignment Problem right before these image generators started coming out, more in the midst of GitHub copilot. It was a sobering perspective on the tech, which looks to be echoed in that article.

nonrandomstring 4y ago

Dylan quite famously had a "split" with the folk purists for his love of electric guitar, so isn't sentimental about traditions, tools and technologies. The content he seems to admire in folk and blues could hardly be more scathing of the "violence of the man", making him a paragon of protest and anti-corporatism for 7 decades. Most successful artists seem to trade their right to rail against power for fame, but Dylan still managed to speak powerfully through his BBC Radio 6 Music show, mainly by his playlist choices and adding short, knowing commentary. A message I still think he speaks is on art as a tool for social change, which seems increasingly crushed by the nihilism of "comfort and convenience".

sixstringtheory 4y ago
I think I get that, but I wonder if all artists make art with the explicit intention to instigate social change, or if some simply express their dissatisfaction and others pick it up and run with it? That’s a funny thing about the subjectivity of art, people can run in unexpected directions. See Republicans using Bruce Springsteen songs at rallys. I also wonder about the inevitability of people who wouldn’t lift a finger for a social cause anyways. I don’t think it’s inevitable so I agree that there is danger in pulling more people into potential nihilism. I really seek out and admire those artists that seem to just not care what others think about them or their art and engage in a purely self-indulgent expression. I don’t think people will just stop that, it might go more underground though. I wouldn’t be surprised by that as a reaction to this centralized, always-online trend we’re in the midst of (and previously, gameshow fame like American Idol).
- nonrandomstring 4y ago
  > I don’t think people will just stop that, it might go more underground though. I wouldn’t be surprised by that as a reaction to this centralized, always-online trend we’re in the midst of (and previously, gameshow fame like American Idol). I agree. It's a good point and I think likely as well. An artist friend touched this "where now for art" thing a week ago [1] in some writing. I think it's on all artists' minds more than ever. [1] https://hyperallergic.com/772848/ai-art-is-soft-propaganda-for-the-global-north/ https://hyperallergic.com/772848/ai-art-is-soft-propaganda-f...
  - sixstringtheory 4y ago
    Just wanted to say thanks for some thought provoking discussion here, cheers! ETA: Will give that a read, looks good from the first couple paragraphs. I feel lucky to have read The Alignment Problem right before these image generators started coming out, more in the midst of GitHub copilot. It was a sobering perspective on the tech, which looks to be echoed in that article.