SEPTEMBER 2023 – Time to step things up, summer vacation season is over. The pull of a new academic year never fails to bring clarity and an existential dread of sorts. Grab your number 2 pencils, pens, trapper keeper, and let’s go, we got work to do!
Have been wondering lately about the changing place of art in society with all of the generative AI protocols that create images from written prompts or even sketched in new GUIs. It is amazing what they are able to create and so quickly, I have been really impressed with the visualization ability of these applications. Generative art definitely is here to stay and like a new tool, such as photoshop or illustrator, they will expand what is possible and open up numerous new avenues of creative expression.
I do wonder how it will impact the artistic community. I imagine a lot of portrait artists lost commissions with the advent of the photograph. But at the same time, it opened up portraiture to entirely new populations and 100+ years later is a fundamental way in which we share memories, interact with culture, and create art. I hope this new type of artistry is equally positive and allows more people to express themselves, versus undermine the practice of art itself and turn over creativity to algorithms and away from the human spirit.
What do you think? Have you tried it? Do you think people will be getting framed generative art in their homes?
The above is a real photograph, not a result of generative AI, but maybe with virtual reality and AI photographers people will be taking digital photos from simulated vacations they go on. Seems extremely possible. Especially for augmented reality experiences like say traveling to outer space or exploring the depths of the ocean. Movies, video games, and theme parks have tried to tackle that for years, but I imagine the next decade is going to see much more enhanced efforts to create more convincing virtual experiences. It’s not something I’m personally interested in, but I do like being transported to other worlds through my imagination from reading a good book. Call me old fashioned I guess, haha.
~ CS
