So story time that has left me thinking:
Around Sunday, I was sorting through books at work. Because my job involves vetting books to make sure they don't have explicit content, don't have black spots on top of the paper, or are too old, wrinkled or wet to then take them to the bookshelves. All books are donations we get, so they need to get that quality check. The arts and crafts section was getting empty, so I needed to add more or bigger books for it. I came across one that was called "Romanticism." It was a large, heavy book containing all the works and descriptions about the arts in the Romantic era and its artists.
I sorted through ALL the pages to make sure there were no explicit content— because even nudity was a yellow flag. Which I find it a little unfair, but I understand that people tend to be conservative. There was a lot of it, alright. But... I couldn't help but to admire those and the rest of the arts that were displayed. The amount of detail and dedication these artists had to depict every single crease of clothing, every dash of color, backgrounds involving stormy clouds, forest, mountains, crashing waves, and buildings... They were the ones who coined the word "sublime". Because experiencing these works are something else. It's bone-chilling in the best way. It was just... beautiful. I personally love the Romantic, the Baroque, and the Renaissance era for many reasons. They feature the most breathtaking works you can imagine.
Throughout all of this, I thought to myself: is this what AI and all these dystopian companies want to replace? Do they really think art is that discardable? That weak? That worthless? So easy to replicate? The human mind is a very powerful thing. No matter what they say, human creativity will always outperform computer-generated images. Because art is not about only looking pretty and perfect (though AI "art" is not at all perfect, but it tries to be) and fast results. It's about the experience, the process, the emotions they provoke on people's psyche. That touch of awe or that sense of discomfort they bring, because ugliness can also be artistic. But it's different when you count six melted fingers, uncanny-valley smoothness and robotic movements. I mean ugliness in the psychological sense. When you see something that deeply unsettles you or makes you think about something (there's no such thing as bad art). AI will never reach the level as these artists did. And though they were underappreciated at the time, their works remain timeless and precious for us. Something that can never be replaced or imitated. And the day they say, "Look, AI art can look just as good as the Mona Lisa and you won't ever be able to tell the difference," I will still lean over the original (though there are better works than that to tell you the truth.) Because at least I know it was made by human hands that aimed to draw us in for centuries.
More than likely that book will never see the light of day because I showed it to my supervisor and he said that it might not even be placed in the display cabinet because there are so many nudes and sensual works that it might be too much for the general public. But honestly, I hope it is hidden behind the cabinet for someone to take, appreciate, and know their value as a person. Because more than ever, we are being classed as obsolete or inferior.
Moral of the story: don't ever stop using a pencil, a brush, or a stylus because the world is telling you to. Keep making art because in the end, under a sea of AI-genetated images, your works will be the ones that will stand the test of time. And history will acknowledge it as the new Vanguard, who knows? Let's be the new Romantics in an age where technology and automation are making waves.
If you read it this far, thank you. Please keep up being beautiful and amazing. Here's a cookie to cheer your day. 🍪
