> We live in a world where contempt for culture based on its level of sophistication or intellectual value is considered deeply passé, if not borderline evil. The derogatory labels – guilty pleasure, idiotbox, dumbed-down entertainment, disposable pop, trash TV – are no longer in circulation.
I don't know what world the author lives in, but cultural capital and authenticity never left the building, we just became less shameful in what we indulge in. Even still, the premise of the article misses the mark by equating pop culture with AI slop, when the former is the yield of highly talented and creative people behind the scenes. I really don't see AI producing the next Taylor Swift album end-to-end.
Most of AI output looks AI, or sounds AI. Generative AI is only capable of making middle-of-road content at it's best, and pop is not actually middle-of-the-road; it's highly refined and captures the zeitgeist. Using AI in your production is a great way to lose cultural capital. The craving for authenticity isn't new, but it certainly is intensifying the more AI generated content floods the zone.
aeonfox•4mo ago
I don't know what world the author lives in, but cultural capital and authenticity never left the building, we just became less shameful in what we indulge in. Even still, the premise of the article misses the mark by equating pop culture with AI slop, when the former is the yield of highly talented and creative people behind the scenes. I really don't see AI producing the next Taylor Swift album end-to-end.
Most of AI output looks AI, or sounds AI. Generative AI is only capable of making middle-of-road content at it's best, and pop is not actually middle-of-the-road; it's highly refined and captures the zeitgeist. Using AI in your production is a great way to lose cultural capital. The craving for authenticity isn't new, but it certainly is intensifying the more AI generated content floods the zone.