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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022

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Like @EfficientSyllabus says, in «the real world» artists aren't doing too hot, whereas techies are in great demand. But in their own frame of reference, artists are the master race. Moreover, it's not mundane conceit, like low-grade techies' own boasts of having high IQs or earning a lot while creatives flip burgers. It's more similar to Russian ressantiment-powered invectives directed at the West: artists have unusual, rich SOVLS, and their entire trade is about conveying their inner depths to the thankful audience (which is near-universally despised and considered to be scum with trash taste, however – especially in light of their interest in AI content), Techies are the complete opposite of artists: ignorant of SOUL, of beauty and love and other lofty categories, mere bugmen churning out code to make the corrupt machine of capitalism run smoothly, crushing the fragile wonder of the human heart etc. etc.

This is insulting on its face and, what's more, it's laughable chutzpah. There is of course art in STEM and specifically in coding, and it's not lost on developers who wander into artists' dens that there's astounding cynicism, small-mindedness and mercenary attitude among artists. It's a crab bucket where every crab gatekeeps his secrets of drawing some perverted fetish (often a sort of furry or dickgirl) to cater to a niche audience of degenerates.

Thus their scorn.

Why do you capitalize SOUL? Because of that Indy PRG?

Because of that Indy PRG?

Magical Girl Celesphonia?

no, i thought about the one making a big fuss on 'determination'. Undertale

Ah, I couldn't stand its art style, so I don't know anything about it beyond the memes.

It’s a meme.

please, could you be more specific?

meme? Could you please be more specific?

So much of the hatred directed at AI art I see just makes me think of this old Futurama joke.

Relevant lines:

"With all that Salmonella and me been through, her sound is unique. All your fancy technology will NEVER be able to copy this guitar."

"Using my fancy technology, I can make an exact copy of this guitar."

Of course, duplicating a physical object is a different endeavor, but the fundamental phenomenon is the same.