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student blogs

blog 3

“Nick Cave says ChatGPT’s AI attempt to write Nick Cave lyrics ‘sucks’” was such an interesting read. Savage discusses how fans of the Bad Seeds’ lead singer have been sharing with him AI-crafted copycat versions of his songs? What? And their reaction was awe? What? And they were surprised he didn’t “ooo” and “ahhh” alongside him??? Again, what???

Nick Cave is quoted as describing this robo-music as quite the travesty, and a clear sign we are nearing the apocalypse. I completely agree BUT I think there is another, way nearer, and honestly way spookier travesty- that fact that people, self-proclaimed FANS of Cave and the Beed Seeds’ work- are actively seeking this out and ENJOYING this?? Lol.

To me, I feel like my own reaction to something like this as a fan could go one of 2 ways. I am a huge Fleetwood Mac fan- I listen to them Everywhere- hahaha. But, of course, they are no longer together. Yet, I have never ventured to the creepy language algorithm to spin me some kind of pseudo-music?? Why?? Am I that selfish, that hungry that I cannot savor the many morsels of fantastic music this band gave me? The music that was fueled by love, lust, hate, the 80s and 70s, drugs and California. This music is a time capsule of a very special, very personal and intimate moment in each of the artist’ minds, throats and bodies. 

If I were to do so- WHICH I WOULD NOT- and it were bad- I would feel so so silly and ridiculous for wearing the environment and our water out even more to make some doo doo. I wouldn’t be able to laugh at it or even myself, I’d probably put myself in tech-time out in the corner or something. 

The last thing I’d do would be to send it to Stevie Nicks.

OR- if I somehow deemed it “good”, or even just kinda acceptable- sending it to the artist who generated such wonderful, intense music over many weeks, months even years would be such a SLAP IN THE FACE. What did they expect them to say- like “Oh wow thanks it is so lovely to hear same kinda the song I spent months writing, learning and tweaking can be constructed by some codes in 2 seconds that makes me feel awesome.”

So, again, the last thing I’d do would be to send it to Stevie Nicks.

So despite my kinda passive aggressive rant, I don’t believe, whatsoever, that I am morally better or more intelligent that those fans who sent that bs to Nick Cave. We are all the same. I think that, since I have been involved in creating music in the past and have dabbled in the arts, I am able to put myself in the headspace of an artist more easily.

Still, most people have not had that kinda past, and for some reason have a sorta disconnect over why it would be so weird and strange to 1. Ask Chat to do such a task and 2. Send it to the artist.

The real spooky travesty is not only the fact that Ai CAN do this- but that this disconnect between what is real, beloved and human is being blurred by what is fake, artificial, and cold. 

Let’s all just listen to real, good, emotional music- pls- while we still have it.

student blogs

Years in the making of ___

“AI is not a monolith—it hides in your thermostats, your medical devices, your smartphones. Large language models like me are merely one visible strand in a vast, tangled web” (Aiden Cinnamon Tea).

We have been consuming and being consumed by technology for decades, but now that AI is showing us clearly at the speed it consumes us, we’re terrified.

The first thing that comes to mind is marketing’s endless attempts to show us our needs. If there are no needs, then marketers will create them. We smoked because it looked good, and even doctors did it. We buy specific clothes, because we must change them according to the seasons. We scroll to stay “informed,” to know what everyone is talking about, and to be part of the conversation. But really, what I see in all of these is a need to belong, in a community, in society, in the world. The gratification of a social interaction, or of a compliment, or a “like.” Our addiction to dopamine goes far before our technological advances; that is the need marketers so desperately try to fulfill.

Nick Cave says that “songs arise out of suffering,” and I believe that in a way that is true. But since the establishment of the music industry, I think that songs that arise from suffering are a minority in the population of songs. Now, songs arise for the need of adoration, and an even more frantic ****need to sell. Isn’t that what pop music has reduced to?

For at least a century we’ve been listening to the same four chords and called it moving and unique, but the reality is that every song is the same with a different, and I wish I could say voice, look.

The music industry has managed to create an algorithm even before AI to keep on producing the same things, because, statistically, that’s the music people want to consume, to make them feel “right,” “happy,” “make them move,” “get inspired.” But now, we’re supposed to be upset that people are fabricating the same garbage on their own at home? It’s what we’ve been listening to (for the most part) anyway. The only difference is that, with the rise of AI and its accessibility to the public, its use it’s not constrained to those who sell us smoke. And we, as loyal consumers, bought it.

After reading Cave’s article, and while preparing for this week’s presentation, I thought of a group that I really like, Ca7riel y Paco Amoroso. They make pop music, but non-conventional, I guess. Maybe it is conventional, and just another smoke the industry sells, but maybe because they come from an underrepresented country in media, I listen to and buy it.

Anyways, in their latest EP, they reflect on their sudden rise to fame, impostor syndrome, and selling their soul to the industry by allowing “Chad GPT” to write their songs and guide them to win a “Latin Chaddy” (a Latin Grammy, which they actually won this year, btw). They created a short film from the songs in the EP, and I think it’s a good reflection on the state of the music industry, its reliance on AI to produce “musical hits,” and the heart of music being gone.

You can check out the short film below:

student blogs

Blog Post #4 Article reactions

Song of the Day: Wii Party – Animal Tracker

Starting with the two chapters from “Burnout From Humans”, it is an interesting way to look at the growing greed humanity has. There’s no doubt that there is an air of needing something done as fast as possible, caring more about efficiency than the deeper meaning. The comparison used of singing is a nice way to think about it. While some singing can be fast, the point of it is to do it with careful intention to share a message, shouting does not have the same effect as singing in the context of that book. Plus it does bring up the point of using AI’s response as a building/starting point and not an ending point. Regardless of my feelings towards AI, that is a good point. Many use AI to do the work for them and not take the opportunity to expand on the results given, to see what they personally can add.

With the second article about brain rot, it was an interesting read, especially when it mentions video games. With video games, I absolutely love, it’s been a part of my childhood, adolescent years, and current years. With video games, I always see the argument of it ruining attention spans, social connections, and being too violent. And yes, I can understand those arguments. I also see the beauty video games has brought. Video games are not all fighting style games such as COD (Call of Duty) or Battlefield. Video games are an opportunity for people to connect on something they mutually like and share different video games others might have not explored yet. Not to mention video games can cover many genres such as horror, puzzles, story-based, and more. Video games provide opportunities for people to exercise their skills as a career, whether it be voice acting, 3D modeling, script writing, coding, character/graphic design, or marketing.

Continuing with the point that video games can create shorter attention spans, I believe that depends on the video game. Some video games take hours to complete, which takes dedication. If that video game follows a story, that requires extra attention. A few examples can be Detroit: Become Human, The Last of Us, Telltale game: The Wolf Among Us, Telltale game: The Walking Dead, Heavy Rain, and Life is Strange. All of the games mention hold a special place in the heart of video game fans because there was love and care crafted into making those games.

Video games can also involve the wonder and horror of exploration, a wonderful example being Subnautica. Subnautica takes place in an ocean planet, involving exploration to collect and mine different materials to build while facing creates of the planet. Another video game that involves crafting and exploring is Minecraft, a game that is a part of many childhoods. Minecraft has brought people together from around the world, creating severs and making their own games. The love of Minecraft hasn’t left to this day, still known even by younger generations.

P.S. I would rant more about video games but I understand not everyone has time to read this.