In today’s world of photography, there is a fierce debate going on whether AI art is really art. On one side there are advocates of the art of AI who see these programs as another tool that can be used to express one’s vision. On the other side are traditionalists, who are staunchly opposed to AI art, arguing that it deviates from the essence of art as a means of objective expression. Only time will tell how this plays out and how these two perspectives learn to coexist.
The funny thing about life is that everything is cyclical. Trends are ephemeral, they come and go, then they come back only to disappear until it is rediscovered. So the current debate on AI art is nothing new with the only difference being the medium. The argument has been here before. Part of the cycle is taking place not only in the art world but part of the very nature of our existence. Nowadays, there is the AI faction defending their craft. Before them, digital versus analog. And once upon a time, figurative versus traditional. The same goes for the debate, the cycle goes on.
In the early days of photography, a fierce debate raged in the photography community. On one side are supporters of figurativeism, a movement that elevates photography to the realm of fine art by using artistic manipulation and mimicking traditional painting techniques. On the other side are the traditionalists, who are staunchly opposed to figurativeism, arguing that it deviates from the essence of photography as a means of objective expression.
See where you’re going? We have been down this road before. And we will down it again.
Just like with AI art, the core opposition to figurativeism stemming from a disagreement about the nature of photography. Early photographers believed that the essence of photography lay in capturing reality as it is. The camera is a tool to record material objectively, without subjective interpretation. Photojournalism threatens this. Its methods introduced manipulation and stylization that blurred the line between reality and art.
In the video above from John Thornton, we get a glimpse of the world of figurativeism and its impact on the world of photography. The similarities with repelling bear a striking resemblance to today’s art world. Photography was declared over with the advent of digital cameras, digital manipulation, Instagram and smartphones. But here it stands. The resistance to figurativeism in the early days of photography stemmed from a desire to preserve the authenticity and objectivity of the medium. Resisting new technology as a means of creating art is part of the cycle.
