I joined DeviantArt long ago; initially I just wanted to find an artist who could deliver cover art for my ebooks, and meanwhile I would just enjoy the pictures.
Easier said than done. Before long, I was criticizing the daily panoply of new art being uploaded by the members, and I soon began to appreciate the difficulties that serious critics face. A big step in the right direction would be not to see the artwork in a personal way, which being pretty women 9/10 ths of the time is hard for me, and I just could not be objective about them. I would see an image that was not very artistically done, but where the model was close to my personal ideal, and I would go gaga over it! The right thing to do would have been to just skip it, but I just couldn't do that! I just had to make some response.
And that was before AI reared its goofy head. Now practically all the images submitted are created by AI, and I don't even know exactly whom I'm reviewing: the software, or the software jockey? I think I take myself far too seriously as a reviewer. (Some of the other reviewers analyze the images at length; I certainly don't have the training for that.) At this point, clearly, all I can do is to say: I like the image, or I don't like the image, and all they do with the information is sort of rank the image, so that they throw high-ranking images at people for longer than low- ranking ones. That's all.
In addition, some of those who upload images to DA promote their work so hard, it's offputting. A true artist never says "Look at my absolutely fantastic image of this beautiful, sexy, cute girl!" That these young artists feel they have to say things like that says something about the setup, and not a good thing.
----------------
[Added later:] Another problem I've encountered is this: suppose someone uploads (to DeviantArt) a quite good representation of Anne Hathaway. I'm not obliged to say anything; I would normally only say something if the piece is awesomely good. Would I buy a canvas with this painting on it? (Of course, now with almost every single image produced with AI, it's not worth buying any of these images.) But it's Anne Hathaway, whom i like so much!!! In short, should my feelings about the subject affect my rating?
Also, I had sworn to keep a firm lid on my hormones, and not gush like a fangirl over every beautiful image that is posted. But just give minutes ago I did exactly that; I said something like "OMG, this girl is awesome!!!". Right on the website! I'll never be able to show my face again, unless I take down that comment. Do they let you take down your comments??
Kay H. B
No comments:
Post a Comment