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International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

AI Satire and Digital Dystopia: The DOR Brothers Crafting Digital Imperfection and Political Commentary In Contemporary Video Art

Abstract

In a presentation titled "AI Satire and Digital Dystopia," Professor Andrew Smith of Lindenwood University discusses the use of AI in creating contemporary video art. He argues that new technologies have always shaped aesthetics, referencing Jean Cocteau's idea that film becomes a true art form when its materials are as accessible as pencil and paper. Smith posits that AI is the modern-day equivalent, democratizing video creation.

Using the viral "Will Smith eating spaghetti" meme as a "spaghetti test," he illustrates the rapid improvement in AI video generation over a short period. He explains that the unsettling feeling often produced by AI-generated humans is known as the "uncanny valley," a psychological response to things that are almost, but not perfectly, human. Smith provides tips for detecting AI video, such as looking for artifacts, morphing, inconsistent lighting, and abnormalities in hands, teeth, and eyes.

The presentation highlights the work of "The Dor Brothers," who create political satire by using a hybrid of techniques. They generate numerous clips and "harvest" the best moments, employ deepfake technology, and use traditional editing. Crucially, they mask AI's imperfections by adopting aesthetics with inherent limitations, such as security camera footage or VHS quality.

Smith concludes by outlining the potential disruptions of this technology, including misinformation, the impact on interpersonal relationships, and the prospect of personalized media that could fragment shared cultural experiences. He also notes the issue of "lost media," as early, imperfect AI art is often deleted, erasing a unique aesthetic period.

A link to Professor Smith's presentation on this topic can be found below.

Additional Files
smith.mp4 (509339 kB)

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