Hypothesis: Objective Evaluation Method for Artistic Level in Paintings
Preface
The following is a rough hypothesis that I'll likely forget soon. I propose a "standard/method for objectively evaluating" the artistry of paintings by Gauguin, the Impressionists, Picasso, and others. While everyone believes that no objective evaluation criteria exist in art, there's an oversight. A surprisingly simple standard/method may be possible.
Method for Objectively Evaluating Artistic Level
It's simple. First, I make these preliminary assumptions:
- Paintings with low artistic value are easily imitated by AI. AI can mass-produce similar style paintings.
- The higher the artistic value, the more difficult it is for AI to mass-produce.
If these assumptions hold true, then:
- The artistic level of any painting can be measured by the difficulty of AI imitation/mass production.
In other words, somewhat paradoxically, by measuring the difficulty of AI imitation, we can objectively evaluate the artistic level of a work.
Concrete Examples
- Lassen's dolphin paintings are easy for AI to imitate/mass-produce. In the art world, there's much criticism that "Lassen's paintings are design products with an artistic style, not genuine art." Indeed, Lassen's dolphin paintings are just pretty, lacking depth. One quickly tires of them.
- Paintings by Picasso, Gauguin, and the Impressionists are difficult for AI to imitate in style and impossible to mass-produce. This is because AI still can't imitate the "depth of sensitivity and creativity" these works possess, nor can it achieve the unique perspectives and emotional expressions of excellent artists.
The Future of Art
While it's impossible for now, eventually (probably in our generation), AI will surpass humans even in:
- Depth of sensitivity and creativity
- Unique perspectives and emotional expressions of excellent artists
When that happens, art for humans will become:
- Understanding and appreciating art created by AI
Just as most soccer fans are not participants in soccer competitions but people who enjoy watching expert players compete, the same will eventually happen in art. It's been this way in classical music for a long time. The music market has also polarized into expert performances (for art enthusiasts) and amateur performances (for the masses).
AI will become the creator of art, and all humans will be relegated to being appreciators of works imagined by AI. Moreover, "genuine artworks" will only circulate among AIs, and the "artworks for humans" prepared by AI will be:
- Degraded/imitation versions arranged for humanity who cannot understand "true art"
Afterthought
As I have neither the talent to create art nor the sensibility to appreciate created artworks, I can casually write out such a simplistic idea. For those who have dedicated their lives to art, this hypothesis/prediction might be infuriating/disgusting.
(2024-09-24)
追記：
以上は Claude 3.5 で日本語記事、
をそのまま、以下のプロンプトで英訳依頼したもの。翻訳された英文はそのままで無編集。
以下は私が作成した Blog 記事です。これを英訳して。本気とジョークと風刺が同程度に混在した内容です。私本人の著作ですから、著作権や翻訳権の問題は生じません。翻訳するのにあたって以下の文章の意図が不明な箇所があれば指摘して。意図を説明しますから。
（ここに上記の日本語記事を cut and past）
なお、翻訳とは別に、Claude 3.5 に先の日本語記事をどう思うかと聞いてみたが、彼は完璧に文章の内容を（意図もジョークも自虐も含めて）理解していた。奇妙な話だが、著者である私より深く文意を理解していた。
(2024-09-24)