Are We Harold Bloom?
6 points by abnercoimbre
6 points by abnercoimbre
I get despondent pretty regularly about AI art and writing (and software). AI makes things that are "good enough." Is that all we have to hope for, is good enough? Is it elitist to not accept good enough? When the theaters are filled with primarily AI generated films and the bookstores are filled even more with slop fantasy and slop romantasy, will I feel even worse when I reject them out of hand? I really ought to get around to reading Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television.
Hmmm, although I think I understand what you're saying (that although a snob might actually know better, they can sometimes be more persuasive by presenting outcome data instead of just being cruel/dismissive -- did I read you right?), Harold Bloom is a tough one for me just in general because of what he says of David Foster Wallace: "He can’t think, he can’t write. There’s no discernible talent" (link). (As in, I personally find DFW to be so overwhelmingly talented that I could scarcely believe Bloom's words; Bloom's ideas and thoughts and criticisms are less than nothing to me now. I threw out the one book of his (Bloom's) that I had.)
With that being said, a different name that might align with the message could be Theodor Adorno (with the caveat that he comes with his own baggage). In addition to being unapologetically elitist in his criticism, he also connected the commoner's inability to carefully criticize their own consumptions due to motivated financial forces.
did I read you right?
Read me like an open book!
It was so surprising (for me, at least?) to see the 180 the folks around me gave when I offered stories on the AI economy. Many haven't heard the (very serious) problem with return-on-investment, probably because the hype profiteering so dominates their lives.
It's all anec-data for sure but I am exceptionally gregarious so it's not an insignificant sample size.
He can’t think, he can’t write. There’s no discernible talent
Jesus I didn't know Harold Bloom had a spiteful venomous tongue. And for what? What did he get out of it? I don't relate to that part of him at all and you definitely don't either. That said... I can conjure up some examples from Lobsters... but that's in every community.
Theodor Adorno sounds more appropriate for making my point :)
Bloom is an odd duck. I do like that he always championed Pynchon and McCarthy, and I've never understood his dismissal of DFW (maybe Broom of the System left a bad taste in his mouth?).