Archives for February 8, 2026

AJ Chronicles: This week’s stories — When Spectacle replaces Authority

February 8, 2026 by Douglas McLennan Leave a Comment

First up, a visual metaphor for the culture this week: a 15-foot gold-leaf statue of the President commissioned by crypto investors, versus the empty desks at the Washington Post, where the entire photography staff and Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Sebastian Smee were unceremoniously let go. Heavy-metal "boosterism" in its rawest form versus the sound of expertise leaving the building. This … [Read more...]

Avoca Code on Not Really a Manifesto, I guess, but Perhaps a Framework for Thinking about AI and Art…: “Thought-provoking and well said. I appreciate how you frame AI not just as a new tool, but as a structural…” Nov 23, 17:42
Douglas McLennan on Making the Creative Turn: Is Using AI Cheating?: “Is it too hyperbolic though? A study just out this week reports that AI medical diagnosis capabilities now far surpass…” Jul 2, 13:34
Alan Harrison on Making the Creative Turn: Is Using AI Cheating?: “There is no pushback that would make sense. “Cheating” is, of course, a relative term — it means different things…” Jun 29, 18:48
Tom Corddry on Making the Creative Turn: Is Using AI Cheating?: “The emergence of new tools doesn’t make previous tools illegal to use for artistic creation, though new tools may radically…” Jun 29, 15:30
David E. Myers on How Should we Measure Art?: “A sophisticated approach to “measuring” incorporates all of the above, with clear delineation of how each plays a part if…” Nov 3, 16:20
Tom Corddry on How Should we Measure Art?: “Reading this brought to mind John Cage’s delineation of different ways to experience a Beethoven symphony–live in concert, on a…” Nov 3, 01:58
Abdul Rehman on A Framework for Thinking about Disruption of the Arts by AI: “This article brilliantly explores how AI is set to revolutionize everything, much like the digital revolution did. AI tools can…” Jun 8, 03:49
Richard Voorhaar on Classical Music has Lost a Generation. Blame the Metadata (in part): “I think we’ve lost several generations. My parents generation was the last that really supported, and knre something about classical…” May 15, 12:08
Franklin on How Subsidy for Big Tech Wrecked the Arts (and Journalism): “Language, yes; really characterization. Investments and margins don’t become subsidies and taxes whether or not markets “are working” – I’m…” Mar 8, 07:13
Douglas McLennan on How Subsidy for Big Tech Wrecked the Arts (and Journalism): “So what you’re arguing is language? – that investments aren’t subsidies and margins aren’t taxes? Sure, when markets are working.…” Mar 7, 21:42

Archives for February 8, 2026

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