IBDP Paper 1 November 2024 Analytical Essay
In this explanatory article, “No, the Lensa AI app technically isn’t stealing artists’ work – but it will majorly shake up the art world,” Brendan Murphy explores the challenges and opportunities AI presents in the art world. Writing for an audience of educated readers who may not be experts in technology or art, Murphy skillfully employs figurative language—such as metaphors, personification, hyperbole, and vivid imagery—to simplify abstract concepts. Through a reflective and cautiously optimistic tone, Murphy encourages a balanced perspective that values the coexistence of human creativity and technological innovation.
By using metaphors that illustrate both the benefits and challenges of AI, Murphy effectively persuades readers to adopt a balanced perspective on its impact. For instance, the metaphor “the genie is out of the bottle” emphasizes the irreversibility of AI technology, comparing it to a mythical force that cannot be controlled once unleashed. The accompanying image, with its futuristic and polished aesthetic, visually reinforces AI’s ability to create hyper-realistic art that blurs the line between human and machine creativity. This visual representation underscores the inevitability of AI’s influence, subtly shifting readers’ perspectives from fear to acceptance and encouraging them to focus on adaptation rather than resistance. Similarly, the metaphor “colonising our visual culture” conveys the pervasive dominance of AI in reshaping art, evoking both urgency and reflection on the cultural shifts at play. The image, which appears both human-made and machine-enhanced, mirrors this colonization by illustrating how AI integrates itself into traditional artistic processes while transforming them. By drawing on the emotionally charged imagery of colonization, Murphy prompts readers to weigh the benefits and potential losses of AI’s influence. Finally, the metaphor “borrow a page from the influencer’s handbook” reframes adaptation as an empowering opportunity, offering artists practical strategies to thrive in an AI-driven world. The sleek, attention-grabbing design of the image complements this metaphor, symbolizing the potential for AI to enhance visibility and marketability in art. Collectively, these metaphors, paired with the visual support of the image, are highly persuasive because they simplify abstract concepts, evoke relatable imagery, and guide readers toward a balanced perspective that acknowledges both the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the art world. Through various metaphors, Murphy presents AI as both an unstoppable force and a collaborative tool in the art world, encouraging readers to adopt a balanced stance.
Murphy’s use of personification humanizes AI, making it more relatable and vivid while emphasizing its active role in shaping cultural and artistic landscapes. By describing Lensa AI as “teaching the system to ‘capture’ the user’s features,” Murphy personifies AI as capable of learning like a human, softening its perception as a cold or mechanical force. This comparison bridges the gap between technology and human experience, reducing fear and resistance while positioning AI as a collaborative partner in creativity rather than a competitor. Similarly, the phrase “AI has lit a fire among social media influencers... and a different kind of fire among the art community” further personifies AI as an active agent sparking contrasting reactions—excitement for influencers and concern for artists. These examples not only convey AI’s widespread impact but also evoke strong emotional imagery, highlighting its dual role as both a catalyst for innovation and a source of tension. The accompanying AI-generated image reinforces this personification by visually reflecting creativity and personalization. Its polished yet human-like aesthetic demonstrates how AI can produce art that feels intentional and unique, blurring the line between human and machine creativity. Together, the language and imagery foster trust and optimism, encouraging readers to view AI as a valuable collaborator rather than a threat. Through this approach, Murphy successfully shifts the narrative around AI from apprehension to acceptance, creating a compelling and relatable perspective on its transformative role in the art world.
Murphy’s use of hyperbole, such as the phrase “a bit of their soul has been compromised,” is highly persuasive because it amplifies the emotional stakes for artists, making their concerns more relatable and urgent. By exaggerating the impact of AI on artists’ personal connection to their work, Murphy evokes empathy from readers, drawing attention to the ethical concerns surrounding AI’s emulation of artistic styles. This hyperbolic language underscores the depth of artists’ frustration and highlights the perceived threat to their creative identity, encouraging readers to consider the human cost of technological advancement. The accompanying image reinforces this tension by visually juxtaposing admiration and unease. Its polished perfection symbolizes the technical brilliance of AI-generated art, while its machine-like precision evokes discomfort about the erosion of human originality. This duality mirrors the emotional conflict Murphy describes—capturing both the allure of innovation and the fear of losing artistic authenticity. Furthermore, Murphy’s imagery, such as AI “lighting a fire” among influencers and artists, complements the hyperbole by emphasizing the polarized reactions to AI’s impact. The striking visual impact of the image, which would undoubtedly capture attention on social media, reflects this divide, blending excitement over new opportunities with apprehension about tradition. Together, the hyperbole and visual elements create a compelling narrative that immerses readers in the debate, encouraging them to grapple with the complex interplay between innovation and tradition. Through these rhetorical strategies, Murphy not only highlights the challenges posed by AI but also deepens the reader’s understanding of its profound cultural implications, leaving a lasting impression of the stakes involved.
Murphy’s purpose is to guide readers toward a balanced understanding of AI’s transformative role in the art world, and his use of imagery plays a crucial role in achieving this goal by making abstract concepts vivid and emotionally resonant. For instance, his description of Lensa AI producing “stunning digital portraits of yourself in contemporary art styles” evokes a sensory-rich image of high-quality, aesthetically pleasing results. This is reinforced by the accompanying AI-generated image, which features a woman in a dramatic profile view with bold neon lighting and a polished, futuristic aesthetic. The striking interplay of purples, yellows, and blues across her face and clothing mirrors the “hyper-realistic” quality Murphy describes, showcasing AI’s ability to create visually captivating art. Similarly, the phrase “a wide variety of options that are almost always impressive” is brought to life through the image’s sophisticated composition, blending 1980s-inspired cyberpunk elements with modern digital techniques to suggest abundance and technical precision. On the other hand, Murphy uses imagery to evoke unease, such as when he writes that “the rise of AI image generators spells a somewhat uncertain future for artists.” The image’s artificial perfection—highlighted by its sharp contrasts, glamorous makeup, and seamless digital enhancement—conjures a sense of foreboding, subtly reminding viewers of the potential loss of human authenticity in art. Through these vivid descriptions and striking visuals, Murphy effectively bridges the gap between admiration for AI’s capabilities and concerns about its impact, ensuring his message resonates deeply with readers. By appealing to both the senses and emotions, Murphy’s imagery persuades readers to grapple with the complexities of AI in art, leaving them with a nuanced yet impactful understanding of its dual role as both an innovator and a disruptor.
Through his use of figurative language, supported by the striking AI-generated image, Murphy not only demystifies the challenges and opportunities AI presents but also encourages a balanced perspective that values the coexistence of human creativity and technological innovation. By simplifying intricate ideas through metaphors, personification, hyperbole, and tone, he makes abstract concepts like the inevitability of AI or its transformative impact more relatable and accessible.
