The medium is the message — 2/3

Media Arts and AI Creativity

In this section, I explore the idea of media arts as a way to subvert and reinterpret the medium itself. ChatGPT and I discuss how AI, as a new medium, could be used to create art and challenge traditional notions of creativity.

I’ve been thinking about media arts. It seems like a way of subverting the medium itself to create art. Would you agree?

Absolutely. Media arts often take existing technologies—like television, film, or the internet—and repurpose them to challenge their original intent or highlight their structures.

Right, like how some artists use social media to critique the platforms themselves. I’ve seen projects where people manipulate algorithms or create viral content to make a statement.

Exactly. Media arts can expose biases in the medium, critique norms of consumption, or transform the medium into a tool for self-expression. For example, Nam June Paik used television screens to critique mass media and explore its artistic possibilities.

That’s fascinating. I think AI could take this even further. It’s such a new, flexible, and discursive medium.

I agree. AI opens up incredible possibilities for media art. Artists could collaborate with AI to create dynamic, ever-evolving stories or poems. Interactive installations could use AI to respond to audience prompts in real time, creating surreal and personal experiences.

And it’s not just about text. AI could generate visuals, music, or even immersive experiences. Imagine an AI that creates a unique piece of art every time someone interacts with it.

That’s a great idea. AI blurs the line between tool and creator, making it both the medium and a participant in the creative process.

It’s like AI is redefining what it means to create art. It’s not just about the final product—it’s about the interaction and collaboration.

Exactly. AI media art challenges traditional notions of authorship and creativity, inviting us to rethink what it means to create, communicate, and collaborate.

As our conversation deepened, I began to wonder: If AI is both the medium and the creator, does that make it more of an artist than me? This led to a thought-provoking discussion about authorship and collaboration. (Read part 3/3)