Penis Beefcakes & Summoning Caravaggio for a Brainstorm
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Stand in front of a Caravaggio and tell me you don’t feel, even slightly, as if in the presence of GOD.
His art has long been fused into the core of my artistic identity, though I frustratingly can’t recall the first moment his paintings struck me.
If I were to console my sentiment-obsessed mind, I’d say his works could have always been there, like a floating, ever-present buffet of artistic mastery for little Lauren to eventually appreciate. It wasn’t until growing older and becoming acquainted with the depths of heartbreak and the peaks of love, that I fully grasped the rebellious narratives and evocative chiaroscuro that marked his pieces.
Great art, be it visual or musical, has the profound power to articulate the ineffable aspects of our emotions, to envelop us in the shared beauty of human experience.
Emulating Caravaggio’s brilliance is a formidable challenge—his caliber of art is rare, perhaps a byproduct of a time devoid of the distractions of modern technology. In a blend of curiosity and reverence, I turned to AI with a hope: could it ideate something akin to Caravaggio’s genius, to brainstorm with a master long gone?
Midjourney v02’s attempt was earnest yet fell short—it grasped only the outlines of Caravaggio’s technique but none of the soul-stirring complexity of his work. Instead of the intended majestic volumes, it offered up grotesque, fleshy blobs—distinct, yes, but far from the mark.
The intention was to find inspiration for a personal project—a screenplay titled “American Man,” reflecting on the toxic masculinity and pervasive gun violence in contemporary America. I had previously explored metaphoric visuals like battling lions and centaur-like men, all draped in Caravaggio-inspired shadows. The AI’s attempt to recreate such motifs was simplistic, yet perhaps there’s potential for growth.
For now, these abstract AI creations stand as modern art pieces, peculiar and intriguing enough to spark discussions, perhaps in the most unexpected of places. As I continue to navigate the intersection of traditional artistry and AI, I’m reminded that exploration is a journey, not a destination. Maybe in a few months, the AI and I will revisit this collaboration, but until then, I’ll embrace these unique pieces as they are—flaws, quirks, and all.
