This is episode #12 of the podcast and it’s Thursday, the 24th of February, 2022.
My guest today is Dr. Jay Friedenberg, Professor of Psychology at Manhattan College where he founded and directs the Cognitive Science Program, and where he had served as Department Chairperson for over a decade. Dr. Friedenberg is a vision researcher and has published articles on symmetry detection, center of mass estimation and empirical aesthetics. In addition, he has written a number of science books. These include undergraduate texts in cognitive science, artificial intelligence and non-linear dynamics. He is also an artist focusing on pastel landscapes and urban sketching and is serving his third year as President of the Haiku Society of America.
We started the discussion with his book on "Understanding Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts: An Interdisciplinary Approach”, addressing the challenges in defining beauty, art, and creativity. After considering whether beauty is sensory in nature or more intellectual, we debated if beauty and art can be studied scientifically, and addressed the role of intuition in art creation.
The second part of the discussion moved toward technology. Since AI has found its way into the world of art for quite some time now, we looked at how it has already influenced the art industry. Is AI going to replace artists or is there always going to be some human intervention required to create art? And, if so, is the art ecosystem going to equally welcome both kinds of art creation?
Looking in the future, Jay shared his opinion on the role of AI in the art space in the next 10-20 years, debating who should own the copyright and the ethical implications of AI in creating art. Here is the show.
Show Notes:
- Defining beauty, art, and creativity
- Is beauty sensory/emotional in nature or more intellectual? What is the role of intuition in art creation?
- Can beauty and art be studied scientifically?
- AI and the art industry
- The role of AI in the art space in the next 10-20 years
- Should AI own the copyright?
- Ethical implications of AI in art creation
Note:
Links o Jay Friedenberg's books on Amazon:
1) Jay Friedenberg. The Future of the Self: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Personhood and Identity in the Digital Age. 1st Edition. University of California Press. 2020. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KCW7319/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i4
2) Jay Friedenberg. Understanding Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts: An Interdisciplinary Approach. 2020.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08G1SG16R/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i2
Jay's art:
bigapplearts.com