In recent years, true creativity has become a topic of fearsome debate. Some argue that creativity is, in fact, on the rise while others believe it’s declining, even dying. Thanks to the rise of AI, all creative arts are having their authenticity questioned. Both young and veteran artists have grown fearful of the uncertain position AI has placed many creative careers in. There has been a pattern in various online platforms that push out content which disguises AI art for human art, making viewers second guess creativity as a whole. But those are the viewers, what do artists think about this shift? While AI has been listed as a major factor, other elements, such as balancing extracurriculars or art block, have led to artistic burnout. To get a better perception of this phenomenon, we interviewed several artists from the Law Magnet. Here’s what they had to say.
- Are you an artist?
“Yes, I play guitarron, electric bass, and cello.” – Damiah Juarez
“Yes, I’d like to consider myself an artist, though I haven’t been doing it as long as others.” – Megan Bhate
“Yes, I’m an artist, mainly a writer. I read and write a lot, and really any person who creates anything at all can be considered an artist.” – Adriana Bautista
- What do you like most about being an artist?
“I enjoy being able to connect with my culture while also expressing myself and making friends.” – Damiah Juarez
“What I like most about being an artist is the fact that I can create anything. It gives me a new perspective on how I look at the world. The world is made up of complex buildings and landscapes that in an artist’s mind can be broken down and analyzed. I also like being able to capture the natural beauty of people, the sense of home from a place, etc.” – Megan Bhate
“The thing I like most about being a writer is knowing that any idea can be brought to fruition. Any story one wants to tell, any feeling or experience one wants to interpret, can come to life as long as the writer garners the motivation to write.” – Adriana Bautista
- Do you think creativity is dying?
“I don’t think creativity is dying because there are people who have artistic outlets without being aware. People doodle every day, make silly beats, and sing in the shower. There’s creativity in almost every human interaction.” – Damiah Juarez
“I would actually say the opposite. I believe we have become more creative. Back in early history many artists would submit their works (masterpieces in the eyes of many today) and have them torn up by the art critics in salons. Their models had to be a certain type of woman and a certain type of art style (that’s why the Raphaelites movement happened). Nowadays we try to seek different ways to create art whether it’s through manga, paintings, etc. of many different people.” – Megan Bhate
“I understand the fear that creativity is dying. It seems like you can’t go on the internet anymore without being jumpscared by AI creations, whether it be videos, images, songs, or writing. Everywhere around us, people use ChatGPT to escape the weight of forming an original thought. However, even if our collective creativity may be getting stifled, I do not believe that creativity will ever truly die. So long as people can feel emotions, so long as we can be slammed with heartbreak, alight with joy, overcome with confusion, ignited with rage, depleted by sadness, or divided by opinion, there will be creativity. People will always feel the need to draw, write, and think. That’s the reason I’m a writer; not because I particularly enjoy writing, or because it’s fun, but because I feel a gravitational pull towards the pencil and the page, and it’s a pull I was born with. It’s a pull many people were born with, whether it be towards the written word, or an instrument, or a camera. Basically, I believe creativity will never die because if human beings exist, creativity exists.” – Adriana Bautista
- What do you do to keep your creativity alive?
“Something I do to keep my creativity alive is constantly digesting media relating to music. I love learning about genres, collecting vinyls, practicing my instruments, and going to concerts.” – Damiah Juarez
“There is no true way to make sure to keep creativity alive (at least for a definite answer you’ll always have art blocks) but I would say I draw a ton of my inspiration and creativity from the world around me (and my imagination… obviously).” – Megan Bhate
“I keep my creativity alive by writing whenever I can and maintaining a critical view of everything. The best writers are those who overthink way too much, so thinking deeply about every experience and emotion helps me channel my findings into writing. As a SkillsUSA competitor in Prepared Speech and as a Legal Pad writer, my best writing comes from synthesizing profound emotion, whether it comes from digging into the past or considering the future. Additionally, I find that consuming new media like shows, movies, books, articles, and music helps me think of ideas. Lastly, when I truly cannot form a sentence for the life of me, I read a few essays from Joan Didion’s collection Slouching Towards Bethlehem and suddenly I can write again.” – Adriana Bautista
Ultimately, creativity is a matter of perspective. Every person, whether a viewer or artist, will have different conclusions about creativity. In the end, the arts should be respected and held in high regard, seeing as they are the product of hard work and passion. Every brushstroke, every word, every note is the artist’s own possession, crafted from their own unique experiences and emotions. So next time you see an artist or piece of art, remember that the arts are thriving and will continue to inspire and nurture humanity.
