Making these cover Images was revealing. Using a neural network to create idealised images of yourself as greek gods sounds, rightfully, vain and pretentious. However, the experiences of making them was the opposite of vain; I was faced with something vaguely resembling myself, only it was "perfect". This harmonious yet empty avatar had no blemishes, no spinal mis-alignment, none of the imperfections that characterise a real face. Yet in order to make it "me", I had to add the imperfections back in; I had to focus on them. In doing this I really got to know my face - or rather, I got to know how much I didn't know it all. By the end of it I concluded that I don't actually know what I look like.
I ended up with something that resembled me enough to be a bit erie given that It's essentially synthetic, but put it at a different angle and it would all be off again. This technology that I had somewhat feverishly considered evil, was revealed to me to be, in fact, quite simple, limited and even boring. Rather than prompting the obvious reaction of fear and incredulousness that this technology could create something so real, I was left with renewed confidence that the human remains un-encroached by ones and zeros. And yet the effect of it is "oh my God! Thats so creepy!". The effect.
Even though I came to belive that this technology was not (yet) eveil, in getting there my mind wandered to some strange places. Where was this leading?
CONTINUE DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.
