My very first computer was an Amstrad CPC64, then I moved on to a CPC128. Just a floppy disk drive available, no hard drive. I must have lost those machines during several moves. The best thing about the Amstrad was the manual, which contained a collection of little programs for learning BASIC. I searched for that manual for a long time and finally found it online. What a shame that more computer science isn't taught at all in primary school! Since that first Amstrad I've learned to type, edit images, manipulate music, write computer programs, create websites... all that thanks to the computer. And now I'm told that things are changing drastically? As with so-called social networks, it took me a while to become interested in Artificial Intelligence, which I consider to be primarily based on ultra-fast computing power. After all, thirty years ago, IBM computers were already capable of beating Kasparov at chess, and nobody at the time was talking about A.I. Right? Yet that was already A.I., wasn't it? As it happens, I recently decided to start looking for illustrators to collaborate with on (re)illustrating children's literature. My long experience with teenagers has always led me to believe that the drawings of books by Jules Verne, Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, the Brothers Grimm, among so many others, are unlikely to interest today's young readers. Let's be honest: what could our teenagers possibly find interesting in those awful mangas? (It is said that originally, manga were crude drawings, like the sketches or rough drafts quickly made by artists and painters). And suddenly, everybody is talking about A.I. A little hesitant, I made a first attempt and asked an online program to suggest me an illustration from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven." A few seconds later I got the following picture. And then you think: "Wow! Just amazing!" The request wasn't very precise, I must confess. I would have preferred a front-facing view of the bird. But hey, for a first request, what a feeling!
So, everything changed: I immediately realized that AI was going to save me a ton of time for the myriad of projects I had in mind, namely offering a more playful and less snobbish approach to culture to a young audience not used to frequenting libraries, bookstores, and exhibition halls. Second request from the image-creating AI: a fable by La Fontaine. As with Poe, the result arrived in the blink of an eye. I just felt the image lacked perspective, which I corrected on the computer. Then all that remained was to convert the image to stereoscopy, still manually, using a simple computer mouse. Demonstration:
Why not admit it? I'm very worried about the careers of book illustrators; not manga or comic book creators (supposed that A.I. would never manage to create some bad B/W drawings, ha! ha! ha!), but those artists who used to be called upon to illustrate an article, novel, or essay. If it turns out to be so easy to generate images, even videos, clone voices, and synchronize speech with lip movements on video, then I understand why the audiovisual and film industries are in turmoil. As for me, the fact that I can now illustrate texts without hiring a professional doesn't stop me from giving a big shout-out to all the great illustrators and artists I mention in this blog. Why should one necessarily exist without the other? Between us, how many bad musicians think they can (with A.I.) produce Music like Mozart, Bach, Coltrane, Count Basie... did? How ridiculous! Just think of something people called "Free Jazz": nothing, but ugly noise! That's why I believe no AI will ever reach the level of a J.S. Bach or a Coltrane (*). In any case, I intend to continue listening to the works of the great masters of the past. As a proof: I do hate mangas! And yet, they're all the rage with a certain audience! In French they say: "Demandez le programme ! (Ask for the program!)". The fact is that my projects (100% 3D) are more than substantial! As a regular museum visitor, teacher, graduate of various universities, including the Faculty of Ethnology in Strasbourg, I've acquired what some call general knowledge. And I intend to put mine, above all, at the service of younger generations, hence my determination to popularize stereoscopy, because I can clearly see that 3D amazes young people. On my shelves sit books by (or about) numerous artists: painters, sculptors, novelists. I plan to tackle the greatest illustrators, like Gustave Doré (Link). For many works (e.g., the tales of Grimm, Andersen, and others), new illustrations will need to be created using AI + 3D. Born in Africa, I am acutely aware of the vast cultural landscape of that continent, with its hundreds of local languages, and therefore countless tales and legends, not to mention its remarkable sculpture, flora and fauna, and so on. But I also haven't forgotten the world's traditional cultures, which number in the thousands. Suffice it to say that if I were to produce a book on each theme every week, it would take me nearly a century to conquer that Everest. Of course, I intend to live a long life! Concerning the current projects let's summerize (non-exhaustive list):
(*) As a music enthusiast I find it hard to imagine a silent website. Due to a lack of time this one is still silent, but rest assured: I have plenty of other things online, including this other site which is packed with all kinds of music, to be reached through a home-page. Music lovers are sure to enjoy it! (Drafts)
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