“A Crucifix over Anatevka? AI slop-shaming those who should know better” – An Open Letter to The Palace Theater
Dear Palace Theater Trustees,
I get that operating a non-profit performing arts center is hard. I won’t deny the economic realities of running a large and historic (and old) venue like Manchester’s Palace Theater. As someone who plays with shapes and colors for a living, I won’t even pretend to guess how that works. I’m just disappointed and wanted you to know.
I could only laugh and shake my head in disbelief when, before a show a few nights ago, I saw a promotion for the upcoming production of Fiddler on the Roof projected above your stage. The visuals caught my attention for a few reasons:
- There was not one, but two Tevyes dancing side-by-side in one image,
- Questionable placement and quantity of arms in relation to torsos,
- And in at least one image (below), there's an onion-domed, crucifix-topped building overlooking what I assume is the shtetl of Anatevka.
I’m sure you could see why, given the context of the play, I found that last one particularly…troubling. Or perhaps I'm mistaken and those “demonstrating” Russians in the story were simply misunderstood redecorators?
I usually try to be positive, constructive, and objective with other artists when dispensing unsolicited feedback. Art is also hard.
Unsurprisingly though, I don't suspect an artist was responsible. Maybe the gauzy Thomas Kinkade jigsaw puzzle vibes tipped me off, but those promos immediately reeked of AI slop. I say that because I assume any artist, familiar with the musical’s plot and also basic human anatomy, would never get hired with something like that in their portfolio.
I won’t detail all the problems I and other artists have with wanton Gen-AI abuse. Beyond widespread IP theft and the resources it guzzles to bombard our eyes and ears with noise, it screams lack-of-effort from those who rely on it. Either no one noticed those issues or no one cared, and I don’t know which is worse.
What bums me out more is thinking about the lost opportunities for artists caused by the choices that led to this, choices by an institution supposedly boosting the arts in New Hampshire. If hiring a graphic artist is too expensive (ha), surely there are some other creative solutions? How many students at NHIA or UNH Manchester would have jumped at the chance to create something new and unique? How many moonlighting visual artists work or volunteer at the Palace and could have created something truly authentic?
I have no doubt the production of Fiddler on the Roof will be excellent because of the source material and the performances of its talented cast and crew. It would be a disservice to prelude their show with anything that would suggest negligent, box-checking half-assery.
For art's sake, just say no to AI slop rot. Sometimes nothing is a better option than whatever a calculator thinks “traditional” Jewish villages in Russia should look like.
Respectfully,
Matt Gillespie
Matt Gillespie is a video producer, musician, and visual artist born, raised, and educated in Manchester, NH.