I knew it wasn't venison. Okay, that's not too much of a plot spoiler if you haven't watched HBO's 'The Last of Us', and if it it is, maybe you shouldn't have clicked on this post. Still, there's enough in the last episode to keep us interested. I even cried at the end of it, dammit - I really do like this show.

In this episode we have the counter to Jackson, a much more successful settlement that gives hope to Joel and Ellie, and a possibility of a home one day. It's run by a woman who used to be a lawyer, an intelligent woman who believes in the community and in law. However, in this episode, we finally see the first sign of religion in the world struggling to survive after the cordyceps virus infects most of humanity and still lurks on the periphery in various forms.

David not a nice guy. It's hard for me to believe he might be, because no leaders of people who rule by gaslighting, fear and violence can possibly be a good guy. But there's also that archetype in post apocalyptic drama where the religious leader is more often than not more than often dodgy. When he says to a grieving daughter that she can't bury her father because the ground is too cold, well, you know something isn't right.

I don't really want to get into a review here as it's not the point of this post, but what I found interesting was his argument (and justification for some heinous acts to survive a really, really bad winter) is that is what nature does. David argues:

What does Cordyceps do? Is it evil? No. It's fruitful. It multiplies. It feeds and protects its children, and it secures its future with violence, if it must. It loves.

At first, I was annoyed with the show for this line, and then I realised it's very much David's character to make this error about nature. Nature doesn't love in the way humans do, and nor does it have 'children' - that's anthropomorphising. David's saying it's natural to be violent, as if it is God's way, when it is his alone. It cannot be 'evil', because it cannot be 'good'. Only man has that capacity. Just as Ellie is capable of violence, so too is her heart capable of love and tenderness. David isn't capable of love and probably hasn't known it, and choose to rule by violence in the guise of love. So whatever his excuse, it's based off something deeply flawed.

I really like what Merlin Sheldrake says about anthropomorphisim in his book 'Entangled Life':

“Anthropomorphism is usually thought of as an illusion that arises like a blister in soft human minds: untrained, undisciplined, unhardened. There are good reasons for this: when we humanise the world, we may prevent ourselves from understanding the lives of other organisms on their own terms. But are there things this stance might lead us to pass over – or forget to notice?” ― Merlin Sheldrake, Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures

In this case David's passing over or not noticing what it means for a human being to love. And it's not merely about base survival, or about control and violence at all costs. On the other hand, he's cherry picking the most brutal aspects of nature rather than learning from other aspects such mutualism, something that the leader of Jackson is more aligned with. David takes, and does not give in return, unless it directly benefits him, and the only way he knows how to do it is through violence. Dumb bloke, really. The world could do with less of them.

To AI art or not?

I said a few days ago that AI written text is unacceptable on HIVE because it's decietful and taking rewards that should be given to human effort. I feel quite differently about AI 'art' - and I'm calling it art, because it's capable of evoking human emotion, and despite what people think, is very much the human intention and effort that brings it into being with the assistance of AI. It helps bring visions to life, and brings joy if not a kind of therapy through creation. I imagine I'd feel very differently if I was a traditional artist. I recognise and understand how they might be feeling right now.

Probably how a lot of professions felt when the printing press arrived. Technology has a way of rattling the world to it's core, but it's unstoppable. We just have to adapt.

I don't see an issue with AI art so long as we attribute it. It's probably where I've got to with CHAT GPT too - as long as we are not deliberately trying to decieve someone what's the harm? People can make a choice about whether or not to support it. You might, for example, think 'oh River's written some okay stuff here but - ugh - AI art - no upvote from me'. Fair enough. I get it.

Me, I'm obsessed. I've never been able to bring my fantasies to life except in words, and there's something quite magical in the visual. It's not always as easy as plugging in a sentence or two - one has to know a little more about art, and colour, and technique and lighting, which is quite the learning process for me. I'm enjoying following a theme, particuarly nature and mushrooms. It's a theme I'm exploring on my instagram account @myco_whispers, mixing the AI art, real photographs, quotes and my own writing. I'm finding real joy in it.

Mushroom Notebooks

I can't remember the last time I printed off a photo. I was in KMart today and walked past the photo desks and thought - hey, I wonder what my AI art would look like printed. Turns out, hit and miss - only as good as the original image. Some I loved. Turns out for .40 cents plus $2.50 for a plain notebook and a gluestick, you can make your own personalised notebook. Voila. I have to say I'm thrilled with how these turned out, especially since I was googling 'mushroom notebooks' and baulking at spending $20.

Of course, you could argue what's the point when a plain .20c pad would do, but - freaking mushrooms.

What do you think of my notebooks? What about AI 'art'? Are you watching 'The Last of Us'?!

With Love,

^{The Fungi Lovers Community: Home of #FungiFriday}

^{The Herbal Hive Community}

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