The collapse of art started long ago…Before AI, we were already devaluing creativity – not because of technology, but because of the way we used it.
Social media, algorithms, and mass content production turned art into disposable entertainment.
Instead of depth, we prioritized speed.
Instead of originality, we chased trends.
Instead of presence, we optimized for engagement.
AI is just the natural conclusion of that process. If we treat art as something to mass-produce, why wouldn’t AI step in and do it faster?
HOW SOCIAL MEDIA KILLED THE ART
Sacrifice of Authenticity led to the collapse of art
We could say that the collapse of art started when artists started making work for platforms, not for themselves. What gets likes, what gets views, and what fits the trending aesthetic?
The moment we optimized for numbers, we sacrificed authenticity.
Authenticity is the soul of art. It is the invisible force that makes a piece of work alive, magnetic, and unforgettable. It allows art to transmit feeling rather than just display form.
When an artist creates authentically, they are not just producing – they are revealing something real. Their work is an extension of their energy, emotions, and unique perception of life.
But when artists started chasing algorithms instead of creating from within, something changed.
Credit: InstaRepeat
The Collapse of Art starts when the Artist Stops Asking, “What Do I Want to Express?” and Starts Asking, “What Will Perform Well?”
- Instead of expressing their truth, artists began curating themselves to fit trends, aesthetics, and viral formats.
- Authentic creativity became secondary to what would get engagement.
The Fear of Being Unseen Led to Playing it Safe
- True art pushes boundaries, explores the unknown, and challenges the norm.
- But when platforms reward predictability, repetition, and easily digestible content, artists start making what is safe rather than what is true.
Artists Became “Brands” Instead of Creators
- Authentic art is raw, messy, and evolving.
- The pressure to have a curated aesthetic, a recognizable brand, and a consistent content strategy forced artists into rigid boxes.
Mass Production Killed Deep Creation
- Authenticity takes time. Presence takes time.
- But algorithms demanded constant output, turning artists into content machines rather than deep creators.
When authenticity is sacrificed for optimization, art loses its soul. It may still be technically impressive, but it feels empty.
Credit: InstaRepeat
Why Authenticity is the Future of Art
AI can generate beautiful, high-quality work. But AI cannot create with authenticity.
Why?
📌 AI does not have personal experiences. It does not have heartbreak, nostalgia, childhood memories, or a longing for something beyond words.
📌 AI does not channel. It does not feel emotions and translate them into form – it only predicts patterns.
📌 AI does not push boundaries. It can remix what exists, but it does not birth the new.
This is why authenticity will define the future of art.
In an era where AI can generate infinite visuals, words, and music, the only thing that will matter is:
✔️ Does it feel real?
✔️ Does it have soul?
✔️ Does it leave an imprint?
The artists who survive in the AI era will be those who create with rawness, presence, and deep truth. Because that is something no machine can replicate.
How Artists Can Actively Resist the Attention Economy & Create Work That Demands Presence
1. Create Work That Requires Time to Absorb
- Depth over virality.
- Complexity over convenience.
- Immersion over instant gratification.
2. Make Art That Can’t Be Scrolled Past
- Create large-scale or immersive art that forces people to slow down.
- Make physical, tangible work that can’t be mindlessly shared.
- Use unexpected formats that disrupt the way people engage with content.
3. Intentionally Withhold, Limit, and Resist Overexposure
- Don’t give everything away at once.
- Keep mystery alive.
- Create scarcity in an era of infinite content.
4. Create From Presence, Not Pressure
- Forget the need to be seen. Focus on the process, not the performance.
- Let your art be sacred again. Treat it like a ritual, a practice, an offering.
- Make what you were meant to make — not what the world expects you to.
The next era of art will be about depth, not visibility.
The Rebirth of Meaning in Art
If a banana taped to a wall can be sold for $6.2 million, what does that say about art?
- Art has become an inside joke for the elite.
- Social media turned art into a spectacle — where provocation is more valuable than skill.
- The economy of art became more about hype than mastery.
But every era of decadence and collapse is followed by a renaissance. And that’s what’s happening now.
A new artistic movement is rising.
Depth over virality. Presence over performance. Meaning over shock value.
Artists who create with soul, intention, and presence will define the next era.
Because in a world where a banana on a wall can be sold for millions, what people are truly starving for is not provocation , but connection.
This is where real creativity begins again.
