@Richard_Littler@mastodon.social
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Richard_Littler

@Richard_Littler@mastodon.social

Writer, graphic artist, creator of https://mastodonapp.uk/@scarfolk. "This guy, who apparently saw the future" - Edward Snowden. Neurodivergent (ASD/ADHD).

Banner image: A selection of Scarfolk books & merchandise.
Avatar image: Black & white photo. Me: bald, bearded, bespectacled, and seemingly unaware of the enormous arachnid with the face of a malevolent baby, and the plague doctor, behind me.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

Richard_Littler, to ai
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🧵 Recently, I set out to create new digital artwork that can't be replicated/imitated by . AI's Achilles heel seems to be its failure to deliver true details, or rather that its complex imagery is actually specious - the illusion of detail that often doesn't stand up to scrutiny.
With this in mind, I came up with this artwork called 'A Drawing of the Shelf Unit Beside My Desk on February 27th 2024 at 2:35pm'....

Richard_Littler,
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Part still life, part Pop Art, part exhaustive archive, it was ludicrously time consuming. In the artwork, I've recreated all verifiable, visual information: publisher logos, record & CD spine album info, typefaces, multi-language packaging instructions. Comics are in individual plastic sleeves with their backing cards, and I've even included the product batch code on a small pot of lip balm...

My illustration: close-ups of packaging instructions
My illustration: close-ups of book spines
My illustration: close-ups of CD spines and lip balm

Richard_Littler,
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As far as I am aware, AI can't reproduce this level of factual detail.
My drawing is also print-proof. If the smallest imagery and texts are to remain legible, the print would need to be a few 100 metres tall. Imagine the cost of ink cartridges.
Just how small is some of the imagery/texts? Well, there is, for example, an image of my reflection in the lens of the camera...

My illustration: close up on my reflection in the camera lens
My illustration: wider shot of my camera on the shelf

Richard_Littler,
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...And on the spine of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, on the middle shelf, I have embedded the entire text of the novel...

My illustration: close up of the book spine containing the complete text of The War of the Worlds
My illustration: slightly wider shot of the book spine containing the complete text of The War of the Worlds

Richard_Littler,
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Here's a quick, illustrative (silent) video. Apologies when it pixellates during one section - my graphics card was struggling!
Also viewable on my site:
https://www.richardlittler.com/post/ai-can-t-create-this

short video showing close ups of my illustration

Richard_Littler, to random
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The latest in colostomy bag technology.

Richard_Littler, to Starwars
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After god knows how many years of work, the people behind the 4K project have released the final installment. For those who don't know: a group of dedicated restorers, unhappy with the reworked Special Editions, hunted down, scanned and restored the original 35mm theatrical prints of the first Star Wars trilogy in Ultra High Definition. They're better than the official blurays. Incredible work, not only in terms of authentic content but even the picture quality is superior.

Empire Strikes Back BBFC certificate
Return of the Jedi BBFC certificate
Screenshot comparison of Star Wars Bluray vs Project 4K

Richard_Littler, to Starwars
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Going to tell people I live on Bespin...

Red sky and clouds
Red sky and clouds
Red sky and clouds

Richard_Littler, to funk
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Sorry to hear of the death of Betty Davis: Great funk, a real force of nature, and raunchy as hell. She's the Mademoiselle Mabry on Miles Davis's Filles de Kilimanjaro album, and we wouldn't have the title Bitches Brew without her.

Richard_Littler, to random
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Looking through my wife's California voting pamphlet, which lists candidates' manifestos, is either hilarious or terrifying. 'Todd Dickhorse (Republican): "As an army veteran and follower of Christ, I vow to eradicate the satanic wokeness that has poisoned the balloon manufacturing industry."'

Richard_Littler, to random
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Another great, timely, important series of Things Fell Apart by Jon Ronson. Picking apart the stories that fuelled the culture wars.

I'm kind of hoping Jon will write an updated edition of Mackay's 1841 Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds. Back then, most people had limited access to knowledge. You'd think we have no excuse now, given our unprecedented access.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011cpr

Richard_Littler, to illustration
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My grandfather used to work at White City in Manchester, so I thought I'd draw an image of its gates.
It started life as a botanical garden in the mid-19th century, but was later redeveloped as an amusement park. In 1927, it saw further redevelopment, this time into White City Stadium, a venue for greyhound racing, speedway and stock car racing. It closed in 1982, was demolished, and is now a retail park.
Just like everywhere else.

Richard_Littler, to woke
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Insane! Out-of-control Lefties have now changed the original Anglo-Saxon town name of Wochinges to 'Woking' to fit their agenda. The silent majority is being pressured to accommodate this drivel or risk arrest. Big businesses aren't even putting up a fight! Boycott Travelodge & Premier Inn!

Richard_Littler, to Starwars
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Just found this in a drawer. Now, that's what I call a Proustian rush. A 1978 12 figure cardback.

Richard_Littler, to books
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I just sent off my novel, HAUNTS, to my agent.

If you need me, I'll be anxiously pacing up & down for the foreseeable future.

Richard_Littler, to random
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Finally, some decent news...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68209691

Richard_Littler, to minimalism
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Only a month or so older than me. Mesmeric.

Richard_Littler,
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So 1971, and so cool.
Like Kraftwerk before Kraftwerk. I'm sure Kraftwerk must have been influenced by this stuff.

Richard_Littler, to vinyl
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Yesterday, I discovered that my ability to feel contentment/relief lasts precisely 45mins.
After 2 days of tests at the heart clinic, I was told my heart is fine and my worrying symptom was probably nothing. I'm healthy.
Leaving the clinic, and hugely relieved, I thought: 'To celebrate I'm going to buy that record I really want but have been putting off because it's a bit expensive. After all, you only live once.'...
1/2

Richard_Littler,
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45 mins later, I got to the shop, picked up the record, hesitated, thought: 'Fuck this, I'm not paying that much', then put the record back and left.

Richard_Littler, to random
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Morning

Richard_Littler,
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@_ohcoco_ Bern oberland

Richard_Littler, to books
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I can't resist picking up old Fabers if I come across them in secondhand shops, as I did today.

Richard_Littler, to classicalmusic
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is 87 today, so I'm listening to Einstein on the Beach. Easily my favourite . It's like listening to the thoughts of a sentient computer (which, in a way, I suppose Einstein was).
Music already is, and always has been, a neural implant; I don't need a clunky, misfiring Musk rust-bucket in my head.

Richard_Littler, to random
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"Man [with the insights & emotional maturity of a below-average 9 year old; who was given far too much money by mummy & daddy; who thinks that liberals are witches who make foreigners in a magic cauldron] wants to put something in your brain [for the lolz when he's not funding risible rockets/cars]"

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-68137046

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