[SIC] Talks #76: Aaron Stern

Summary according to Riverside's summary robot: "In this conversation, Ben and Aaron discuss Aaron's photography career and his show called Hard Copy. They also talk about the power of photography and its ability to evoke emotions and connect people. They touch on the abundance of images in today's ...

Summary according to Riverside's summary robot: "In this conversation, Ben and Aaron discuss Aaron's photography career and his show called Hard Copy. They also talk about the power of photography and its ability to evoke emotions and connect people. They touch on the abundance of images in today's digital age and the importance of experiencing art in person. They also mention the concept of superformats and the potential for Hard Copy to become a transferable format. Aaron brings up the film 'The French' by William Klein as an example of a great tennis movie. The conversation explores the challenges of navigating the overwhelming amount of content in today's digital age and the importance of personal interaction and discovery. They discuss the impact of AI on art and culture, including the use of AI in creating a generative documentary about Brian Eno. They also touch on the role of patronage in supporting artists and the need to enjoy and appreciate great art despite societal issues. Takeaways Photography has the power to evoke emotions and connect people. Experiencing art in person is different and more impactful than seeing it online. Hard Copy has the potential to become a transferable format for exhibitions. 'The French' by William Klein is a great tennis movie that should be recognized. There is a wealth of knowledge and art from previous generations that may get lost in the digital age. The abundance of content in the digital age can make it difficult to discover and appreciate great movies, music, books, and TV shows from the past. Personal interaction and random encounters can lead to interesting conversations and new perspectives. AI can be used in novel ways, such as creating generative documentaries, but it also raises ethical questions about bias and manipulation. The role of patronage in supporting artists and creative communities is important, even if the long-term sustainability of such models is uncertain. Despite societal issues, it's important to enjoy and appreciate great art and cultural experiences. Sound Bites "Photography is not that far behind [music]." "Seeing a painting in person is like 50x seeing it on your little screen." "Hard Copy could be a superformat." "Movies, music, books, TV shows from the early 2000s or 90s that were great that are just lost in this shuffle of throw-up of content that exists now." "I love the randomness of interaction that I get at breakfast club, which I do every Wednesday and where you never know who's going to show up." "Wide legs also feels a little derogatory, right? She corrected it yesterday and said she had gotten it wrong. What he actually calls them is 'The Wildlings,' right? Which comes from Game of Thrones, apparently." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:34 Aaron's Newsletter and Photography Journey 05:25 The Importance of Capturing Moments 08:20 The Power of Photography and Sharing Work 10:44 The Opening of 'Hard Copy' 13:36 The Universality of Music and Photography 21:40 The Potential of 'Hard Copy' as a Super Format 25:27 The Challenge of Making a Great Tennis Movie 27:33 The Value of Personal Interaction and Idea Exchange 34:57 The Power of AI in Creative Endeavors 43:41 Exploring the Concept of Patronage in the Art World