Decoding Political Narratives: Artificial Art and the Crafting of Symbolic Realities

Decoding Political Narratives: Artificial Art and the Crafting of Symbolic Realities

Oral - Theoretical Proposal

This research uncovers the impact of artificially generated art on political narratives. Its primary focus is to explore the influence of AI-generated narratives on public opinion. The main question is: “How do artificially created narratives, such as realistic images of political figures, shape and influence public perception?” To address this question, the study examines Ernest Borman's Symbolic Convergence Theory. This theory, which originally observed dramatized messages or narratives known as fantasy themes, explains how these narratives contribute to the formation of group consciousness. Borman noted that individuals engage in the sharing, reiteration, and interweaving of these fantasy narratives. This creates a more intricate and nuanced collective reality. This study applied the three fundamental tenets of Symbolic Convergence Theory to AI-generated images. Particularly, this study analyzed images of Donald Trump created by a cutting-edge AI tool called Midjourney. The analysis concludes with two main implications: the threat of algorithmic bias and an easily deceived culture. Ultimately, this study found that society becomes entrapped in a symbolic reality fueled by these artificial visuals. In essence, this study synthesizes existing theoretical frameworks and sources, offering an understanding of collective narratives and their role in shaping group perception. The resulting framework serves as a valuable foundation for future research in this domain.