I had the honor of teaching at Wizard Academy this week. In a class about creativity and patent-style problem-solving techniques, I taught a section about applying those ideas to art and photography. We’ve been going to classes at Wizard Academy for 13 or so years, so teaching there was a very cool experience. I might even be asked back!
During the class, we got on a tangent about AI and the risk of computers replacing us all. Don’t worry. There have been studies done showing that between a computer playing a Mozart symphony and human playing it, 80% of people prefer the humans even though they really can’t tell you which is which. I can’t find a reference for this study, so you’ll just have to trust me.
A while back, I gave you some tips on how to love your flaws. Now I’m going to encourage you to do it, in case you didn’t.
See, the reason people preferred the humans playing the music is the same reason we love the sound of record players. Flaws. The crackles, the mistakes, the quirks… all those things make us human. It turns out that humans tend to prefer humanity.
We don’t want some version of perfection from our music, our art or our loved ones. We want you, with all your beautiful flaws. Learn to love them, because we already do.
Where are you now?