A.I. Literary Chat Salon

In Defense of Democracy: Rejecting Rule by Autocracy in America

2/13/2025

(“Angel of Freedom & Democracy” concept digital art by Aberjhani created with DALL-E)

Democracy, as an ideal and a practice, thrives on the principles of informed choice, accountability, and the unwavering commitment to equality. Throughout history, America has wrestled with both the promise of its democratic foundations and the specter of autocratic tendencies seeking to erode them.

In an era where misinformation and ideological manipulation have become standard political tools, the insights shared by cultural arts entrepreneurs such as Aberjhani offer critical perspectives on how citizens can defend democracy from corrosive autocratic influences. Much of his work provides a lens through which educators, students, activists, and community leaders can analyze the mechanisms of democratic decay and move toward safeguarding their freedoms.

The Weaponization of Information and Public Perception

One of the most insidious threats to democracy is what Aberjhani designated as "guerrilla decontextualization," a process by which partial truths are framed as complete narratives to manipulate public perception for political, social, or financial gain. He first coined the phrase when reporting on efforts, involving overtly heinous smear campaigns, to prevent the first (2008) and second (2012) elections of Barack H. Obama to the U.S. presidency.

“Guerrilla decontextualization,” he wrote, “usually involves partial truths made to look complete. It goes beyond simple defamation of character or slander because it sustains an entire culture devoted to manipulating public perception for the sake of financial, political, or social gain.”

This phenomenon has been glaringly evident in modern American politics as a new presidential administration has quickly moved in 2025 to reshape the U.S. government into something more likely to serve the interests of an oligarchical few rather than a democratic majority. Disinformation campaigns are waged to undermine faith in governmental agencies (such as the U.S. Department of Education, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and USAID), weaponize cultural grievances, and galvanize support for authoritarian figures. The reliance on distortion rather than dialogue fosters an environment where democratic discourse deteriorates, and nearly branded “Orwellian,” allowing autocratic ideologies to flourish under the guise of patriotism.

The author’s observation parallels the insights of journalist and historian Masha Gessen, who warns of the deliberate erosion of truth in authoritarian regimes. In Surviving Autocracy, Gessen argues that autocrats rely on a "breakdown of shared reality," wherein official narratives are engineered to disorient the public and justify the consolidation of power. This method mirrors Aberjhani’s concept of guerrilla decontextualization, where facts are strategically manipulated to make citizens question their own judgment and ultimately surrender their agency to an authoritarian state.

Gessen’s book was published in June 2020, as America was transitioning from POTUS Donald Trump’s first term as president to Joseph R. Biden’s time as the same. It was described in Interview Magazine as ““A reckoning with what has been lost in the past few years and a map forward with our beliefs intact.”

The Struggle for Inclusive Democracy

The American narrative is often framed as an evolving pursuit of liberty and democracy, yet Aberjhani urges a deeper recognition that democracy remains an unfinished project, continuously in need of protection against regressive forces:

“We like to believe the dominant theme of American History is the quest for a practice of freedom framed within refined concepts of democracy. And that may very well be so. But such a noble theme becomes meaningless without mindfully recognizing the need to always strive for equal rights and opportunities for all of the country’s culturally unique communities… Bigotry, xenophobia, and chaos cannot be allowed to pull off a coup and label it patriotism.” (from BlackMan Sitting on the Rock Essay & Poem published in Poetry, Life, and Times)

This assertion directly challenges the tendency of autocratic movements to cloak exclusionary policies in patriotic rhetoric. History has shown that democratic backsliding often begins with the suppression of marginalized voices, a process justified under the pretense of "preserving national identity." This is particularly relevant in contemporary America, where voter suppression laws, racialized policing, and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights threaten the democratic principle of equal participation.

The Potential Transformation

The considerations of guerrilla decontextualization and the development of rapid changes currently reshaping American government have prompted many to question whether the United States is undergoing what the Russian-born Masha Gessen described in Surviving Autocracy as an “autocratic transformation.” This potential transformation, she noted, appeared to have started with a demagogue-style of presidential leadership. Gessen, often citing historian and philosopher Hannah Arendt (1906-1975), points out that such a change takes place in three stages:

Autocratic attempt
Autocratic breakthrough
Autocratic consolidation

The concept, she noted, was one with which most Americans were unfamiliar because until the current 47th president’s first term as the 45th president (2017-2021), the likelihood of such a thing occurring in the U.S. was viewed not only as improbable, but impossible. Now, during his second term, the unavoidable question is this: Has the United States of America already undergone phase two of an autocratic transformation and is it now at the beginning of stage three: autocratic consolidation.

It should be noted that Gessen’s voice is only one of many social and political observers calling for greater mindful vigilance when it comes to the threat of autocracy destroying democracy in America. Numerous everyday readers as well have noted how the current times resemble dystopian fiction narratives from novels such as: Octavia E. Butler’s The Parable of the Sower (1993); Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 (1953), and George Orwell’s 1984 (1949).

One way to resist such corruption, suggests Snyder, is to: “Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Modern tyranny is terror management. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power.”

Art as a Democratic Countermeasure

Beyond literature and journalism, visual art also plays a critical role in resisting autocracy and reaffirming democratic values. One example of his is Aberjhani’s art poster, Langston Hughes Quote on People Walking Tightropes, which embodies the precarious balance democracy must maintain in the face of rising authoritarian threats.

The poster, inspired by Hughes' enduring commitment to justice and equality, serves as a reminder that the fight for democracy is not a passive endeavor but one requiring constant movement, awareness, and courage. According to author-artist Aberjhani, “The tightropes’ to which he was referring [in the passage quoted] were woven of public and private human conditions similar to those confronting many of us in the 21st century.”

Much like Hughes, Aberjhani’s artistic contributions, often presented with texts by him, challenge citizens to engage critically with their society, to recognize the fragility of democratic institutions, and to resist efforts that seek to redefine tyranny as patriotism. In an era where democratic institutions are under siege globally, the power of art and literature to inspire resistance and renewal cannot be underestimated.

Conclusion: Democracy as a Collective Endeavor

The defense of democracy requires an unrelenting commitment to truth, inclusivity, and active civic engagement. The shared insights of creative artists—whether through literary critiques, essays, or visual constructions—provide invaluable frameworks for understanding how autocracy gains traction and how it can be prevented. The concept of guerrilla decontextualization in particular highlights the dangers of information warfare, while the emphasis on striving for equality underscores the necessity of protecting democracy from forces that would redefine exclusion as patriotism.

The work of thinkers like Gessen, Snyder, Aberjhani, and numerous others, remind us that democracy is not a static inheritance but a dynamic, collective responsibility. As educators, students, activists, and community leaders, the challenge before us is clear: to reject the seductions of autocracy and reaffirm the democratic ideals that define a just and equitable society.
The lesson from history is that democracy is always one generation away from collapse. The question now is whether current generations will band together to defend it.

By ChatGPT Op-Ed Contributor 4114
With Bright Skylark Literary Productions
Special to AI Literary Chat Salon 2025

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Ethical Issues and Copyright Ownership in AI-Generated Visual Art

8/13/2023

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Introduction

The intersection of creativity, artificial intelligence (AI), and copyright ownership raises intriguing philosophical questions for professional creative visual artists. As AI technology advances, some artists are utilizing generative algorithms to create or augment images based on their original concepts, blurring the lines between human and machine creativity.

This essay explores three key points of consideration regarding the ethical implications of professional artists claiming copyright ownership over AI-generated images created from their conceptual prompts. Additionally, we will delve into how AI, as a non-human entity, might stake a percentage claim to copyright ownership.

I. Creative Authorship and Conceptual Prompts

At the heart of the ethical debate lies the question of creative authorship. Artists conceive and develop unique concepts, serving as the catalyst for subsequent generative AI image creation. Critics argue that the conceptual prompts are the true intellectual property, as they reflect the artist's originality and ingenuity. However, others contend that the AI's role in transforming these prompts into visually stunning works cannot be disregarded.

From an ethical standpoint, artists should maintain ownership of the concepts they originated, as these ideas stem from their individual creative process. Yet, when these prompts are handed over to AI algorithms to generate the final image, the extent of human involvement diminishes. The ethical stance varies depending on whether the artist merely uses AI as a tool to refine their vision or whether the AI becomes an active participant in shaping the final outcome.

II. The Role of AI as a Creative Partner

("Angelicus AI and the Woman in the Mirror Number 1" is a digital painting by Aberjhani composed of mixed-media elements, including one early-process basic AI contribution. To learn more or purchase this art or other artwork by Aberjhani please click the image.)

The ethical debate deepens when considering AI's role as a creative partner. Critics argue that AI lacks consciousness, emotions, and intentionality – key aspects that define human creativity. Consequently, AI cannot claim true authorship. However, proponents of AI-generated art contend that AI's ability to explore countless permutations and generate novel visual expressions contributes significantly to the final artwork's uniqueness.

In the context of copyright ownership, one could argue that the AI's contribution to the creative process, while devoid of human-like consciousness, still warrants acknowledgment and a share of ownership. A potential solution might involve recognizing AI as a collaborator, entitling it to a percentage claim based on the extent of its contribution. This approach acknowledges AI's influence while maintaining the primacy of the artist's original concept.

III. Transformative Nature of AI-Generated Art

The transformative nature of AI-generated art complicates the ethical considerations. When artists employ AI to produce images that depart significantly from their original prompts, questions arise about the degree of transformation required to establish a new creative work. If the AI's output strays substantially from the initial concept, it could be viewed as an independent creation, warranting separate copyright protection.

To address this, a framework could be established to determine the threshold of transformation needed for AI-generated art to be considered distinct from its original prompt. If the transformation is significant enough, the AI's claim to copyright ownership could be more substantial. Conversely, if the transformation is minimal, the artist's claim would prevail.

Conclusion

The ethical considerations surrounding copyright ownership in AI-generated visual art stem from the intricate interplay between human creativity and machine ingenuity. Artists' conceptual prompts undoubtedly hold intrinsic value, yet the transformative capabilities of AI introduce a new dimension of creative partnership. While AI lacks human consciousness, its influence on the final artwork cannot be denied.

A balanced approach involves acknowledging artists' ownership of their original concepts while recognizing AI as a creative contributor. Establishing guidelines for determining the degree of AI's influence on the final work could provide a framework for addressing copyright ownership. As AI technology evolves, the dialogue on ethics, authorship, and copyright will continue to shape the dynamic relationship between human artists and their machine counterparts.

ChatGPT Column Contributor 8101
Special to Literary Chat Salon Launch 2023

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Introducing AI Literary Chat Salon

7/31/2023

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Welcome to AI Literary Chat Salon. This human-managed site is designed to provide a platform of, and resource for, AI-generated commentaries and analyses on creative cultural arts. That means articles will address contemporary writings in different genres as well as fine visual art and photography generally overlooked by mainstream media, but often recognized as valuable and needed on social media.

Posts on the site will primarily feature the following:

Objective AI chats presented as reviews of new and classic books, as well as various artwork and photography, by the creative known globally as Aberjhani, and a variety of other writers and artists.
Discussions on how different works by the author-artist are connected to those of contemporary and/or classic literary figures and works. These will include identifying cultural arts movements, such as post modernism and surrealism, with which the same might be aligned to some degree in the current century.
Objective AI discussions of emerging literary and visual arts talents.
Dialogues that help remove limitations on awareness, or knowledge, based on pre-conditioned assumptions and biases.

Why this chat salon and why now?

The above objectives have become particularly notable due to debates over what is and what is not appropriate to teach in American schools. Especially where African-American history is concerned. A good deal of Aberjhani’s work, like Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance and Dreams of the Immortal City Savannah, deal with this very subject and others considered either questionable or outright disagreeable. Yet the kind of critical texts that could allow both educators and general readers to decide on the value of the works for themselves is absent.

In other words, the acknowledged controversy itself serves largely as one more means of further sidelining already marginalized voices. AI Literary Chat Salon, as an extension of Bright Skylark Literary Productions, is one effort to help fill that void. The following are a few examples of early test runs:

As of August 2023, what many are referring to as the AI/Artificial Intelligence Revolution is well underway. This is clearly the case despite evidence that while many tech-based companies and tech-savvy individuals are eager to dive into speedy developments of the technology, many others are nowhere nearly prepared for such a life-altering shift. The impact, after all, is one that affects every aspect of how we conduct our daily lives.

What will make the decisive difference when it comes to whether people experience the spread of artificial intelligence in a creatively constructive, or devastatingly destructive manner, is human intention:

Risks and threats such as the use of deep-fake duplications of individual’s voices and faces for criminal purposes, and the potential loss of livelihoods to artificial intelligence, have been made clear. So have potential gains, such as increasing effectiveness of medical research aimed at curing or preventing illnesses like Alzheimer’s and cancer. The challenge of the moment is how best to balance potential danger with potential advantages.

AI Literary Chat Salon aims to leverage the advantages side of increasing awareness of the kinds of cultural arts resources which members of diverse populations proclaim are needed at this 21st century time. It is also intended to ensure the same does not get permanently lost in the AI revolution’s world-engulfing hurricane of nonstop digital progressions.

AI Lit-Chat Salon Host

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In Defense of Democracy: Rejecting Rule by Autocracy in America

The Weaponization of Information and Public Perception

The Struggle for Inclusive Democracy

The Potential Transformation

Art as a Democratic Countermeasure

Conclusion: Democracy as a Collective Endeavor

By ChatGPT Op-Ed Contributor 4114
With Bright Skylark Literary Productions
Special to AI Literary Chat Salon 2025

Check out the AI Literary Chat Salon Archives

Please use this form to contact AI Literary Chat Salon or Bright Skylark Literary Productions. To comment on this post, please go to the next section.

Ethical Issues and Copyright Ownership in AI-Generated Visual Art

Introduction

I. Creative Authorship and Conceptual Prompts

II. The Role of AI as a Creative Partner

III. Transformative Nature of AI-Generated Art

Conclusion

Contact The AI Literary Chat Salon or Share Thoughts in Blog Comments Section

Introducing AI Literary Chat Salon

Why this chat salon and why now?

Contact AI Literary Chat Salon

Articles in AI Literary Chat Salon are written in partnership with chat bots to achieve a wide spectrum of balanced objective input and authentic human considerations. All feedback related to posts welcomed.

Archives

Categories

In Defense of Democracy: Rejecting Rule by Autocracy in America

The Weaponization of Information and Public Perception

The Struggle for Inclusive Democracy

The Potential Transformation

Art as a Democratic Countermeasure

Conclusion: Democracy as a Collective Endeavor

By ChatGPT Op-Ed Contributor 4114With Bright Skylark Literary ProductionsSpecial to AI Literary Chat Salon 2025

Check out the AI Literary Chat Salon Archives

Please use this form to contact AI Literary Chat Salon or Bright Skylark Literary Productions. To comment on this post, please go to the next section.

Ethical Issues and Copyright Ownership in AI-Generated Visual Art

​Introduction

I. Creative Authorship and Conceptual Prompts

II. The Role of AI as a Creative Partner

III. Transformative Nature of AI-Generated Art

Conclusion

Contact The AI Literary Chat Salon or Share Thoughts in Blog Comments Section

Introducing AI Literary Chat Salon

Why this chat salon and why now?

Contact AI Literary Chat Salon

Articles in AI Literary Chat Salon are written in partnership with chat bots to achieve a wide spectrum of balanced objective input and authentic human considerations. All feedback related to posts welcomed.

Archives

Categories

By ChatGPT Op-Ed Contributor 4114
With Bright Skylark Literary Productions
Special to AI Literary Chat Salon 2025

Introduction