Transcendence and Escape

Everything about our culture flies in the face of self-transcendence, this capacity to move beyond one’s limited sense of self and identity to connect with something larger and more meaningful than ourselves. Everywhere, from the business world to the art world and even to the realm of religion and spirituality, society celebrates success stories and makes _the successful self _the greatest good rather than the successful city, society, or species.

Self-transcendence is not synonymous with or even related to having power over one’s circumstances or personal limitations. Self-transcendence is not moving out of your parents’ house or losing weight or getting that dream job. 

Our inability to understand just what self-transcendence refers to and how to achieve it is clearly marked by our failed attempts. Intoxication, sex, media absorption, and other forms of escapism are not transcendent. Making yourself into the image of the perfect self you hold in your mind is not transcendent. Making art, self reflection, and finding love are not transcendent either. 

AI art challenges the identity that many artists hold dear. Because destabilizing one’s identity is one of the first steps toward self-transcendence, it only makes sense to feature the work of a creator (or collaborator) with no identity and no selfhood to put a fine point on it.