The Bunker – News without the nonsense Best of 2025 – The Future is Slop – Why the Far-Right loves tacky A.I. imagery
Dec 31, 2025
Jamelle Bouie, a New York Times opinion columnist renowned for his insights into US politics, delves into the allure of AI-generated imagery among the radical right. He explores how these sentimental visuals skew perceptions of masculinity and amplify societal fears into exaggerated 'hellscapes.' Bouie connects this phenomenon to historical fascist kitsch, emphasizing a disdain for creativity while favoring nostalgia. The conversation wraps up with a critical look at the implications of AI imagery in politics and the potential for artistic integrity in messaging.
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Tacky AI Imagery Reinforces False Fantasies
- AI slop images have a shiny, tacky quality that signals they pretend to be real but don't care that they aren't.
- Jamelle Bouie says the right uses these images because they reaffirm worst-case fantasies that feel true to viewers.
Imagery Fills The Gap Between Fantasy And Reality
- Right-wing AI imagery casts leaders and society as grander or worse than reality to make fantasies feel real.
- Jamelle Bouie argues this amplifies the gap between fantasy leaders and their actual weaknesses.
Hellscape Images Drive Feeling-Based Politics
- AI slop exaggerates problems into hellscapes because feeling outraged helps political persuasion.
- Bouie notes the images serve anti-empirical politics that prioritize feeling over facts.