AI and Aesthetic Alienation: The Image and Creativity in Contemporary Culture - Abstract

Aug 25, 2026

In this comment piece, mass-produced generative AI (GenAI) images—commonly labeled “AI slop”—are treated as a form of aesthetic alienation. The discussion centers on GenAI images of fall and argues that they alienate artists from their work while also generating an alienating aesthetic within the image itself. By closely reading the aesthetic registers of GenAI images, the article raises sociological questions about the image’s role in contemporary society and the affective logics of late capitalism, including links to extractive and destructive material conditions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Keywords

On Trying and Failing to Photograph the Moon

AI-generated image substitution and “moon-zoom” examples

AI images, alienation, and late capitalism

“AI slop” and sociological implications

Fall aesthetics and the AI slop example

Please do not remove this page AI and Aesthetic Alienation: The Image and Creativity in Contemporary Culture Smith, Naomi; Southerton, Clare [https://research.usc.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/AI-and-Aesthetic-Alienation-The-Image/991148639902621/filesAndLinks?index=0](https://research.usc.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/AI-and-Aesthetic-Alienation-The-Image/991148639902621/filesAndLinks?index=0) Smith, N., & Southerton, C. (2026) . AI and Aesthetic Alienation: The Image and Creativity in Contemporary Culture. Social Science Computer Review, 44(1), 170–179. [https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393251361449](https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393251361449) Document Type: Published Version Link to Published Version: [https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393251361449](https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393251361449) UniSC Research Bank: [https://research.usc.edu.au](https://research.usc.edu.au)[ ](https://research.usc.edu.au)[research-repository@usc.edu.au](research-repository@usc.edu.au) [CC BY V4.0](CC BY V4.0) © The Author(s) 2025.This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License ( [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page ( [https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage](https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage)). Downloaded On 2026/08/25 20:03:46 +1000 Please do not remove this page Special Issue Article AI and Aesthetic Alienation: The Image and Creativity in Contemporary Culture Naomi Smith 1 􀀁 and Clare Southerton2 􀀁 Social Science Computer Review 2026, Vol. 44(1) 170–179 © The Author(s) 2025 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions) [DOI: 10.1177/08944393251361449](DOI: 10.1177/08944393251361449)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/08944393251361449)[journals.sagepub.com/home/ssc](journals.sagepub.com/home/ssc) Abstract In this comment piece, we argue that mass-produced generative AI (GenAI) images, commonly referred to as “AI slop” should be considered a form of aesthetic alienation. Speciﬁcally, we focus on GenAI images of fall, arguing that GenAI images alienate not only artists from their art, but produces an alienating aesthetic in and of itself. Closely attending to the aesthetic registers of GenAI images opens up important sociological questions about the role of the image in contemporary society, and the affective logics of late capitalism. Finally, we highlight how GenAI images are profoundly implicated in the extractive and destructive materialities of late capitalism. Keywords generative AI, aesthetics, alienation, affect, capitalism On Trying and Failing to Photograph the Moon Have you ever tried to take a photo of the moon and been dissatisﬁed with the result? Amateur and professional photographers alike know that photos often fall comically short of the encounter in the moment. For years, Samsung marketing claimed that their phones were better equipped to take high-quality photos of the moon, boasting “moon-zoomed technology”. In March 2023, Samsung was caught “faking” photos of the moon (Vincent & Porter, 2023) . The “faking” was discovered by a Reddit user, who took a blurry photo of the moon and photographed it (the prior photo) with a Samsung phone (the S23 Ultra) (Vincent & Porter, 2023) . The phone inserted details that were not present—and, importantly, could not be present in the original photograph—producing a crisp and highly detailed “photograph” of the moon. Users had been accusing Samsung of overlaying texture ﬁlters onto photographs of the moon since the feature ﬁrst launched in a 2020 model, but Samsung repeatedly denied that this was the case. 1 University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia 2Monash University, Australia Corresponding Auth

FAQs

What does the article claim about “AI slop” images?

It argues that mass-produced GenAI images (“AI slop”) should be understood as a form of aesthetic alienation, not just an artistic shortcut.

How does the “moon-zoom” example relate to the argument?

It shows AI-enabled insertion of details that were not present in the original scene, challenging what counts as a “real” photograph.

What sociological questions does the article say GenAI images raise?

It highlights how GenAI images, especially in social media circulation, connect to attention economies and the affective logics of late capitalism, including extractive and destructive materialities.

Aug 25, 2026

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