#(the other 5% of the time it will be chris bowes but i won't admit he made a good point and pretend the point made itself)

[clouds-of-wings]

So many bands I listen to are switching to AI images for their promo material and it's obviously heartbreaking for me, but I've been trying to see it from their perspective. At least when it's small bands. I'm not making any excuses for Napalm's or Within Temptation's AI videos. They have the money and are screwing visual artists over out of greed or ignorance. But when it's a small independent band with a couple hundred followers?

"My band doesn't have enough money to hire a human artist for promo materials, so we use AI" is like the band version of "I don't have enough money to buy CDs, so I torrent music". Both are driven by capitalism-induced scarcity. Both are ethically questionable (*insert more nuanced take here*) ways to get something you don't really need, but want for yourself. But one is legal (hint: it's the one that makes giant (tech) corporations money) and one can get you a fine, even jail time in some countries (hint: it's the one that giant (entertainment) corporations think keeps them from getting money they would have liked to receive).

For a small band, the alternative to AI usually isn't "hiring a real artist", it's either "using a public domain picture" (better for me, not always fitting for them) or "not having visual promo materials except maybe an album cover and one video per album" (better for me, worse for them). Unless they have a friend who does it for free. Another parallel to torrenting. Usually when someone torrents, the alternative wouldn't have been buying the media, it would have been not consuming it. Because if it's not in your budget, it's not in your budget.

This isn't really a happy thought or an excuse... the conclusion is more or less that if you don't torrent then you're a sucker, because the artists you're trying to be honourable towards will screw others over for their benefit as soon as they have the chance too, so really what's the point in being the only one who plays by the rules?

I thought about this and remembered how this one musician I follow once said that especially in Latin America fans often bring burned CDs of his albums to meet-and-greets and he signs those too because he knows the legal CDs are much more expensive for a fan there than in Europe. I found it astounding that someone would have the cheek to show a band their own album as an illegal burned CD (I wouldn't even have done that in 2004), and kinda admired how understanding he was about the matter. Meet-and-greets are also not always at the concert venue, so you could get a judgement-free signature on a burned CD without buying a ticket.

...of course they're still his fans and the CD still has the band name on it, so the analogy is far from perfect. Image generation AI in its currently dominant form screws artists over worse than torrenting, I'm not arguing against that. The point is that I judge big bands and labels more for using AI than small bands.

"But they should just hire a cheaper artist or buy a stock photo!" Yes! They should! They absolutely should! Especially since artists, just like all creative freelancers, usually get their first jobs by doing cheap work for people with a limited budget. But can I demand it..? Is it the standard I hold other people to - or myself?

It just always comes back to the systemic issue - how almost no one doing creative work has a big enough budget and the artificial scarcity imposed by capitalism is pitting us against each other.

[theprocrastinatingalien]

MCU - Who won't appear again after Avengers 4?

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, and it's as-yet-untitled AVENGERS 4, will change everything.  It will, essentially, cap the three phases we started with IRON MAN back in 2008.  And, most importantly, it will mark the last appearances for some characters.

Now right now, we're still finding out who's even in the films (the cast grows almost daily)... but we're already guessing who might be exiting the franchise.

Below are who I believe we're close to seeing the end of.  On the whole, I'd say major characters introduced in the third phase will continue past AVENGERS 4, while phase one characters are most at risk.

So, who mostly likely won't be making it past Phase 3?

1. Thanos

Let's be honest, everything is building towards the clash with the 'Mad Titan'.  He's going to have to be defeated for the Cinematic Universe to continue.  And, as far as the MCU is concerned, Thanos will have to die, because he's unlikely to be a character that will be brought back, or used casually.

2. Tony Stark

He was the first Avenger.  (Yes, yes, I know Captain America is the 'first avenger') but Stark was the first one the audiences met.  From IRON MAN, Robert Downey Jr became king of the MCU, and has been an integral part.  He's had his trilogy, he's headlined two avenger films already, became part of a CIVIL WAR and next will be seen mentoring Spider-Man.  He'll then join forces with his team, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and just about every other character from the past ten years.  Robert Downey Jr also happens to be a very expensive actor.  I think it's same to assume, Stark will be a major casualty from AVENGERS 4.  He'll probably be the one that ends up saving the day, probably as an ultimate sacrifice.   I'd be more surprised if he survives.

3. Pepper Potts & Happy Hogan

If Tony Stark is no longer part of the MCU, then I think we can say good by to his supporting cast.  Both Gwyneth Paltrow and Jon Favreau have been part of the franchise since the beginning (Favreau even directed the first two IRON MAN films), but both have only every appeared when Stark has.   It's not known yet whether they'll have parts to play in INFINITY WAR, so it's possible SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING might be the last time we see these characters, but it's safe to say neither will be see after 2019.

You'll notice I haven't included James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) here.  Whilst it's entirely possible he'll be leaving too, being an Avenger, gives him a little more longevity that Stark's other supports.

4. Steve Rogers

Maybe Rogers should be higher on the list?  It's been known for a while that Chris Evans is looking to quit actor to move behind the camera, once his contract with Marvel ends.  That contract ends with AVENGERS 4.   Technically it ends with AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, but it was extended because - in the words of Evans - AVENGERS 4 'wraps everything up'.  A lot of people thought Rogers might die in CIVIL WAR, but that didn't make much sense, knowing Evans was due to IFINITY WAR... but Rogers is definitely approaching the end of his tenure. We already have potential replacements in Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson, either ready to pick up the shield.

It's entirely possible that the part of Rogers will be kept alive, but aged (allowing a new, older actor to replace Evans) so that Old Steve can mentor who ever succeeds him... but my feeling its Rogers will be done.

5. Peggy Carter & Howard Stark

Both of these characters are already dead in the current time.  Howard (Dominic Cooper & John Slattery) is connected to both Tony and Steve, so if they're both out of the picture, there's no real reason to include him again.  Peggy (Hayley Atwell) doesn't even have the Stark connection, just Steve,  Of course, she did get her own TV series, but that seems done now, so I think we can count them out of the picture.

Now, I will admit both Peggy and Howard appeared in a flashback in ANT-MAN, tying them to younger Hank Pym.  I doubt that's a connection that'll come up again beyond ANT-MAN AND THE WASP though.

6. Vision

Whilst Paul Bettany's physical role was only introduced in 2015, the future doesn't look great for him.  Aside from being one of the most powerful characters on the Avengers team, he happens to have an infinity stone in his head.  It's generally theorised that Thanos WILL get all the stones on his Infinity Gauntlet... and that doesn't bode well for Vision.  Now, true, we don't KNOW, the removal of the stone will result in his death... but we'll call it an educated guess.  Bettany has been part of the MCU since 2008, voicing JARVIS, so it might be time for him to depart.

7.  Thor

With Stark and Rogers likely to bow out, what about the other original Avenger?  THOR: RAGNAROK is likely to mark the last of Thor's films - Marvel are fond of their trilogies - and sadly, so far, the THOR films haven't ranked top of the MCU entries.  Whilst Chris Hemsworth says he's happy to re-up his contract (which is believed to end with AVENGERS 4), it might just be that Marvel want to draw a line under their original heroes, and let the newer characters breathe.  Can they get away with killing ALL of them?  Possibly.

8.  Loki, Heimdall & Odin.

No Thor, probably no Asgardians.  Well, not the main ones.  Not the ones that have been given any real screen time.  Tom Hiddleston plays one of the highest profiled villains in the MCU. Loki was the first villain to take on THE AVENGERS, and it likely to play a key role in INFINITY WAR as either an ally to his brother, or as a goon to Thanos.  Maybe both.  Idris Elba must be ending his contract soon, with Heimdall appearing in all three THOR films, and a small role in AGE OF ULTRON.    I don't believe he'll be in INFINITY WAR or the sequel, he may already be done, thanks to events of RAGNAROK.   Anthony Hopkins has only appeared in the THOR movies, so again, I'm anticipating RAGNAROK will be his personal swan song. If not, with no Thor, it's unlikely we'll get more time with his father.

9. Nick Fury

Samuel L Jackson first appeared as Fury in the post-credit scene capping IRON MAN.  After that he signed on for a massive contract, that was unheard of before... a 9 picture deal!  Now... one thing I've never been sure on - does those 9 films include IRON MAN or not?  Since then he's played key roles in IRON MAN 2, THE AVENGERS, THE WINTER SOLDIER and AGE OF ULTRON, with cameos in THOR and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER.  So, Jackson has either two or three left on his contract.  He's hinted that he may be in CAPTAIN MARVEL, and he's confirmed for INFINITY WAR.  That's 9.  That could be it.  Or... maybe he'll be in AVENGERS 4.  The fact is, as much as Jackson would like to add more films to his contract, it's unclear if Marvel have much of a use for Fury anymore.  SHIELD no longer plays a role (except in the series AGENTS OF SHIELD, obviously) and Fury is non-powered.  My belief is, as much as I love Jackson, and want him to just pop up in cameos across every other film, maybe it's time for Nick Fury to retire from the spy game.

That's it, that's my list.  There are other characters that may never appear, but above are they key roles. I believe the likes of Hulk, Black Widow and even Hawkeye, have more to give in some way.  Likewise, whilst my gut says we've seen the last of Jane Foster, Darcy, Sif and the Warriors Three, Marvel may decide to keep the Asgardian hope alive with female Thor... which means those supporting characters could return.

What do you think of my list?  Did I miss someone off?  Or do you think someone should be in it? 

Remember to add me on twitter - procrastinalien - and joining in the polls for Battle of SuperHeroes!