In today’s Impromptus, I begin with moviemaking — the wonder of. (Great art. I wouldn’t mind trying it my own bad self one day.) I also discuss the British royal family, American politics, the English language — a mélange of things. To try it out, go here.
Part of that “mélange” is artificial intelligence. I say,
The world of artificial intelligence is promising. I’m not a Luddite about it (or don’t want to be). And yet, it also promises much ill. I grew up with an advertising slogan: “Is it live or is it Memorex?” These days, one must ask, “Is it real or is it fake?”
A reader writes to say that he has just read a short story by Roald Dahl: “The Great Automatic Grammatizator,” composed in 1953. I will call on Wikipedia for a summary:
A mechanically-minded man reasons that the rules of grammar are fixed by certain, almost mathematical principles. By exploiting this idea, he is able to create a mammoth machine that can write a prize-winning novel in roughly fifteen minutes. The story ends on a fearful note, as more and more of the world’s writers are forced into licensing their names — and all hope of human creativity — to the machine.
Uh-oh. Our reader also notes that Dahl’s works have been altered — Bowdlerized — for “sensitivity” reasons. “Wonder what he would have made of that!” We know: He would have pitched a holy fit.
My writing would never make it past the sensitivity police. In recent concert reviews, I have used the term “concertmistress.” I think it’s such a beautiful word. I regret its evanescence. I am inconsistent on these matters: I would never say “poetess,” except in certain historical contexts. I think it’s insulting. I like to say “aviatrix” when writing about Amelia Earhart — it’s such a wonderful and unusual word.
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” (When people quote this, they often leave out the “foolish.” One must not. It is critical.)
Anyway: A reader writes, “Please don’t stop using ‘concertmistress,’ Jay.” No need to worry: They’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead typing fingers.
In an Impromptus last month, I had some notes on Montgomery, Ala. — some photos too. A reader writes to inform me of two things. First:
The City of Montgomery and the County of Montgomery are named after two different people. (The city is the seat of the county.) The city, named first, is named for Richard Montgomery, the pre–Revolutionary War general killed in the Invasion of Quebec in 1775. Montgomery County, Maryland, is also named for this general. Alabama’s Montgomery County is named for Lemuel P. Montgomery, an officer killed in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814, at the end of the Creek War.
Lesson No. 2:
When Winton M. “Red” Blount donated the land for the Shakespeare festival in Montgomery, it represented the largest gift to the theatrical arts in the history of the United States. Yes, right here in Montgomery.
Marvelous. My thanks to all readers and correspondents.