Human, Plants, in the Age of AI:
A critical analysis of the representation of human-plant relationship in AI-generated images
Research essay, publication, 80p,
2023
The notion that humans are the primary caretakers and possess a dominant position over plants is pervasive in contemporary society. This thesis investigates how these perceptions of human-plant relationships are represented in AI-generated images. Using AI image generation as a research tool and employing visual semiotics for image analysis, this thesis identifies three recurring patterns: the predominance of houseplants as the primary representation of plants, the use of the color green more than it is found in nature, and the portrayal of human hands as a symbol of connecting with plants.
These patterns reflect a human-centered perspective in which plants are primarily viewed through their values to humans, taking on roles as commodities, as objects that require human care, and as an ostensible fix to the lost connection with nature. This anthropocentric logic, which is embedded in technological actions and manifests as cultural bias, forms the basis of decisions that perpetuate the separation between humans and the environment.
Read full thesis here︎︎︎
Physical copies available upon request.
