David Villalvazo

Aristotle vs. Chat GPT: The (Inter)Active Intelligence of Cinema

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This presentation looks at how filmmaking, education, and humanistic inquiry share some essential features. At their core, all three rely on fundamental principles of ethics, dialogue, and situated thought that enable a joyful integration of perspectival horizons. 

The presentation will show case studies in which cinematic production works as a collaborative method of inquiry relying on human capabilities that far surpass the brute force of any generative algorithm. As artists and filmmakers, we understand that the ability to identify a sensible course of action—through empathy, expertise, and engaged conversations amidst constantly changing circumstances—is a hard-won skill. This capability allows us, for instance, to responsibly address contemporary issues, such as migration, education, and economic extractivism in different settings. 

The examples provided by the short films Chat GPT Can't Dance and Fireflies' Dream: The Experience of Large-scale Avocado Farming in Mexico invite us to reflect on the vital insight that guides our practice as filmmakers and educators. Cinematic world making enables a deeper exploration of humanistic matters by uniquely encapsulating them through a three-way committed interaction. This interaction weaves together the perspectives of the subjects/circumstances being filmed, the filmmakers, and the audience, intertwining them into a narrative tapestry of shared experience.
 

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David Villalvazo is a filmmaker and academic from Guadalajara, Mexico. He focuses on showing how the arts have a unique way of creating and disseminating knowledge. Specifically, he looks at how cinematic montage and sound design help us explore, grasp, and inform the world. Additionally, he is dedicated to applying cinema and other multimodal works in projects that intersect scholarly research and participatory action.