On Saturday evening, I made a Creole gumbo for supper, loaded with andouille, okra, and shrimp. It takes several hours to make this traditional Louisiana stew, starting with a classic roux that bubbles and squeaks in the pot as it morphs from off-white to brown over the course of an hour. The hissing and popping kitchen sounds from the roux paired with the simmering trinity (bell pepper, onion, and celery) creates an unpleasant synaesthetic auditory-to-visual soundscape—spots of ochre yellow dot my visual field, enmeshed in a web of grey static. So, I covered them with a more dramatic, elegant, and captivating color pattern, the sounds of the Shostakovich piano concerto No. 2. With the BBC Symphony tackling this gorgeous composition, the ochre spots were replaced by sapphire swirls and deep burgundy as I minced garlic and chopped parsley.
I’m a writer with an MFA in the craft, and I’ve been feeling despondent over the arrival of AI writing tools. I recognize that ChapGPT and other platforms are no replacement for the creativity of the human mind, at least not yet. But, as a content creator on the topic of neurocognitive differences, I fear that blogging about any topic, including my passion (neurodiversity) is now passé. One can simply launch an AI query and, in seconds, get content that takes me hours pen. It’s demoralizing; I think many of my fine artist and illustrator friends feel the same way.
As I was making my gumbo and listening to Shostakovich, I had an epiphany of sorts. It’s my individual human mind that can find the connection between a Louisiana Creole stew and a Russian composer. I wanted to hear the Shostakovich piano concerto No. 2 because it’s an excellent foil for the sensory landscape of my kitchen when I’m cooking gumbo. This is a highly personal experience that ChatGPT and other AI platforms cannot replicate….at least not yet.
I asked ChatGPT what Creole gumbo and Dmitri Shostakovich had in common. It’s answer:
“At first glance, Dmitri Shostakovich and Creole gumbo may seem unrelated, as one is a Russian composer and the other is a dish from Louisiana with roots in African, French, Spanish, and Native American culinary traditions. However, a potential connection could be found in the concept of cultural fusion and the blending of diverse elements.
Shostakovich, known for his innovative and often subversive compositions, lived during a tumultuous period in Soviet history. His music reflects a complex relationship with the political and cultural climate of his time. Similarly, Creole gumbo is a dish that emerged from the diverse cultural influences in Louisiana, showcasing a mix of ingredients and cooking techniques.
Both Shostakovich’s compositions and Creole gumbo highlight the richness that arises from the interplay of different elements, whether in the realm of music or cuisine. They exemplify the ability of cultural exchange and synthesis to create something unique and captivating. While they may belong to different artistic and culinary domains, the underlying theme of blending diverse elements unites them in the broader context of cultural creativity.”
I find the ChaptGPT reply a little bland. It lacks the highly personal experience that any individual might bring to a discussion of such a disparate pairing as a 20th-century Russian composer and a stew with its roots in the multicultural Mississippi delta. Also, ChatGPT makes no mention of synaesthesia, and why would it? Synaesthetic phenomena are highly personal and unique to each synaesthete. ChatGPT lacks the humanity of any individual creator’s mind, synaesthete or not; it misses the subtleties, context, and emotional nuances present in the craft of creative writing.
With this experiment, ChatGPT essentially solved my ChatGPT problem. I’m not afraid of AI and its potential to impact my writing, at least for the short term. AI lacks the nuances of human creativity. I find it meaningful that this realization came to me on the feast of Epiphany, a traditional night to serve gumbo. So here’s to Shostakovich and spicy Creole stew! May this odd pairing create meaning for you in whatever way inspires your unique and human mind.
