The Lego Batman Movie was....ok.
That's not for lack of trying though. The writers of the movie clearly love Batman's history and make obscure references to the movies and comics of the past, introducing villains that no one but hardcore fans have heard of (or maybe fans of Arrow in a couple of cases), having so many easter eggs in the background that it's impossible to catch them all on a first watch and even paying homage to moments from the films by either recreating them or twisting them to fulfill long standing fan desires. The film knows Batman. Batman works in the movie. Will Arnett is always giving a performance that's at 110%. In fact, I'd say all of the four main characters in the movie (Barbara Gordon, Alfred, Dick Grayson and Batman) work beautifully. All very well casted and performed.
The issue is that Batman fights crime. It's hard to crack a lot of jokes when Batman is fighting crime. The movie TRIES, going as far as to imply that Batman and The Joker are in some kind of Rom-Com style relationship, but there's just not a lot there between the two. In fact, the movie has basically every member of Batman's Rogue Gallery in the movie (except for The Ventriloquist for some reason unless I missed him) and he doesn't feel connected with any of them.
Now, Batman's thing is that he believes he works best alone and doesn't get attached to anyone. Therefore, it should make sense that he doesn't feel any attachment for any of his villains, right? The problem is that it's not even a passing apathy for them. He just treats everyone he fights, and in this movie he fights everyone, like they're a training dummy. There's not really any witty banter, no personality, just a couple throw away gags and some punching and because this is a movie that's aimed at kids, way more so than The Lego Movie, there's a weird paradox where they are both taking the material too seriously and not seriously enough, leaving Lego Batman in a weird grey area where it's not quite Batman enough and not quite Parody Batman enough. It's just there.
Now, from what I've been hearing, a lot of people are loving this movie a lot more than I did. That's cool. I'm not writing this to change any opinions. Honestly, I had a good time with the movie as well. I'm not trying to say that Lego Batman is bad. I just couldn't see anything in it to love or get invested in. It is the definition of a movie that you put on to keep the kids entertained while you're busy. It's hard to tell how much they'll appreciate it though if they don't already know Batman. There's a lot of Batman in The Lego Batman Movie.
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The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
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