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Byron Fenris

@byronfenris.bsky.social

1.3K followers 4.2K following 640 posts

Author, Poet, Psychedelic Musician, Movie Star, and occultist. Creator of the late 60s "Arkham Sound." Have been accused of being "fictional." http://byronfenris.com Fan of horror, pets, retro style and spooky things in general.

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Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · Jan 20

A thread of my anti-MAGA songs. Warning: There is a danger of stylistic whiplash, as they range from country gospel to grunge. Starting with my favorite:
"The movies have lied to you
About what the devil is
The devil isn't cool and suave
The devil reeks of sh*t and piss " https://buff.ly/3PHb4Bn

The Existential Dreadniks - The Devil Doesn't Pay His Bills | Jangle Pop

To be fair, I don't either, but no one put me in charge of their lives. Lyrics by Byron Fenris ‪@byronfenris8693‬ Byron's Halloween novel The Late Edge of Oc...

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Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 16h

youtu.be/3TwJz4I1dG0

The Existential Dreadnettes - Bad Candy | 1960s Girl Group

YouTube video by The Existential Dreadniks

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Reposted by Byron Fenris

John Hudgens @johnhudgens.bsky.social · 21h

United We Hop, Divided We Croak

Put the HOP back in HOPE

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Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 21h

Your show is one of the best, period. Always considered myself an expert on 60s rock but man, I'm learning so much. Sad to be leaving the decade, though!

Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 1d

Post a hot vampire! 🩸🦇

Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 2d

As we head into the holiday, here's another CD-length compilation LP of Existential Dreadniks zaniness. Includes "Lon Chaney Jr. Is Probably Also Dead," "Kung Fu Frankenstein," "Bossa Nova Batman," "Garfield Vs. The Red Baron," "Transylvania Dreaming," and so, so many others. youtu.be/QEFJBZkmlHk

The Existential Dreadniks - A Halloween Spook Show (Full Album) | All-New Retro Halloween Mayhem

YouTube video by The Existential Dreadniks

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Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 2d

That really does sound like Bob Cobert incidental music.

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John Rain🥇 @johnrain.co.uk · 3d

Bill Burr explains why he did the Riyadh Comedy Festival

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The Beatles Photos @thebeatlespix.bsky.social · 4d

George Harrison from "Help!" 1965

the #Beatles

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Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 4d

I love how Borgnine just COMMITS to this role.

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ⓘ 𝕆ligarch f*ckery detected @adelpreore.bsky.social · 4d

Believe them when they say it.

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Karly Kingsley @karlykingsley.bsky.social · 4d

All these headlines saying “Bondi Goes on the Attack.” Really? She wasn’t in the octagon, she’s a public servant who was at an oversight hearing. Her job was to answer questions. She refused to do her job. Stop glamorizing and whitewashing this moronic, performative bullshit.

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Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 4d

youtu.be/gKf7BifG68s?...

The Existential Dreadniks - More Than a Man | Song from a Rock Opera from the 70s

YouTube video by The Existential Dreadniks

youtu.be

Reposted by Byron Fenris

The Beatles Photos @thebeatlespix.bsky.social · 5d

George Harrison

the #Beatles

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Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 5d

Well, working with AI is also a skill that requires human effort, just not as much. But at that point you're splitting hairs. Your argument here is a "Moral Purity" argument, which has been used against every increase in technology in the arts, including CGI. I used to make it about synthesizers.

Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 5d

"Stolen" is a framing; common sense tells you that nothing is taken. The copyright holder suffers no loss. AI art is NOT a copy. It is a reconfiguration and combination of elements, exactly like what artists do when they are "influenced" by other artists. The only difference is type of process.

Reposted by Byron Fenris

Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 5d

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."

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Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 5d

The "it's lazy" argument is a similar canard. Why do CGI instead of practical? Why use green screen instead of filming that five-minute scene in the actual Alps? As a filmmaker you try to make the best film with the money and time you have. What you save in one area you can spend in another.

Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 5d

"Stolen" is how copyright holders are choosing to frame it but of course nothing is "stolen." The material is assimilated and reconstituted, which sounds frightening but that's what every artist does. "Influence." Without it, art stalls.

Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 5d

I made arguments to back my point; you do not offer counterarguments. Trying the condescension route (Zak did that too, right before blocking me so I couldn't respond, which means I win) shows that you don't actually have a counterpoint. I win again! *does jig

Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 5d

Example: Hip hop uses samples. Are hip-hop musicians not artists? It's content they didn't create. But obviously, they ARE artists. The sample is part of a different work of art (btw, it's "fair use" no matter what courts have decided).

Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 5d

Second, I mention that AI is a tool. I could argue that writing a prompt DOES make you an artist if you do so with artistic intent, I'll stick to the obvious. If you generate AI content within the context of an artistic work, yes, you are inarguably an artist. /

Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 5d

Just because you say "it's stolen" does not mean it's "stolen" no matter how much emphasis you put on the word. My analogy is valid, and, honestly, fairly obvious. If you read a book and then write your own in an imitation of the style, you didn't "steal" anything. /

Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 5d

Well, I'm enjoying myself. I hope other people are too. But I'll settle for "pissed off."

Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 5d

Not "stolen." AI is assimilates and recombines other work; you know, just like every artist does. It's called "influence." The method is different, the principle is the same. Now, theft, that's what Quentin Tarentino does. As to the question of "art," of course you can. AI is a tool.

Byron Fenris @byronfenris.bsky.social · 5d

Rich, successful people's opinions are worthless on this matter. "I would never use AI (because I will never need to)." Hungry artists are the valid meter here.