How selfies are being turned into an ever-changing digital portrait of the British people

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Category: Technology/Innovations

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. selfie / ˈsɛl fi / (n.) – a photo that someone takes of themselves, usually with a phone or camera
    Example:

    She posted a selfie from her vacation on her social media page.


  2. collective / kəˈlɛk tɪv / (adj.) – shared or done by a group of people together
    Example:

    The team made a collective decision to change the schedule.


  3. patriotism / ˈpeɪ tri əˌtɪz əm / (n.) – love for and pride in one’s country
    Example:

    The holiday celebration showed a strong sense of patriotism.


  4. appropriate / əˈproʊ pri ɪt / (v.) – to take something for your own use, often without permission
    Example:

    The manager said he appropriated company money for personal use.


  5. indisputable / ˌɪn dɪˈspyu tə bəl / (adj.) – clearly true and impossible to disagree with
    Example:

    There is indisputable evidence that the climate is changing.


Article

Read the text below.

An ever-changing, AI-powered portrait of British adults has been launched in the U.K. People can submit selfies, which are turned into digital pictures as part of one collective artwork.


It’s called ‘A National Portrait,’ and it invites adults in the U.K. to take photographs that are transformed using Google’s AI technology. The finished sketches can be submitted to The National Portrait Gallery, which is turning them into one, ever-changing piece of art.


The artist behind the idea is Es Devlin. “It is a continually redrawing self-portrait, so everybody who joins it will cause the drawing to redraw itself, and it is a reimagining of what national identity could feel like. It frames national identity as a continuous act of collective imagination, collective authorship. We are all present in this portrait together, and we merge from one to the next,” she says.


The U.K. has become increasingly politically fragmented. Devlin wants British people to feel more united. “Patriotism is something that’s, I think, been appropriated by the forces of division and separation. And actually, patriotism doesn’t need to mean that. Patriotism could mean that we’re all together in one place on the planet, whatever it says in our passport, what’s indisputable is we are here, and we can all be together in portrait. And I think there are so many forces at work at the moment that fragment us, that distract us, separate us, that serve to remind us that we’re separate and isolated and individual. But of course, technically we are all continuous with one another and with this planet,” she says.


All adults in the U.K. are able to submit their digital portraits to the project. Each picture will appear for a matter of seconds before changing into the next. They can remove their finished picture from the initiative at any time.


The technology behind the project is a collaboration between Devlin and Google Arts & Culture. The online platform has worked with Devlin to develop an AI model that replicates her style.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Es Devlin mentioned that patriotism means people could be together in one place on the planet, whatever it says in our passports. Do you think joining a national portrait initiative is a way to show patriotism? Why or why not? Would you join a similar initiative if it were done in your own country? Discuss.
  • What does patriotism mean to you? When do you feel or see it (ex. at major sporting events like the Olympics, or cultural events like the tea ceremony)? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The project tries to create one portrait representing adults across the U.K. Do you think any artwork can truly represent an entire country fairly? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • If your country created a similar project aimed at uniting people who are isolated, what kinds of people or lifestyles should definitely be included, and why (ex. children to symbolize hope for the future, online creators connecting with the world from their rooms)? Discuss.