Online / Offline

Part One

In this chapter, we let ourselves leave the physical realm, rising above all that is tangible, and enter the digital world: the all-encompassing cloud. Juxtaposing the depictions of angels and their wings that we created long before a nonphysical space made by humans was even imaginable, with the way many of us now see new artwork of angels most- online. Through the weeds of Tumblr, Pinterest, and Instagram; we navigate this new world of meaning. What do wings mean in these spaces, and can that definition coexist with the one we have long held before?

Though the text that created angels never changes, the method of expression when representing them does, and rapidly. In many ways, the truth remains the same for birds. From the paintings of the Renaissance, and later dressing ourselves up in wings to stand in front of a lens with the invention of the camera, to now with the revolutionary, and often nonsensical images that we can generate by typing “wings” into AI: we have always found ways to communicate this fascination and obsession of angels. 

However, technology simplifies things, and what you find- over and over is that technology explains but cannot visually prove the difference between the wings of an angel and the wings of a bird. Our digital revolution, artificial intelligence, certainly does not. When prompting artificial intelligence with “bird wings” or “angel wings” the generator creates the same image, the same ten images, the same twenty.

And in the space of the internet, where nothing is sacred, can anything hold on to its meaning?

Part Two

History tells us that there is no difference between angel wings and bird wings, our eyes tell us the same. If the too clean, too white perfectly shaped angel wings feel too generic to believe they came from a dove, then take a look at Filippo Lippi’s “Annunciation;”  a piece from circa 1454 depicting an angel with the indisputable wings of a peacock. AI however, tells us they are not the same. AI cannot and will not compute that these things, of which we have assigned such different meanings, are one.

Isabella: 

What’s the difference between angel wings and bird wings?

Chat GPT:

1.⁠ ⁠*Origin and Nature*:

   - *Bird Wings*: These are real, biological structures found in birds, adapted for flight. They consist of bones, muscles, feathers, and other tissues. Bird wings are a product of millions of years of evolution and serve practical functions such as flying, gliding, and balance.

   - *Angel Wings*: These are mythical or symbolic wings often depicted in art, literature, and religious texts. They do not have a biological basis and are a product of human imagination and cultural symbolism. Angel wings are often associated with supernatural beings, such as angels, and are used to convey purity, divinity, and spiritual elevation.

2.⁠ ⁠*Appearance*:

   - *Bird Wings*: Typically vary in size, shape, and color depending on the species of bird. Bird wings are anatomically complex, with feathers arranged in a specific pattern for flight efficiency. They can be broad and rounded (as in owls) or long and pointed (as in falcons).

   - *Angel Wings*: Usually depicted as large, white, and feathered, irrespective of the artistic or cultural context. They often appear more uniform and stylized than bird wings, lacking the variation seen in nature. Angel wings are commonly portrayed as ethereal and glowing, emphasizing their divine origin.

3.⁠ ⁠*Symbolism*:

   - *Bird Wings*: Represent freedom, perspective, and the natural world. They are also symbols of migration and adaptability.

   - *Angel Wings*: Symbolize purity, protection, divine presence, and spiritual ascension. In various religious traditions, they represent messengers of God or higher beings.

In summary, bird wings are real, functional anatomical structures evolved for flight, while angel wings are symbolic, artistic representations associated with divine and spiritual themes.

[Chat GPT responded with the lengthy explanation above, an explanation that is almost certainly unnecessary to read, as it regurgitates back to us all that is already common sense, and yet, it still ends up missing the true response to our question. And so I ask why? Because isn’t that really what we want to know, if they’re of the same, if they are the same; then why is one sacred and one just the wings of a bird?]

Isabella (continued):

 Why

[To that, the future of technology, Chat GPT, responded: the exact same nonsensically uninformative text back to me, rephrased.]