Whether it's the case of art or memes, people imitate life because it's all they know, says Swain. "Even the most surreal, abstract work is still rooted in someone’s perception, emotions, or subconscious experience. Can we create without pulling from our experiences? Technically, sure. But it would probably feel hollow, like AI-generated art that looks nice but has no real soul behind it. The best art resonates because it reflects something true, whether that’s personal, cultural, or universal."
Meanwhile, Jung says, "I think people imitate life in order to draw a closer connection to it. It is a big world out there and people want to be a part of the conversation and possibly make their small mark on society. Their 15 minutes of fame."
She also agrees that we can create without including our experiences in our works, but it would lack depth, meaning, and layers, which make up a higher-quality creation. "For example, something really hitting the universal mark, rather than falling flat due to lack of experiential understanding."
