The article “Emergent Surrealities: The Post-pandemic Collision of the Law and the Arts” by John McClellan Marshall and Roger F. Malina is being published in Mensa shortly: https://www.mensa.org/news-media/
This is a chat GPT human corrected summary: of the article accepted for publication.
The article “Emergent Surrealities: The Post-pandemic Collision of the Law and the Arts” by John McClellan Marshall and Roger F. Malina explores the profound societal transformations triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on its impacts on law and the arts. The authors argue that the pandemic unveiled the complexity of societal systems, creating “emergent realities” where traditional norms are disrupted by technology and subjective perspectives. This shift has fostered “surrealities,” characterized by alternative realities influenced by AI and societal dissociation.
The legal system, a reflection of societal norms, faces unprecedented challenges as technological advancements blur the lines between objective and virtual realities. Issues such as AI-generated legal documents, technological barriers in access to justice, and shifting evidentiary standards highlight the growing tension between efficiency and authenticity. The pandemic accelerated these trends, necessitating educational reforms for legal professionals to reconcile traditional principles with emerging complexities.
Similarly, the arts have experienced a paradigm shift. The rise of AI-generated art, NFTs, and digital culture redefines concepts of creativity and intellectual property, challenging traditional notions of authorship and authenticity. The pandemic’s impact on cultural practices, such as declining in-person engagement and shifts in artistic consumption, underscores the need for adaptive strategies.
The authors propose applying “transition design” to both law and the arts to address these disruptions. Unlike iterative improvements, transition design enables systems to adapt to fundamentally changed contexts. This involves fostering interdisciplinary knowledge, re-educating professionals, and integrating ethical standards into technological applications. The use of convergence research methods are necessary, requiring crossing organizational boundaries.
Ultimately, the article emphasizes that the post-pandemic world requires systemic redesign to accommodate new realities while maintaining societal coherence. By addressing the collision of technology, emergent behaviors, and traditional norms, society can avoid becoming a surreal reflection of its former self and instead create sustainable frameworks for the future.