Generative models have provoked an ugly culture of proof-of-work among online fandoms. But as ugly as it may be, it is in many ways justified—and more to the point, it’s not going away soon. I discuss with reference to Zoe Scaman, Johannes Gutenberg and Marshall McLuhan.

Generative models have provoked an ugly culture of proof-of-work among online fandoms. But as ugly as it may be, it is in many ways justified—and more to the point, it’s not going away soon. I discuss with reference to Zoe Scaman, Johannes Gutenberg and Marshall McLuhan.