I really don’t like to use this space to rant about things that irritate the hell out of me. However, sometimes you just have to call out bullshit when you step in it.
When I got word that there is a new movie titled 1780 coming out, featuring Kevin Spacey in a tale set on the Revolutionary War-era Pennsylvania frontier, I was stoked. Wheelhouse, right? Kevin Spacey plays a trapper. Well, OK… The trapper looks like this:
Yep, a frontiersman in 1780 Pennsylvania stopped in a beach town trinket shop and picked up a nice leather hat for $60.
WTF? Why does this happen so often? Might as well just replace the props and costuming department with cheesy AI. Speaking of which…
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A reader alerted me to this piece by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons, addressing the suddenly viral tale of Ada Blackjack that has been making the rounds on social media. The story deserves attention — it’s a fantastic tale of Arctic survival. But it’s being promoted by very sketchy AI. Sketchy AI permeates the history-tube world — to our detriment. There’s no reason to do this, and it calls the underlying content into question.
Here’s the actual Ada Blackjack, with her actual rifle — a Krag-Jorgensen.
Craig Rullman says
Spacey uses that terrible hat as a grooming tool, along with a bag of candy, an Econoline van, a puppy, and promises of infinite wealth and stardom. And he calls these missions “Long Hunting”.
JimC says
Dude… things you can’t unsee.
Quixotic Mainer says
I was scrolling down to make a similar jibe, beat me to the draw!
Maybe that’s s new benediction; ” may you wear the hat you deserve”.
JimC says
That is heavier than it sounds.
Cooter Brown says
The Ada Blackjack story was worth it if for no other reason than to see Ian McCollum wearing an olive drab smoking jacket in a book filled office with a globe on a stand.
JimC says
That smoking jacket is some doin’s…
Paul McNamee says
Beyond history channels, I can’t stand how many YouTube videos are using AI for their thumbnail. In some cases, the video itself does not use AI, so why not just a still frame?
Stuff looks like garbage. I won’t click your video if you do that. I don’t actually know if you have AI in your video or not. But your AI sales pitch tells me all I need to know.
Joe says
One thing I learned quickly is AI image and video generation is VERY bad with guns, especially anything before the mid 20th century. For a laugh, try asking it to generate flintlocks, percussion, matchlocks, or even lever actions. It even seems to struggle with making Teddy Roosevelt with a realistic revolver, despite the numerous historic cartoons from the period to draw from.
I glanced at the 1780 trailer. Are those British caps supposed to be grenadier caps? The material in the trailer looks almost plastic, so that’s sadly another bad sign. Too bad! The overall concept looks interesting.
Fred Weaver says
Speaking of 1780 Pennsylvania, have you ever looked into the massacre of Capt. Phillips Rangers in Bedford County near present day Saxton? Fantastic story.
JimC says
That surely deserves a post.
BD says
1780 is the number of young male assistants who have accused of him sexual harassment on set