AI-powered Harry Potter Crew Is Casting A Spell On Balenciaga's Iconic Status
Lately, Avada Balenciaga is creating hypnotic ripples across the internet. The chiselled cheekbones of the reimagined Harry Potter squad, their unconventional dialogues and the surreal Balenciaga-inspired dream-like experience- all together are serving up some really dripping and fire content. Courtesy of demonflyingfox, the YouTube sensation, whose million-dollar-like AI art is bewitching fans like never before.
(Picture source: amp.knowyourmeme.com )
“I think it’s addicting to watch because of the backbeat being almost hypnotic in the pattern. Matched with the surreal look of the characters you can’t help but just stare," commented a fascinated viewer on this electrified mashup video of 'Harry Potter by Balenciaga' that went viral in a matter of a blink.
The video's popularity surged with lightning speed, compiling more than a staggering 5 million views in just three weeks, which soared to 7.3 million views just after a month. Garnering attention on TikTok, Twitter and where not? Even Elon Musk couldn't gulp the temptation and secretly dropped two little fire emojis on Twitter where @blisstweeting reshared this jaw-dropping content.
(Picture source: Twitter / @blisstweeting )
In the stated video, the Balenciaga Dumbledore dons a broad-brimmed leather hat and blacked-out round sunglasses and says, "To the well-organised mind, Balenciaga is but the next great adventure". Subtly, delivering a clever twist to his original line- "To the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure".
Everything about this classic masterpiece meme is so upbeat and perfect, the pulsating techno beats, the impeccable and refined facial features, the dark dress code, the mysterious gazes and the subtle blinks of the eyes. All are calling the audience into the unknown abyss and depths of an enigmatic world- The Balenciaga Dreamscape.
Meme made the brand walk on thin ice
No doubt the people are extremely hooked on this exclusive AI material, more than they should and watching it repeatedly on a loop, more than Deminflyingfox could initially think of. However, Balenciaga seems to be taking it all in stride, sporting a sly grin while enduring it all between its gritted teeth.
The use of Balenciaga's copyrighted and creative property in memes is not simply a humorous matter. It could potentially harm the brand's carefully articulated aesthetic and maintained image, which has taken years to establish. Any brand would be hesitant to have its reputation turned into a meme, and Balenciaga is no exception.
(Picture source: marketech-apac.com )
“Otherwise, any luxury brand’s intellectual property becomes a bit like a generic Lego piece, able to be placed wherever anyone wants in the digital world", emphasised Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, "That’s not ok. It can redefine and damage your brand equity".
Furthermore, using a brand name without proper authorization or approval may result in a breach of trademark laws, while also taking away the unique charm that was never intended to be a subject of mockery.
Considering the gravity of the matter, it begs the question as to why Balenciaga has maintained silence for more than a month and has not yet taken any concrete action.
According to IIPRD, "Memes are typically protected by the fair use doctrine. However, while creating memes for fun is OK, if they are used for commercial or promotional purposes, proper consents and licences from the copyright owners should be sought to avoid legal repercussions".
Considering that memes are commonly recognized as a mode of cultural articulation and societal critique, Balenciaga may encounter adverse consequences such as detrimental publicity and backlash from individuals who appreciate these memes, thus impinging on the brand's support if they choose to pursue legal action.
This puts the brand in a precarious position, as any action taken may generate negative sentiment among individuals who not only marked the meme as a milestone in the generation of AI art but also view it as a potential official advertisement for the brand.
However, all publicity is good publicity. One can see how both Potterheads X Balenciaga fans are enjoying and feeling the series and brand more than ever. They are excited about the prospect of a whole new high-fashion Harry Potter series, while also getting a Balenciaga item to set the drizzling vibe.
"I'm a person who doesn't give a damn about fashion and felt quite nihilistic about it. But now…now I need it. I want to be Balenciaga", commented a new Balenciaga buff.
(Source: From the active comment section of the video)
People are going crazy around this and it's smitten how this has truly introduced the brand to a new generation and given it a new identity in the pop-culture realm.
"The brand should use the Harry Potter meme as inspiration for its campaign to celebrate, rather than denigrate the brand. Use the gist of this meme and create your videos on various subjects that reinforce the values of the Balenciaga brand and build on the momentum, advised Dr Olbert, "It can serve as a great vehicle for Balenciaga to get back into the limelight after a dark stint that harmed its image and reputation. Use it to your advantage and create your campaign".
Exemplary luxury brands must epitomise aspiration and adeptly transform setbacks into opportunities. In today's world, where expectations are high and artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing, swift innovation is paramount.
The future belongs to AI but with humans
AI is undoubtedly poised to dominate the future, with its uncanny ability to entertain and captivate audiences. Its algorithms are powerful and capable of going viral. However, despite the impressive contributions of AI-generated content, human creativity remains irreplaceable.
This compelling video was created using a combination of Midjourney, ElevenLabs and ChatGPT-generated images, voices and text-to-speech. While the result was remarkable, it was ultimately a human being sitting behind the screen who facilitated the incredible content creation.
In a world where we fret about Artificial Intelligence stealing originality, this video is cementing its status as a bona fide cult classic of AI-generated content that proves everything can be worthy and capable, it just depends upon our ability to employ it creatively.
And as Voldemort said, "There is no good or evil, there is only power and those who are too weak to seek it". AI art can be the power. But we must be creative and strong enough to utilise it.
