In modern society, technological innovations are doing wonders in every aspect of life. The YouTube community is using “artificial intelligence (AI)” to put colours in historical images. For instance, Shirayev’s YouTube channel uses different techniques (a mixture of “neural networks” and “algorithms”) to use colour in the black and white historical images. There are two schools of thought related to using this innovative technique to modify the historical images to 4K resolution. One school of thought is in favour of restoring and colourizing historical images and footage, and another school of thought is against this. This persuasive essay tends to explicate both sides of the argument and takes a stance in favour of using this technology to bring back the past to life.
The latest technology used to colourize these historical images has a massive impact on the viewers of the YouTube channel. As stated in the respective article, Shirayev uses this technique to “clean, repair, colourize, correct to 60 frames per second, and upscale the surviving historical films to vivid 4K resolution” in his YouTube channel. As asserted in the article, the YouTube community and people like Elizabeth Peck (Shirayev’s colleague), the conversion of the historical images to 4K resolution have made viewers feel as if they are living through the past again. The viewers and commenters of Shirayev’s YouTube channel feel this upscaling of historical images as if they are time-traveling through the past.
On the other hand, many historians and critics have opposed this technology of adding colour to black-and-white historical images. According to historians, upscaling and modernizing these historical images have elucidated various problems. While upscaling, these historical images have lost their originality and do not show the true colours of the past. According to the historical critic Emily Mark-FitzGerald, these 4K upscale images are not justified as the “window onto the past”. The colourization of these historical photographs gives a modern touch to them rather than bringing them to life in their original form. The number of extra frames added to the historical movies to make it smooth is also new. These historical images are tampered with, inaccurate, and improvised according to modern taste.
According to my point of view, these upscale images are more relatable and grasp our attention towards the story behind these historical images. As stated in the article, there is an immense difference between “restoration and enhancement”. Digital artists like Shirayev’s company “Neural Love and DeOldify” do not modify or change these photographs. They restored these old photographs using a restoration process and colourizing tools. As far as the accuracy of these colourized images is concerned, Neural Love claims that these photographs are not “historically accurate”. They have made “best guess estimation” while restoring and colourizing these historical archives.
The restoration and colourization of these historical collections (movies and photographs) have created a strong connection between the present and the past. However, historians are highly against this upscaling technique, complaining that the historical archives are losing their originality and significance. This process makes these historical archives more intense and relatable. It is more like an adaptation process of the old images. (Nast)
Works Cited
Nast, Condé. “YouTubers Are Upscaling the Past to 4K. Historians Want Them to Stop.” Wired UK. www.wired.co.uk, https://www.wired.co.uk/article/history-colourisation-controversy. Accessed 25 Nov. 2021.
Cite This Work
To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below:
