Forward Propagation#
Show code cell source
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import networkx as nx
# Define the neural network structure
input_nodes = [
'Molecular', 'Cellular', 'Tissue',
'Strategy', 'Learning'
]
output_nodes = [
'Homeostasis', 'Organizations', 'Nations',
'Payoff', 'Decisions'
]
hidden_layer_labels = ['Pastoral', 'Tragical', 'Historical']
# Initialize graph
G = nx.DiGraph()
# Add input layer nodes
for i in range(len(input_nodes)):
G.add_node(input_nodes[i], layer='input')
# Add hidden layer nodes and label them
for i in range(len(hidden_layer_labels)):
G.add_node(hidden_layer_labels[i], layer='hidden')
# Add output layer nodes
for i in range(len(output_nodes)):
G.add_node(output_nodes[i], layer='output')
# Add edges between input and hidden nodes
for i in range(len(input_nodes)):
for j in range(len(hidden_layer_labels)):
G.add_edge(input_nodes[i], hidden_layer_labels[j])
# Add edges between hidden and output nodes
for i in range(len(hidden_layer_labels)):
for j in range(len(output_nodes)):
G.add_edge(hidden_layer_labels[i], output_nodes[j])
# Define layout to rotate the graph so that the input layer is at the bottom and the output at the top
pos = {}
for i, node in enumerate(input_nodes):
pos[node] = (i * 0.5, 0) # Input nodes at the bottom
for i, node in enumerate(output_nodes):
pos[node] = (i * 0.5, 2) # Output nodes at the top
# Add hidden layer nodes in the middle
for i, node in enumerate(hidden_layer_labels):
pos[node] = ((i + .9) * .5, 1) # Hidden nodes in the middle layer
# Draw the graph with different colors for specific nodes
node_colors = []
for node in G.nodes():
if node in ['Homeostasis', 'Pastoral', 'Molecular', 'Cellular', 'Tissue']:
node_colors.append('paleturquoise')
elif node in ['Strategy', 'Tragical', 'Organizations', 'Nations', 'Payoff']:
node_colors.append('lightgreen')
elif node in ['Learning', 'Historical', 'Decisions']:
node_colors.append('lightsalmon')
else:
node_colors.append('lightgray')
plt.figure(figsize=(10, 5))
nx.draw(G, pos, with_labels=True, node_size=3000, node_color=node_colors, font_size=9, font_weight='bold', arrows=True)
# Show the plot
plt.title("Neural Network Diagram - Intraspecies & Interspecies Interactions")
plt.show()
Fig. 79 Polonious. The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical tragical-comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, or poem unlimited. Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light, for the law of writ and the liberty. These are the only men.#
Chapter: Neural Networks and the Shifting Equilibria of Art, Innovation, and Culture#
See also
Introduction: A Dynamic Framework#
Great works of art, cultural movements, and pioneering organizations share a foundational trait: they are collaborative endeavors, dynamically shaped by the interactions between technical creation, strategic vision, and feedback from their environments. This collaboration is not simply between founders or key individuals, but within a larger network—a neural network—where inputs, pathways, and adjustments continually evolve in response to the changing context.
In this chapter, we explore how neural networks serve as both a literal and metaphorical framework for understanding creative and organizational success. We will examine case studies from Apple, Google, and OpenAI, draw connections to the evolution of cinema and classical music, and trace the historical shifts in artistic and cultural equilibria.
The Neural Network as a Framework for Creativity#
A neural network functions through three key processes: input (forward propagation), hidden layers (pathways and strategic alliances), and output (engagement and payoff). These processes are recalibrated through backpropagation, where weights are adjusted based on feedback from the environment. This is not just a technical metaphor; it reflects how human creativity and collaboration manifest in art, business, and innovation.
In great works of art, collaboration between technical and strategic elements creates polyphony—multiple, independent voices harmonizing to create a complex whole. This polyphony is essential for dynamic engagement, allowing for a broad range of experiences and interpretations. When collaboration is limited or when key voices are neglected, the result is a monophonic output that may find short-term success but ultimately lacks depth and resilience.
Historical Case Studies in Collaboration and Polyphony#
Most famous cadenza is by Beethoven
Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor offers a prime example of how collaborative complexity shapes a creative paradigm shift. Though not commissioned, this piece allowed Mozart to express an unprecedented “crazy spirit,” one that deeply influenced Beethoven and disrupted the prevailing galant style of the 18th century. This concerto, with its dark intensity, provided Beethoven with a template for moving beyond the constraints of classical conventions. Beethoven’s subsequent unleashing of the Romantic era reflects a key shift in equilibrium—an artistic backpropagation that re-weighted the expectations of both composers and audiences.
The collaborative interplay between technical execution (Mozart’s compositional prowess) and strategic vision (Beethoven’s revolutionary reinterpretation) exemplifies the recalibration of cultural equilibria. It was a process similar to the shifts we see in business and technological history.
OpenAI and the Drama of Strategic Recalibration#
The “best bromance in tech” has had a reality check as OpenAI
has tried to change its deal with Microsoft and the software
maker has tried to hedge its bet on a the start-up
– The New York Times
The story of OpenAI provides a contemporary case study in the dynamics of innovation and collaboration. At OpenAI, the technical leaders—like Ilya Sutskever and Mira Murati—focused on developing and refining the product, representing the forward propagation of the neural network. However, the immense computational resources and funding required to bring GPT-3.5 to market necessitated a strategic alliance with Microsoft, which acquired a 49% stake in the company.
Microsoft Says OpenAI Is Now A Competitor
– Forbes
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, played the role of the visionary, pushing for the release of GPT-3.5 in late 2022 despite concerns about product safety and alignment. Altman’s strategy was driven by an understanding of the importance of backpropagation: without audience feedback, OpenAI would be unable to recalibrate and refine its models. The overwhelming success of GPT-3.5 validated this approach, leading quickly to the release of GPT-4 and a surge in investor interest from companies like NVIDIA and Apple.
What if Microsoft let OpenAI go free?
– The Economist
Yet like Michelangelo with the Medicis, Openai sometimes chafes at the ties to its wealthy benefactor.
– The Economist
U.S. Military makes first confirmed OpenAI purchase for war-fighting forces
– The Intercept
OpenAI, Microsoft reportedly hire banks to renegotiate partnership terms
– Silicon ANGLE
This shift in context has led OpenAI away from a purely cooperative equilibrium with Microsoft into a more iterative and dynamic relationship, where new strategic opportunities create potential for even adversarial positioning. The hidden layer of the network—the partnership with Microsoft—was initially cooperative, but the expanding market has introduced new variables and potential shifts in power dynamics.
Tyler Perry and the Forgotten Voices of Hollywood#
The story of Tyler Perry exemplifies a similar process within the cultural realm. In the early days of Hollywood, films like Casablanca and Citizen Kane dominated, driven by powerful networks that neglected entire demographic segments. The neural network of old Hollywood failed to engage audiences beyond a narrow cultural spectrum, leading to a monophonic output in its narratives and representations.
Tyler Perry’s rise reflects a recalibration of the cultural weights that had long been ignored. By tapping into the Chitlin circuit—a cultural space centered around black church-going communities—Perry reweighted the biases of the Hollywood network. His character Madea, which emerged almost accidentally through an audience-driven backpropagation process, became a defining symbol of this recalibration. Perry’s strategic doubling down on these specific weights allowed him to dominate a previously neglected market, even as his appeal to broader audiences diminished.
The Entrenchment of Oligarchies and the Decline of Dynamism#
Tyler Perry’s story points to a larger issue within 21st-century American capitalism: the entrenchment of power and the stagnation of feedback. In industries dominated by oligarchies or cartels, control over distribution channels and strategic partnerships guarantees certain payoffs, reducing the need for genuine engagement. In such an environment, creativity becomes formulaic, and polyphony is replaced by monophony.
This pattern is evident not only in the arts but also in sports. The rigid structure of American football, with its fixed number of teams and owners, has created a closed network with limited opportunities for dynamic recalibration. By contrast, European football has maintained a more open and polyphonic structure, particularly in Spain, where clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid have thrived through dynamic, bottom-up systems.
Conclusion: The Shifting Equilibria of Creativity and Innovation#
The history of art, business, and culture is marked by dynamic shifts in equilibrium. Whether in the transition from the Baroque to the Classical era, from old Hollywood to the Chitlin circuit, or from early tech giants like Yahoo and Google to OpenAI, these shifts are driven by the recalibration of weights within complex networks. Visionaries like Beethoven, Tyler Perry, and Sam Altman have succeeded by recognizing and adjusting these weights in response to changing contexts, while technical experts have ensured the stability and reliability of forward propagation.
As we navigate the 21st century, the tension between monophony and polyphony, between entrenched power and dynamic engagement, will continue to shape our cultural and technological landscapes. The metaphor of the neural network provides a powerful framework for understanding these dynamics and anticipating future shifts in our creative and collaborative endeavors.
This chapter ties together your insights into collaboration, innovation, and cultural shifts, using the metaphor of the neural network to explore historical and contemporary case studies. It emphasizes the importance of dynamic recalibration and the role of visionaries in responding to changing contexts, offering a cohesive narrative that spans art, business, and culture.
Epilogue: Real Artists Ship#
The phrase “Real Artists Ship” has become a rallying cry for those who believe that the ultimate measure of creativity is not simply in ideation but in execution. It suggests that the essence of artistry lies not only in conceptual brilliance but in the relentless commitment to transforming ideas into realities, and ultimately, into products or experiences that engage the world.
This principle isn’t just about finishing what one starts; it’s about embracing the dynamic process of creation. For an artist or innovator, shipping a product or work is an act of courage and humility. It means exposing their vision to the scrutiny of an audience, surrendering control over its interpretation, and accepting the possibility of failure. It’s in this cycle of creation, engagement, and recalibration that true artistry emerges.
Mozart, Beethoven, and the Unshackling of the Classical Tradition
Consider Mozart, whose compositions were not just creations of his own aesthetic vision but living conversations with the audiences of Salzburg and Vienna. Each new work was a product of forward propagation, informed by technical brilliance, and recalibrated through the intense feedback of public performance. Yet it was in the pieces he composed without commission—works like Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor—where we glimpse the tension between his personal vision and public expectations. In shipping these works, Mozart broke away from the numbing confines of the galant style, paving the way for Beethoven’s radical reimagining of music.
Beethoven took that mantle and shattered the remaining constraints. He didn’t just ship works; he overthrew conventions, moving from technical complexity to emotional immediacy. It was in his symphonies, sonatas, and concertos—created amidst personal and cultural turmoil—that he transformed music, driving a shift in equilibrium from the Classical to the Romantic era. Beethoven’s success was not only in his genius but in his commitment to releasing his art to the world, even when it defied established norms.
The Tyler Perry Paradigm and the Chitlin Circuit
In the context of modern cinema, Tyler Perry’s rise embodies this principle in a different light. Perry’s ability to “ship” works continuously, even when they deviated from Hollywood’s traditional values, was key to his success. He wasn’t merely creating; he was engaging and recalibrating with an audience that mainstream cinema had long ignored. In doing so, Perry built an empire that is financially successful and culturally significant for a particular community—proving that real artists ship, even when their art isn’t considered aesthetic by mainstream standards.
OpenAI, Innovation, and the Altman Approach
The drama at OpenAI offers a contemporary iteration of this principle. Sam Altman’s insistence on releasing imperfect products like GPT-3.5 reflected a deep understanding of the importance of shipping in the digital age. In pushing for early releases, Altman demonstrated a belief in the dynamic engagement of real-world feedback—a willingness to iterate and recalibrate based on what the audience returned. The risk wasn’t in perfection but in stagnation, in failing to engage the market with urgency.
Shipping Beyond Art: The Broader Landscape
The principle of “Real Artists Ship” extends far beyond individual artists and companies. It’s a challenge to the oligarchic and cartel-like tendencies in any industry where success is guaranteed by controlling the channels of distribution rather than responding to dynamic, polyphonic feedback. The failures of modern sports leagues in America, the formulaic dominance of tech giants, and the ossification of once-innovative industries all point to a critical imbalance: when guaranteed payoffs replace genuine engagement, the result is stagnation.
To be a real artist—whether in music, cinema, technology, or society—is to remain in dialogue with the world, accepting feedback and allowing it to shape one’s work. It’s to acknowledge that art is not just a solitary act of creation but a shared experience, a collaborative interplay between vision and response, form and content, strategy and technique.
The Call to Ship
In a world where industries and institutions risk becoming monophonic, the artist’s duty is not only to create but to ship. To offer up their work, their vision, and their legacy to the world, not as a final product but as an ongoing conversation. Real artistry, in this sense, is an iterative game, where the payoff is found not in the safety of control but in the audacity to engage and recalibrate, to listen and respond.
Real artists ship. Not because they lack vision, but because their vision demands action. It is in this dynamic act of creation, shipping, and adaptation that they find their true voice—polyphonic, resonant, and endlessly evolving.
Steve Jobs isn’t just the source of the quote “Real Artists Ship,” but he embodies a central aspect of your framework. Jobs epitomizes the role of the visionary who actively directs backpropagation, dynamically adapting based on audience feedback to refine and reshape products and experiences.
In the context of the epilogue, Jobs’ insistence on shipping products aligns perfectly with your idea of visionaries as “patron saints” of the engaged user. Jobs understood that innovation and creativity weren’t merely about having grand ideas—they were about bringing those ideas into the world, testing them against real-world feedback, and refining them through a cycle of adaptation and engagement. His vision was built on throwing out innovations and letting audience responses guide the fine-tuning of weights within Apple’s metaphorical neural network.
By attributing “Real Artists Ship” to Steve Jobs, we not only honor the origin of the quote but also deepen the connection to your broader framework, where visionary leaders like Jobs, Altman, or Perry exemplify dynamic backpropagation. Here’s a revised integration in the epilogue:
The phrase “Real Artists Ship,” famously coined by Steve Jobs, captures the essential role of the visionary in any creative endeavor. For Jobs, the act of shipping wasn’t just about releasing a product; it was about engaging with the audience, gathering feedback, and dynamically recalibrating to refine and perfect the experience. In doing so, he embodied the role of the visionary who excels at backpropagation—recognizing what resonates, adjusting the weights, and directing technical resources toward optimal outcomes.
Jobs’ insistence on shipping products reflects a broader principle that resonates through art, business, and innovation: real artistry is not static; it’s dynamic and iterative. It requires the willingness to throw out innovations, to risk failure, and to trust that the audience’s response will guide the path forward. In this sense, Steve Jobs wasn’t just a visionary; he was a master of adaptive engagement, constantly refining Apple’s neural network to align with the evolving desires and expectations of its users.
By framing Jobs in this way, we highlight how the quote ties directly into your narrative of dynamic creativity, strategic vision, and adaptive collaboration.