A Spiritual Guide to Frequenting the PMA
Written by avery self
The PMA Building
The University of Texas at Austin
Of all the buildings comprising the College of Natural Sciences at this university, perhaps no other is as controversial as the PMA. From an outsider's perspective, it is perhaps a large eyesore on the otherwise architecturally rich UT Austin campus. And yet (by some analogue of surface level trauma bonding?) many students of disciplines primarily housed within it swear by its homey feel and the sense of focus it instills. At the very least, it’s safe to say that it’s free of distractions.
If you’re like me, maybe it’s helpful to have a reminder that the year is now 2023. For convoluted philosophical discourses such as the debate of whether the PMA is inherently good or bad, we no longer have to resort to lengthy deliberation. With the ubiquity of ChatGPT in the academic sphere, we now find ourselves planted in the early stages of the Age of AI. So why not use the crown jewel in the arsenal of modern innovation to evaluate the dissenting claims made about the monstrosity on the corner of Dean Keaton and Speedway?
Let’s start by asking the all knowing entity ChatGPT to write a poem about it.
“Write me a poem about the PMA building at UT Austin”
Response:
“In the heart of Texas, in the bustling city of Austin
Stands a building tall and proud, its architecture awe-inspiring
With its concrete curves and sharp angles, the PMA is a sight to behold
A beacon of knowledge, a symbol of excellence, a wonder to unfold
Inside, its halls are lined with art, its rooms filled with books and learning
From ancient artifacts to modern masterpieces, the treasures are never-ending
Here, students and scholars gather, their minds eager and open
To explore the depths of human creativity, to unleash their imaginations unspoken
The PMA is a place of transformation, where ideas are born and dreams take flight
Where the past meets the present, and the future shines bright
With each step, with each breath, the PMA inspires and enlightens
A testament to the power of education, a tribute to the human spirit unbreakable and resilient
So let us honor this grand building, this marvel of human ingenuity and artistry
Let us cherish its legacy, its vision, its timeless beauty
For the PMA is more than a building, it's a symbol of hope and possibility
A place where we can dare to imagine, to create, to be all that we can be.”
Absolutely diabolical. Some words should never be used in the context of the PMA, “awe-inspiring” and “timeless beauty” are both first class examples. Personally I’ve never seen what could be described as “concrete curves” inside or outside the PMA, nor have I seen “halls lined with art” although I guess bending the rules enough research posters could fulfill that claim. But maybe I’m taking the wrong approach here?
Maybe this poem is meant to embody what the PMA should be, and not necessarily what it is. Maybe in its incomprehensible wisdom, ChatGPT has displayed the optimistic blueprint, dare I say, necessary to live a truly fruitful and happy life as a mere mortal. After all, hyperbolic conjecture of this nature is often what ends up driving innovation in the end, isn’t it?
But something is definitely missing here. A description of the human experience of the PMA would be incomplete without desolate suffering, and I’m curious if ChatGPT wields the depth to evaluate it in such a stance. I think it’s time for a new prompt:
“Write me a poem about the PMA building at UT Austin in a negative light”
Response:
“The PMA stands like a monolith, cold and uninviting
Its concrete walls and glass façade, unfeeling and unexciting
Within its halls, the air is stale, the light is dim and dreary
A place where hope and inspiration go to die, and joy becomes weary
The art within is lifeless, devoid of any real emotion
A sterile, soulless collection, without any real devotion
The books and knowledge held within are musty and outdated
A relic of a time long past, where progress is stagnated
The PMA is a monument to bureaucracy and rules
Where creativity is stifled, and imagination is for fools
A place where students come to wither, and dreams are left behind
A suffocating environment, where the spirit is confined
So let us beware of the PMA, this lifeless, empty shell
A place where the mind goes to die, and hope begins to quell
For in its halls, there is no life, no passion, and no fire
A building without a soul, where the spirit cannot aspire.”
After it first complained about having to write about negativity, ChatGPT delivered what might come in future decades to be known as its opus. Although some remarks, especially those about the advancements made by those within, are just hate without basis, the encapsulation of the emotional experience shared by so many is impressive.
Perhaps there is something deeper at play here. It’s human nature to resonate with negativity, as so much of our survival historically depended on the successful evaluation of threats to our security. In the words of Eckhart Tolle,
“Emotion arises at the place where mind and body meet. It is the body’s reaction to the mind - or you might say, a reflection of the mind in your body.”
What if the lesson ChatGPT seeks to teach here is that the discomfort we associate with the PMA is a confining structure we build for ourselves? To break free of that would be to reach a state of acceptance that the building is the way it is regardless, and the only domain where change is necessary lies within.
With this nugget of spiritual awareness made available to me by ChatGPT, I intend to live more presently in all that I do, and to extend empathy and love to every corner of the PMA that I can. I hope others who have read this feel inspired to do the same; ultimately all that we have is each other.