In "Oryx and Crake," the character Crake warns that the emergence of art signifies a societal decline. He associates symbolic thinking with a series of negative developments, including the creation of idols, funerals, and complex social hierarchies leading to war and slavery. Crake believes these constructs will ultimately degrade humanity, marking the beginning of their downfall.

Snowman, the protagonist, reflects on this perspective, pondering the origins of human creativity and the drive to replicate reality, as seen in the example of how someone crafted a likeness of him from simple items. Although he is intrigued by these thoughts, he realizes that exploring these questions must be deferred for now, highlighting a tension between creativity and survival in a changed world.