Oh yeah! You have to agree with this I think. Artists, and at one
time, the media, are the mirrors of society and should be aggressive
and critical where needed. Thanks Jan.
Don
On 3/29/14, 10:53 AM, Jan Faul wrote:
BEING
LIKED
“The world’s most powerful investment bank is a great vampire
squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly
jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like
money.”
Those
are the words of Matt Taibbi, and although they may not be as
famous as the lyrics of a few rappers and Top Ten titans, they
proved a lot more powerful. They’re the ones that got the
government off its ass and holding the banking industry’s feet
to the fire.
Not
that anybody went to jail. Taibbi’s still pissed about that.
The
Millennials see life differently from the baby boomers. Being
a member of the group is much more important than sticking
out. As a result, too many young artists are looking to be
liked as opposed to significant. They check the data to see if
their message is resonating, and then keep doing their best
to be inoffensive.
But
the truth is artists have sacrificed their innate power, which
is to challenge power, via the truth of their message.
The
truth of their message today is that they want to be rich and
famous and climb out of the hole the rest of the godforsaken
underclass inhabits.
The
truth is, if you’re afraid to be hated, your art is going to
be worthless.
So…
Artists
blaze their own path, not one prescribed by the suit or what
came before.
Artists
know the power of their work is much more important than
marketing. Otherwise, Procter & Gamble would be in the
music business. Oh, that’s right, there’s not enough money in
it.
Artists
don’t apologize, they’re people of their convictions. Sure,
everybody can make a mistake. But if you’re making an artistic
choice, stand by it. Don’t double back once people start to
complain.
Artists
lead, not follow.
Artists
are tuning forks. Their goal is to create resonance in the
audience.
Artists
don’t bow to the whims of society. They stay the path,
changing only when it feels right inside.
Artists
have no trouble saying no.
Artists
make choices based on feelings,not spreadsheets.
Artists
don’t have other career options. This is all they can do. But
they know they’re not entitled to success, either monetary
compensation or public acclaim.
The
only thing more powerful than art is sex. And most people
can’t have sex on demand and can’t do it 24/7, but there are
people who listen to music all of their waking hours.
Art
sticks, commerce does not. Not that you do it to last. Artists
are so wrapped up in the moment, that the future is
unfathomable.
Artists
don’t have plans. Those are for corporations.
Artists
know that one production can not only change their fortune,
but the entire world.
Artists
know it’s not how you look, but what you sing and play.
Artists
are always learning.
Artists
are always questioning.
Artists
were not the popular ones in high school. And chances are
they’re not the popular ones today. Oh, everybody might know
their name, but they’re often socially awkward and unable to
fully integrate.
How
did we get so off track? How did the message get so muddled?
Blame
MTV, it put a lot more money into the music equation. And the
suits wanted more of it, so they took control from the
artists.
And
then income inequality left the creative class so far behind,
it didn’t even know it.
And
then the Internet removed all barriers to entry.
And
parents told their kids they were not only talented, but
deserving of an audience.
And
the end result is we’ve got a lot of me-too stuff that is
almost a parody of itself. Because we no longer have artists,
but wannabe business people.
If
you can’t say no to the corporation, if you can’t leave money
on the table, if you’ve got nothing to say…
Then
we’re not interested, not for long._Bob
Lefsetz_TheLefsetzLetter
Art Faul
The
Artist Formerly Known as Prints
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Camera
Works - The Washington Post
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