Insta-everything
I was just reading an article from Dance magazine about how Instagram is changing the dance world. They were saying that so many of the hyper- elastic, hyper- flexible dancers we see posting videos and pictures on Instagram are giving the dance world and many of it's younger dancers an unrealistic view into the dance world. Saying Instagram seems to be filled more with pictures and videos of dancers who can't actually dance, and that most are lacking technique. Filled with an endless array of one trick ponies. I am more than familiar with the kinds of photos they spoke about. I myself have sat in awe looking at some of those pictures thinking how the f*ck they'd do that. A body isn't suppose to blend that way, lol. The article goes on to say that the average/good is rarely celebrated!, and that extremes are what's held in high standers. Be it in dance, beauty or lifestyles.
It was just interesting reading an article that sums up the way I feel. Only for me my discontent is more directed at the art world. When I first started out peddling my art back in the early 2000's I wish I knew then what I know now. I never banked the internet/social media being what would rocket a person into success or in some cases, insta-fame! Back then I worked in mostly oil paint and walked my stuff around. Armed with a portfolio of my work. I walked everywhere from galleries to coffee houses. I stood on street corners hawking my art. I literally didn't know where to go to break in and make a name for myself. Though social media gave many that platform. I feel like it took away those encounters that helped build character and the feeling of once making it the ability to say, Damn the struggle was real! and actually mean it!
And for every window or door social media opens it creates new obstacles. I feel like as an artist there's a constant need to put out a new piece everyday or every other day. It feels like your feeding a tireless beast that never consumes enough! Making an artist afraid to be out of the public eye for even one second because your fans or followers may just move on to the next interesting thing or person. I've seen artist afraid to even take time away for illness or emotional well being. They will bring another artist/person to their page and have them manage it till they return. And it's sad as artist we see this and know it's the burden the internet puts on us. I have a friend who is a fairly well know artist and she was/still is sick and left her page dormant for a month. I went and suggested she start posting again. Even if it was stuff she'd already posted before. I told her the public is funny If you stay away for too long your fans will go elsewhere. I felt bad telling her that knowing she isn't well. She decided it was good advice and started posting again.
Annnnnnnnd then there's the endless online registration fees most of us have to pay just to have a chance at being a hopeful in a magazine. Some galleries even charge registration fees just to look at your stuff and have it considered. Makes one wish for the good old days of just walking your stuff around town. Some seem to be able to bypass all of that with just a few cool pictures on their Instagram wall it seems. We've all seen it, the artist that seemly comes out of nowhere making a big splash! And your thinking who the hell is this person!.
I don't think social media just changes the face of dance and art. It's crazy how it impacts the youth of this country and around the world. Everything is instaartist, instafamous, instaeverything! I'm still reminded of a book I read two years ago about how social media affects young girls. There was a passage in the book where the author recalls an interview Barbara Walters had with Kim Kardashian. Barbara Walters tells Kim ''You don't sing, you don't dance.'' She goes on to say ''You haven't any visible talents'' I forget what Kim's reply was. Something to the affect of wanting to be famous for the sake of being famous. And if you want it bad enough you can achieve it without any talent. I just remember reading it and thinking the mind wobbles.
So what's the solution! Some say it's to get rid of all social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and snapchat. Come on let get real!, that will never happen! It's like in the movies Heathers where Jason and Veronica kill the head of the Heathers clique and another girl just takes her place. That is exactly like these social media websites. Get rid of one and another will just come along to takes it's place.
Anyway that my two cents. Sorry this post is so short but I don't feel well and wanna wrap it up. Till next time -
It was just interesting reading an article that sums up the way I feel. Only for me my discontent is more directed at the art world. When I first started out peddling my art back in the early 2000's I wish I knew then what I know now. I never banked the internet/social media being what would rocket a person into success or in some cases, insta-fame! Back then I worked in mostly oil paint and walked my stuff around. Armed with a portfolio of my work. I walked everywhere from galleries to coffee houses. I stood on street corners hawking my art. I literally didn't know where to go to break in and make a name for myself. Though social media gave many that platform. I feel like it took away those encounters that helped build character and the feeling of once making it the ability to say, Damn the struggle was real! and actually mean it!
And for every window or door social media opens it creates new obstacles. I feel like as an artist there's a constant need to put out a new piece everyday or every other day. It feels like your feeding a tireless beast that never consumes enough! Making an artist afraid to be out of the public eye for even one second because your fans or followers may just move on to the next interesting thing or person. I've seen artist afraid to even take time away for illness or emotional well being. They will bring another artist/person to their page and have them manage it till they return. And it's sad as artist we see this and know it's the burden the internet puts on us. I have a friend who is a fairly well know artist and she was/still is sick and left her page dormant for a month. I went and suggested she start posting again. Even if it was stuff she'd already posted before. I told her the public is funny If you stay away for too long your fans will go elsewhere. I felt bad telling her that knowing she isn't well. She decided it was good advice and started posting again.
Annnnnnnnd then there's the endless online registration fees most of us have to pay just to have a chance at being a hopeful in a magazine. Some galleries even charge registration fees just to look at your stuff and have it considered. Makes one wish for the good old days of just walking your stuff around town. Some seem to be able to bypass all of that with just a few cool pictures on their Instagram wall it seems. We've all seen it, the artist that seemly comes out of nowhere making a big splash! And your thinking who the hell is this person!.
I don't think social media just changes the face of dance and art. It's crazy how it impacts the youth of this country and around the world. Everything is instaartist, instafamous, instaeverything! I'm still reminded of a book I read two years ago about how social media affects young girls. There was a passage in the book where the author recalls an interview Barbara Walters had with Kim Kardashian. Barbara Walters tells Kim ''You don't sing, you don't dance.'' She goes on to say ''You haven't any visible talents'' I forget what Kim's reply was. Something to the affect of wanting to be famous for the sake of being famous. And if you want it bad enough you can achieve it without any talent. I just remember reading it and thinking the mind wobbles.
So what's the solution! Some say it's to get rid of all social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and snapchat. Come on let get real!, that will never happen! It's like in the movies Heathers where Jason and Veronica kill the head of the Heathers clique and another girl just takes her place. That is exactly like these social media websites. Get rid of one and another will just come along to takes it's place.
Anyway that my two cents. Sorry this post is so short but I don't feel well and wanna wrap it up. Till next time -
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