Fascinating expose on the new creative industry. Perhaps the Internet isn't dead after all. And perhaps we haven't entered into a new, dark era of the corporatisation of the Internet1.
... It’s simply an attempt to shine light on a new paradigm for professional artistry.
We’re entering a new era in history: the space between “starving artist” and “rich and famous” is beginning to collapse. YouTube has signed up over a million partners (people who agree to run ads over their videos to make money from their content). The “creative class” is no longer emerging: it’s here, now.
We, the creative class, are finding ways to make a living making music, drawing webcomics, writing articles, coding games, recording podcasts. Most people don’t know our names or faces. We are not on magazine covers at the grocery store. We are not rich, and we are not famous.
We are the mom and pop corner store version of “the dream.” If Lady Gaga is McDonald’s, we’re Betty’s Diner. And we’re open 24/7.
We have not “made it.” We’re making it. -Jack Conte, Pomplamoose, an American indie band (Medium).
1. I seem to make the situation (the corporatisation of the Internet) sound so bad, but at the same time, it really isn't. Money in itself isn't a bad thing. It serves as an incentive, and it also allows individuals (who otherwise would be unable to focus on research, development, or general creativity overall) to do these things. It's just that... well, the overall 'culture' and mentality that drove communities and creations of that era seem unrecognisable to today. Perhaps I'll get used to it in time. ↩