Madame Pandora
Deliciously Aware of Impending Sins
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2000
- Posts
- 1,627
I have a problem with the term "selling out." It just bugs me.
In today's world, money is a survival element. And, yes, as with ANYTHING, excess of money can be detrimental to the individual soul.
But, why is there such a stigma about using our talents for money? They are stills within us - skills which we can use for survival as certainly as we can use them as food for a fragile artists’ egos, or for the enrichment of our art forms.
Recently, a pal of mine was growling about "selling out." The irony being that he'd come up with a pretty nifty idea, and a somewhat creative marketing tool to enhance his business. I thought it was pretty friggin' interesting.
I bet the other cavemen never turned to the guy who brought in the mammoth steaks and said "You've sold out, Oog." It was just survival.
When someone is creative and talented, I think they forget that, although something may not SEEM creative to them, it is still creative to others. I have very talented friends in many industries, and one will draw something that blows me away, but when I compliment them, they’ll say “It’s just crap. I drew it just to sell it.” The same with my musician friends. They forget even their “crap” is pretty fucking cool, because they hold themselves to a higher standard.
I hear critics all the time say "Stephen King is such a sell-out. He has so much more talent and he wastes it pandering to the masses."
What's wrong with catering to an audience? I don't get it.
Maybe it's just my personal philosophy, but I have certain things I write to a target audience and certain things I write just for me. And, if no one likes the things I write just for me - that's okay. It's MY art. I have the targeted material to try and pound out a living with.
I don't think "selling out" is such a terrible thing. I mean, I understand the hesitation, but for it to be so scorned doesn't add up.
Then again, I don't have to compromise much of myself in any form...so maybe I'm missing the point.
MP
In today's world, money is a survival element. And, yes, as with ANYTHING, excess of money can be detrimental to the individual soul.
But, why is there such a stigma about using our talents for money? They are stills within us - skills which we can use for survival as certainly as we can use them as food for a fragile artists’ egos, or for the enrichment of our art forms.
Recently, a pal of mine was growling about "selling out." The irony being that he'd come up with a pretty nifty idea, and a somewhat creative marketing tool to enhance his business. I thought it was pretty friggin' interesting.
I bet the other cavemen never turned to the guy who brought in the mammoth steaks and said "You've sold out, Oog." It was just survival.
When someone is creative and talented, I think they forget that, although something may not SEEM creative to them, it is still creative to others. I have very talented friends in many industries, and one will draw something that blows me away, but when I compliment them, they’ll say “It’s just crap. I drew it just to sell it.” The same with my musician friends. They forget even their “crap” is pretty fucking cool, because they hold themselves to a higher standard.
I hear critics all the time say "Stephen King is such a sell-out. He has so much more talent and he wastes it pandering to the masses."
What's wrong with catering to an audience? I don't get it.
Maybe it's just my personal philosophy, but I have certain things I write to a target audience and certain things I write just for me. And, if no one likes the things I write just for me - that's okay. It's MY art. I have the targeted material to try and pound out a living with.
I don't think "selling out" is such a terrible thing. I mean, I understand the hesitation, but for it to be so scorned doesn't add up.
Then again, I don't have to compromise much of myself in any form...so maybe I'm missing the point.
MP
