Can we make them like we used to?

In a time where social media dominates our world, here's a take on the modern young artist.

image from Shuttershock.

It is to no surprise that I tell you life has become dominated by social media. Our interactions, the music we listen to based on our "FYP" likes, the art from your local influencer. The effects of this have culminated into what we see in mainstream entertainment today.

The modern young artist

They say art imitates life, and modern times are no exception to this. The types of lyrics we hear are a reflection of life as we experience it in this age. My issue with this is that most of our current voices are not making anything that changes the game anymore. Most songs feel devoid of depth or don't really offer a unique perspective. This is a complete reflection of how shallow our view has become through the lens of social media where everything is so curated that any semblance of human mediocrity becomes "refreshing". The modern young artist carries a perspective no different from that of the average person; they just have a team behind them. That's not to say there aren't still great artists (both known and unknown) out there producing original things, but the common mainstream artist has become someone who can be easily replicated or, worse, outdone.

image from Wixsite

The cost of chasing potential

There is a timeless quality music and art had, where they spoke about a topic in a unique way. Somewhere in between thoughtful and careless is where the magic happens, but it seems that the modern creative does not understand how to fully live there. There is also the issue of self-discovery in the time of social media. It has become increasingly difficult to have the "human experience" of finding yourself in a time where algorithms push certain ideas into a feed that is "made for you", affecting perspective.

The audience is hardly free of fault because mainstream success requires a cult following. I've seen too many instances of people praising something that is good enough in the search for the next big thing. It seems as though people are holding on to anything relatively good in hopes that it will become the next extraordinary work. As a result, we accept things that have "potential" as great. The problem here is that this should not be enough.

"Achievement is talent plus preparation." - Malcolm Gladwell

I am a strong advocate for realizing your goals, no matter how impossible they may seem, but understand that some sort of consistent effort needs to occur as well. The conversation about Emma Chamberlain's potential to become Anna Wintour's successor is unrealistic and undermines the years of dedication and professional development involved in becoming an editor-in-chief. I myself am a big fan of Ms. Chamberlain and her style, but we must remember that Anna Wintour went from high school to working in the Magazine industry. She was well-versed in the industry before even starting at Vogue. In Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers", he talks about how the Beatles used to perform at Pubs in England years before they rose to fame. Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalia is another artist who spent time developing her craft at the Catalonia College of Music. I mean, any biography about Michael Jackson, or even the new biopic film, can clue you into how much of his life he gave up to grow as a performer.

To dismiss the discipline it takes to create extraordinary work is a disservice to the quality of our creations. Mainstream used to be reserved for objectively grand acts, but now it leaves us waiting for something more.

image from Wixsite

In search of the next culture classic

To blame solely social media would not be a fair assessment because the lack of grandiosity in our celebrities began when reality TV became popular. At the time, it wasn't much of an issue because there was still some exclusivity in the rise to fame. The social media takeover, in combination with how we were already treating reality TV stars, really tipped the scales to what we're seeing now.

Ultimately, I do believe we can make them like we used to, possibly even better; we just need to gather a full picture of what's wrong and adjust accordingly.

First, we should learn to treat social media as a secondary thing. The older mainstream artist used to be a worldly person. They would travel across the country, fall in love, experience the culture, and paint, write, and incorporate what they connected with into their style. We should continue spending time learning about the culture, people-watching, and exploring new settings. Having our own views and experiences is a part of our self-actualization as human beings. This is when perspective can become unique: when you become YOU.

That's not to say there is no place for social media; we just have to discern when to indulge.

depicts Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs with the top level being self-actualization. To accomplish the things at the top, you need to have real human experiences.

Secondly, I propose adjusting our view of fame. Social media has been around long enough that now would be a good time to shift its role in the entertainment industry, perhaps by adding a subcategory, as opposed to just general fame, for people with the potential to be incredible. We, the audience, have a lot of sway over what occurs within the entertainment industry, so if we can come to a consensus, then I'm certain the industry will follow suit.

By creating distinct classifications, we can possibly give mainstream fame back to the timeless artist. It also helps us change our focus from relatability and potential alone to something far more exceptional. This is where I leave it to you: Do you think change is necessary to make them like we used to?