Supporting artists in our materialistic society

[diela]

This discussion has been transferred from the "Zombie" thread.

I didn't actually read Cell, I listened to the audiobook (full, not abridged) when I went to Europe earlier this year.

Hollywood needs to get some original stories, and authors need to stop writing books so they translate straight into a script. The art of story telling has been lost by the Stephen Kings and Michael Crichtons of the world ... its now all about the movie rights and loses the plot and character development :(

Back on topic - anyone here work in a medical lab? We need to know where we can go for antidotes and research into a "cure".

Well unfortunately, book authorship pays about as well as being a singer/songwriter, and the publishing system has almost as many problems as the music industry. Basically, these days, if you aren't a King or Crighton or Koontz, no-one wants to sign you, because all they want are guaranteed best-sellers. Which means you have to go the self-publish route, and like musical artists, you could end up being more in debt than when you started.

My point relating to your comment is, these writers are trying to live while still doing what they love. They might have to sell out a bit to do that. And it's better to plan ahead, then have some hack come in later and try and adapt it for you.

NOBODY supports artists anymore, with a few exceptions. And by support, I don't just mean money. If you are starting out as an artist in any medium, you are looked down on as a lazy slacker, with no real ambition. Until you get your big "hit" or acclaimed masterpiece, then everyone wants a piece of you. I've been struggling in various art mediums since college, and you should hear the comments I get. Although my lack of success is probably due to my fickle nature, flitting from medium to medium when inspiration strikes, people who create art are a necessary, valuable part of our lives and our culture.

Otherwise we'd spend our days working, eating and sleeping. That's it. No TV, no radio, no books, no music... and say hello to bare walls, because that means no photographers or painters either.

There'd be no comic books or video games either, because you can't create a game these days without 3D modellers and skin artists.

Everyone soaks up and enjoys all this culture, mostly created by people who are starving in rat infested scum pit apartments. We should support artists more, because without them our lives would be UNBEARABLE.

My birthday is April 20th. I did an entire blog on my last birthday about how my birthdate had been coopted by tragedies, drug culture, and frikken Adolf Hitler. I decided then that on my birthday every year, I would choose an artist and support them as much as my meager funds allow.

How do you support the arts?

I would like to stay away from piracy issues in this thread, but they're probably inevitable. Let's try to stay away from it as much as possible?

[bird603568]

i go to thier shows and tell other people about them.

[divadawg9234]

YAY for this thread!!! Were you part of the conversation in #geekdrome yesterday about money = happiness? I too am in the arts... music and theatre and I make no money doing it (which is why I have a day job that I hate!)

SUPPORT THE ARTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[diela]

YAY for this thread!!! Were you part of the conversation in #geekdrome yesterday about money = happiness? I too am in the arts... music and theatre and I make no money doing it (which is why I have a day job that I hate!)

SUPPORT THE ARTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is an old rant of mine, but yes... I was there for that conversation.

I just get so mad at people sometimes, because they want to see movies and listen to music and go to the theater, they all DEMAND all this PRODUCT right NOW... but the people who create the product are lazy slackers? WTF?

If you keep putting down artists, soon there won't be any left. And what will your life be like then?

That's not directed at YOU Diva, obviously. I'm just saying...

[tokenuser]

Diela, I like were you took this ... not expected, but very cool.

If I had my way, I would be a full time stained glass window designer/artist, so I get your point. Reality is, that I have bills to pay, and had a wife to support through grad school (who now earns more than me - perhaps the time is right for me to go back to my artistic roots), so I focused on technology, and have had a successful career in that field.

Unfortunately in any art, there people that are really good at what they do, and get recognised early on, then there are others that have the passion, but are either ignored or only recognised late in their career or kidding themselves.

How do I support the arts?
I support local artists through my membership of the NC Museum of Art. This is twofold - they have exhibits for local artists which directly supports their work, and they also help educate people on art that wouldn't normally get to see the work of "masters". I used to also haunt the Getty in LA when I lived over there. I love architecture, and that was the perect blend of exhbit space and content.
Music? I rarely go see a live band these days. I live in a college town, and the music that appeals to that age group does nothing for me (more the "classic 80's/Aussie pub rock" type of guy). BUT, when I was home in Oz, I used to regularly go to local venues for bands/booze. Oh yeah - I don't own any pirated music (not to say that I haven't ripped tracks from CDs I own though). I know artists don't get much from music sales, but its a start.
Performance? Again, nothing really happening there. There was a time when I went to see Shakespeare on stage (Bell Shakespeare Company (http://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/) - awesome productions). These days it tends to be touring Broadway shows and Cirque Du Soleil (yeah, I am a Cirque addict).

The problem is, that all those groups I mentioned above are established artists in some way shape or form.

Back to authors. I buy books. I don't use a library. I also don't throw any books away. We have a spare room that we use as a library that is lined with shelves. So, like the idea of owning the music I listen to, I own the books I read. the authors at least get some royalties from the publication.

BUT, back to the point I was trying to make in the original thread, authors have become lazy. Rather than writing a book, and then adapting it to a screen play, they are taking the easy way out and writing a screenplay, and adapting it to a book.

For example, I loved Jurassic Park (I read it non stop - LA->Sydney). The character were developed, the plot was sound, it left a lot of periphery information up to your imagination. Fast forward to Jurassic Park: The Lost World, it had everything going for it ... but the plot was flat, the character development non existant. It read like a movie script.

Authors like King, Crichton, Koontz now make enough money just by lending their name to a lame movie based on one of their titles. I just wish they would now go back to writing great novels, instead of writing scripts. They have their fame and fortune, they should now leverage that to tell a great story that people will pick up in 100 years time and say, "wow - that was wicked cheese" (trust me, that will be a popular expression in 100 years time).

In 50-100 years time, I sincerely hope people pick up and read a copy of "Disclosure" rather than watch the Michael Douglas/Demi Moore movie that butchered the plot.

[sugarsickness]

I support the arts in, i think, the best way anyone can. I give my everything when I read or listen to music or appreciate a painting or photograph. I also give my everything when I contribute with my writing or my (Albeit bad) paintings or drawings. The most important thing is that people love what they love with all of themselves and contribute to what they love with all of themselves.

[divadawg9234]

That's not directed at YOU Diva, obviously. I'm just saying...
you're awesome!

[diela]

you're awesome!

Back atcha. How did your show go last night?

[divadawg9234]

Back atcha. How did your show go last night?
great! only 4 more to go *tear* and then on to the next...

[satori]

I guess I know why I missed this, but very cool thread. Yeah that IRC thing last night got me a little bummed out. I kept signing in to find it still going on, then signing out.
I'm lucky enough to have a fairly left leaning municipal government, and in a country that for the most part that the federal government that does the same. There is so much going on here and so much funding that it's rare you hear of problems putting on any kind of show. Where our city and our country falls down is our education system, especially for the arts. I don't know anyone is expected to raise their kids with a concept of technique in any method unless their parents are wealthy, or the parents are already adept in that technique.

[klitzy]

Well I havent read all of the posts here but I can say that I am in a pretty cool club called MOTA. Minds Of The Arts. We do monthly get togethers....Poetry readings, just a place for teens from all the local schools to get together and share art forms...Drawing, painting, writing, movies. It's pretty funny. For example, this month we are doing a BYOP where people bring a pumpkin and carve it. Not that artsy but something fun to do and halloween related. Anyway, yeah....I support all artists in any form whether painters to graphic designers.

[satansmagichat]

What's the best way to support artists? ****ING TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THEM! And I don't mean just your geek friends that are into that artist. I mean anyone that you think would be interested in them. I've been telling a friend of mine about geekdrome for months, and he didn't watch a show until this past one. Guess what? He liked it. I mean yeah, don't be annoying about it, but get the word out there byond your book groups and theater clubs.

Also, I never blame the artists for lack of originality. I'm smart enough to know where to find original stuff I'll like, but yeah, the way producers and publishers and record labels work completely negates artistic integrity.

[leeahd]

I pay my rent. :D
Most of my friends are into the same things I like and the ones that don't aren't going to get interested just because I tell them about it.

I don't download music illegally (though I will rip a CD from a friend if I can) I go to the movies and of course I buy comics.

Edit: P.S. Diela I agree with you 100%

[narco]

I used to sell my drawings and paintings a few years back but I stopped for many reasons. First, I only create my art for me. Like most (if not all) forms of art, most people do it because it makes them happy (if it's because you want to impress people or get laid, then it never comes out right), so it was really hard letting some stuff go -- even if it meant that I didn't have to worry about rent until next month.

Also, "getting paid to create art" sounds great and all, but when someone is funding a project, they usually have the final say in pretty much everything. I stopped painting for years because it really took a toll on me.

I've done graphic design as my day job for the past 10+ years because it pays well and it's still an art-related field. I still do my art on the side which I found to be better because it relieves stress from work and I don't have to answer to anyone.

But yes, best thing to do is spread the word about an artist.