I got this link from the Copyright Alliance today and I totally agree with the post’s author. The video referenced is crap and scary crap at that. But I feel like we keep missing a fundamental part of why it is crap.
Here’s what I don’t get about these arguments of abundance in creativity and the pricing model: there is no abundance of good creative work. Sure, there is an abundance of photography and music and writing and art, but most of it is, frankly, shit.
In my opinion, there is abundance in the creative industries in the same way there is abundance in people who drive–there are billions of car drivers and just about anyone can do it–but how many people do it particularly well? I don’t just mean I drive better than you do, Mr. I-go-55-in-the-fast-lane-man (and there seem to be a lot of his crappy driving bretheren out there). No, I mean, how many professional race car drivers are there? Not very many…and they are highly valued.
Real creative professionals (in whatever discipline) are race car drivers. They can do things very few others can. Their skills are extremely specialized and what they do is, simply put, not of the same quality as what regular people do.
The media, the tech companies which control the discourse on this subject within the media, have convinced us that your creative work is the same as anyone who tries to make something of the same media. Your photography is the same as mine (I am NOT a photographer but I take pictures). That’s like me saying I’m just like Mario Andretti or Michael Schumacher because I know how to drive a stick-shift and don’t completely suck at it.
Bullshit.
You let them define you as less than you are every time you let them call you a “content provider” rather than by your proper title. You are a Photographer or an Illustrator or an Artist or a Writer (etc.). You CREATE. There are damn few people on this planet who actually create and create well. How dare you accept their belittling bullshit about who you are and the “abundance” of what you do.
You, creative professional, are scarce and of high value. You are a race car driver. Don’t let them bully you into thinking otherwise.
*applause*
Well said!
*continued applause*
The key phrase in this post is “Don’t let them bully…” All too often, creatives allow themselves to be bullied. Time for us to put an end to the bullying. Hey, even the Walmart workers are saying that they’ve had enough!
This is such a great point, and I agree with Jensen. It it well said. But the question is, will the people in handling these things ever come to this realization?
As usual, Leslie, when you are not talking politics, you hit the nail on the head!
Fantastic article, shared!