I love this Amie but, actually I would love to see more representation and diversity in the list of middle class creatives. More ethnic voices, more people from disadvantaged, difficult and discriminated backgrounds, more mothers rising and sharing stories of creating new legacies. Without these voices, and more, the subculture of middle class creatives just becomes another elite class of those who are most privileged to make it.
My husband pays the bills. I make art. I make no apologies for this. We are equal partners in both things. His job lets me do the thing I love. This makes him happy and makes me happy.
Thank you for sharing this. This is me too, we have two kids and I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, making art makes me grounded, keeps me calm, makes me show up in a way that keeps our family in harmony, and that is worth more than a steady money income stream. Although I will admit it's hard to always understand that value, as capitalism has led us to believe it doesn't hold as much.
I think all artist deal with a certain struggle against futility, but I think that voice is a bit louder for people like us. That’s always a bit of a struggle, is this just a vanity project or is it something more than that and how do I make it more than that? What value is something you don’t plan on selling? I think of all the mothers who sat in the kitchen scribbling spells in their free moments or who made their homes their art or sang at the sink. We are their daughters.
This sounds so wonderful. This is how my life is, at the moment, but I carry so much guilt about it that it disrupts my creativity. Please! Teach me your mindset 🙏 😊 🧡
It’s a real struggle sometimes. I think I started to pay attention to my inner dialogue and try to actively make sure I am telling myself a good story about myself not a negative one? Bc I think everything flows out of the internal story you are telling about yourself so might as well try to make it a good one. Even is it isn’t entirely true just yet? That’s okay. That’s how it starts.
Amy -- I've read this twice now. I've been following you for a few years now -- and I love your book. But this may be the most important thing you've written. There is so much here. Here are a few of my takeaways today.
- The real revolution is when creators and artists realize they can actually opt out of the systems that exploit them.
- An established creative middle class will be way more resilient during economic downturns. (several hundred true fans Vs. a single corporate sponsor).
- More AI = more hunger and longing for real human connection. People will always be people, which means we need each other. We are the connection.
- 150 people having a real, profound experience is far better than a million passive "followers" who scroll past you and a thousand others everyday.
Thanks for making me think.
Keep developing this. I will definitely buy this book. :-)
A lot to like here but some representational weakness. What about artists/creators who have never been, don't strive to be and don't identify as middle class? It might have helped if you defined how you're using the term
"Technofeudalist computer overlords" pretty much sums up the problems. I am sort of middle class in that I have a house, a car, and a retirement income. I can make art. I can write. I can be that old woman that people can see doing her own thing in her on way at her own pace. That makes me an outlier, but not the kind a publisher is looking for, because I can't turn out 5 novels a year. I am doing what I can where I am with what I have.
This essay is brilliant! A Creative Class…yes! I’m a 57 year-old-artist and I am blown away by your breakdown of the capitalistic binary and intro of a third option. I wish I had thought that way years ago. My son is a composer/musician and I will share this with him. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
BLOW IT UP ON A BILLBOARD. :) As an economist myself, I am wildly passionate about designing funding streams for community stewards. A message that needs a mega phone. Thank you
This is a great conversation to have! I constantly think about the YouTube videos I post, but see none of the revenue… none. Meanwhile, their policies and metrics has changed so you have to get over 1k subscribers AND have 4k views. So there I go posting, posting, posting- no reward..
I want to be published by one of the Big 5 so bad but then I think of the rejections I’m still getting from smaller ones.
Amie thank you so much for naming this and dreaming into some practical steps. I for one would love to hear you ad-lib more on this topic and am excited by the mention of a book. I really feel that small *is* mighty, a lot of us just need more transparency and support around leaning into intimacy as a strength❤️ your work is so appreciated.
This is a sore spot for me because half my family line have been artists while the other half have been shouting artists down creating this vortex of inner strife where I want to make my little drawings to bring joy but I also need to pay bills.
I’d like to write but I need [anything]. I went the non-artist route and after 15 years of loyalty was sorted to the top of an excel spreadsheet to be lopped off to make a quarterly report look good.
I don’t have anything “physical” to show for my 15 years, but I still have my little drawings and stories.
I feel like i’m suppose to view art as only as a top level of the Maslov hierarchy of needs which you are only lucky to reach…. but that just means art isn’t worth anything until you have all your s—— together. But that’s not true, i’ve seen people sing while working, tell stories and jokes in prison, draw on each other with permanent ink… Maybe Maslov hated artists … maybe he was wrong.
Hi Amie, thank you for a brilliant essay. I too fell for the binary 'go big or go home' bullshit, and I'm just starting to find my own version of a third way. However, maybe it's a UK thing, but I have a problem with 'middle class'. Isn't the concept of a middle class, of any stripe, an invention of the owning class to divide and rule those they exploit? Where's the shame in being a working class artist? I sell my labour (my magical, creative) labour, in order to live. In my mind that makes me working class. Just a thought.
I love how you gave the name 'middle class creatives' to the maximum lot of creatives who either suffer from tremendous guilt and despair of not making it big in the creator economy or find it difficult to cope with the pressure of trends and virality on the social media platforms. It's kind of discouraging and leaves a ravaging impact on the creatives who are learning the tropes of their preferred pursuit and can't seem to break down the door of mammoth online influencing. Capitalism has pierced into every spheres of our lives not even sparing our creativity. Everything has to speak of 'go big or go home'. Everything has to be equated with money, and if you fall on the unpleasant side, capitalism is going to show you your place, how minuscule your successess are and how your love for art is insignificant and meant to be forgotten.
I love this Amie but, actually I would love to see more representation and diversity in the list of middle class creatives. More ethnic voices, more people from disadvantaged, difficult and discriminated backgrounds, more mothers rising and sharing stories of creating new legacies. Without these voices, and more, the subculture of middle class creatives just becomes another elite class of those who are most privileged to make it.
❤️ Say it louder for the people in the back.
I've just published a podcast episode where I talk about why we need to hear from new voices now more than ever if we're going to create the kind of change we all say we want to happen. https://florenceukpabiokwusogu.substack.com/p/the-rising-of-the-creatrix-finale
My husband pays the bills. I make art. I make no apologies for this. We are equal partners in both things. His job lets me do the thing I love. This makes him happy and makes me happy.
Thank you for sharing this. This is me too, we have two kids and I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, making art makes me grounded, keeps me calm, makes me show up in a way that keeps our family in harmony, and that is worth more than a steady money income stream. Although I will admit it's hard to always understand that value, as capitalism has led us to believe it doesn't hold as much.
I think all artist deal with a certain struggle against futility, but I think that voice is a bit louder for people like us. That’s always a bit of a struggle, is this just a vanity project or is it something more than that and how do I make it more than that? What value is something you don’t plan on selling? I think of all the mothers who sat in the kitchen scribbling spells in their free moments or who made their homes their art or sang at the sink. We are their daughters.
Yes, and there is such power and magic in that.
This sounds so wonderful. This is how my life is, at the moment, but I carry so much guilt about it that it disrupts my creativity. Please! Teach me your mindset 🙏 😊 🧡
It’s a real struggle sometimes. I think I started to pay attention to my inner dialogue and try to actively make sure I am telling myself a good story about myself not a negative one? Bc I think everything flows out of the internal story you are telling about yourself so might as well try to make it a good one. Even is it isn’t entirely true just yet? That’s okay. That’s how it starts.
Same
Lucky you. Equal partners are hard to find!
And trusting it isnt easy and perhaps unwise. I’m aware it’s a very narrow path.
Every time you publish something, I think to myself: “I could not love her more.” !!! Thank you for saying what needs to be said ❤️❤️
Same. ✨
Amy -- I've read this twice now. I've been following you for a few years now -- and I love your book. But this may be the most important thing you've written. There is so much here. Here are a few of my takeaways today.
- The real revolution is when creators and artists realize they can actually opt out of the systems that exploit them.
- An established creative middle class will be way more resilient during economic downturns. (several hundred true fans Vs. a single corporate sponsor).
- More AI = more hunger and longing for real human connection. People will always be people, which means we need each other. We are the connection.
- 150 people having a real, profound experience is far better than a million passive "followers" who scroll past you and a thousand others everyday.
Thanks for making me think.
Keep developing this. I will definitely buy this book. :-)
SECRET THIRD WAY!!! xxx
I need this book, Amie. I've spent my whole life swallowing the "go big or go home" bullshit, and I'm ready to embrace a new outlook.
*sets aside money for pre-order*
A lot to like here but some representational weakness. What about artists/creators who have never been, don't strive to be and don't identify as middle class? It might have helped if you defined how you're using the term
"Technofeudalist computer overlords" pretty much sums up the problems. I am sort of middle class in that I have a house, a car, and a retirement income. I can make art. I can write. I can be that old woman that people can see doing her own thing in her on way at her own pace. That makes me an outlier, but not the kind a publisher is looking for, because I can't turn out 5 novels a year. I am doing what I can where I am with what I have.
This essay is brilliant! A Creative Class…yes! I’m a 57 year-old-artist and I am blown away by your breakdown of the capitalistic binary and intro of a third option. I wish I had thought that way years ago. My son is a composer/musician and I will share this with him. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
"we make the economy everyday"
BLOW IT UP ON A BILLBOARD. :) As an economist myself, I am wildly passionate about designing funding streams for community stewards. A message that needs a mega phone. Thank you
This is a great conversation to have! I constantly think about the YouTube videos I post, but see none of the revenue… none. Meanwhile, their policies and metrics has changed so you have to get over 1k subscribers AND have 4k views. So there I go posting, posting, posting- no reward..
I want to be published by one of the Big 5 so bad but then I think of the rejections I’m still getting from smaller ones.
It’s a crazy cycle😅
Amie thank you so much for naming this and dreaming into some practical steps. I for one would love to hear you ad-lib more on this topic and am excited by the mention of a book. I really feel that small *is* mighty, a lot of us just need more transparency and support around leaning into intimacy as a strength❤️ your work is so appreciated.
This is a sore spot for me because half my family line have been artists while the other half have been shouting artists down creating this vortex of inner strife where I want to make my little drawings to bring joy but I also need to pay bills.
I’d like to write but I need [anything]. I went the non-artist route and after 15 years of loyalty was sorted to the top of an excel spreadsheet to be lopped off to make a quarterly report look good.
I don’t have anything “physical” to show for my 15 years, but I still have my little drawings and stories.
I feel like i’m suppose to view art as only as a top level of the Maslov hierarchy of needs which you are only lucky to reach…. but that just means art isn’t worth anything until you have all your s—— together. But that’s not true, i’ve seen people sing while working, tell stories and jokes in prison, draw on each other with permanent ink… Maybe Maslov hated artists … maybe he was wrong.
Hi Amie, thank you for a brilliant essay. I too fell for the binary 'go big or go home' bullshit, and I'm just starting to find my own version of a third way. However, maybe it's a UK thing, but I have a problem with 'middle class'. Isn't the concept of a middle class, of any stripe, an invention of the owning class to divide and rule those they exploit? Where's the shame in being a working class artist? I sell my labour (my magical, creative) labour, in order to live. In my mind that makes me working class. Just a thought.
I love how you gave the name 'middle class creatives' to the maximum lot of creatives who either suffer from tremendous guilt and despair of not making it big in the creator economy or find it difficult to cope with the pressure of trends and virality on the social media platforms. It's kind of discouraging and leaves a ravaging impact on the creatives who are learning the tropes of their preferred pursuit and can't seem to break down the door of mammoth online influencing. Capitalism has pierced into every spheres of our lives not even sparing our creativity. Everything has to speak of 'go big or go home'. Everything has to be equated with money, and if you fall on the unpleasant side, capitalism is going to show you your place, how minuscule your successess are and how your love for art is insignificant and meant to be forgotten.
“You don’t need to go viral to be viable” needs to be a t shirt now please