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Excerpt from David Bowie And the Search For God
Don't assume that when you get what you want that it'll be what you always wanted. [You'll want what you've had, even if it wasn't what you think you wanted. What you'll want is a clearer definition of you, but that's only an egoic definition. Wanting what others want is even worse because you never get to the point where you have some kind of clarity. If you've belonged to a tribe your whole life, that definition will become an epitaph].
This is probably a very popular book with artists because it also defines the artist archetype--mostly the shadow aspects.
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Seeking fame can cause creative loss through the following dynamics:
The Performance Trap and "Going Low"
The sources argue that in a postmodern world, being a sincere or "inside" person makes an artist too esoteric for the masses. To achieve celebrity status, artists often feel compelled to "go low" and adopt a persona—such as being a "bad boy" and a "Jesus" figure simultaneously—to create a "more exciting movie" for the public. This turns the artist’s life into a performance for others rather than an act of personal creation, essentially sitting in an empty theater watching their own "reel" life.
The "Hamster Wheel" of Fashion
Following popular trends creates a feedback loop that stunting artistic growth:
- Skill Erosion: If an artist always prioritizes what is fashionable, they may reach a point where they have never developed any real skills.
- The Hamster Wheel: Making more of whatever is currently popular is described as being on a "hamster wheel," which the sources view as evidence that the artist is no longer guided by free will.
- Diminished Identity: To be popular often means the main focus is on doing things others will like, which results in a life diminished to fit into boxes.
Loss of Individual Perspective
The sources state that the crowd acts as a distraction from an artist's true interests. If a creator waits to see what the crowd appreciates, they lose the ability to know what they personally like. Collective appreciation often leads people to "look where everyone else is looking" rather than engaging in individual appreciation. This is further exacerbated by algorithms, which ignore artists because people ignore them, and vice versa, stripping the artist of their agency.
The Distraction of Success
The sources note a paradox regarding success and desire:
- Contentment vs. Drive: Success can sometimes mean an artist no longer feels the need to make anything else, whereas it is better to always maintain the desire to create.
- The Problem of Expectations: If people like an artist's work, that artist is often expected to make more of it, which can trap them into repeating themselves rather than innovating.
- Aspiration and Technology: Modern tools can also kill aspiration by providing convenience over craft, making artists unwilling to engage in the difficult work that defines their style.
The Sincere Alternative
As an antidote to the "celebrity" path, the sources suggest metamodernism—a return to reality and sincerity where the artist ignores the need for fame and focuses entirely on skill and craft. By choosing to be the "production designer" or "composer" rather than the "star," an artist can reclaim their work and make their "film" of life better because they are no longer performing for a phantom audience.
