Age of the “Charade Artist”
Artists have changed. Or is it the definition of the word that’s changed?
What constitutes being labeled “an artist?” Before the digital age and even before the recorded music “business,” it was inherent and assumed that artists had something the vast majority of folks did not have. We’d assume, with reverence, that the artist must see or sense something that we don’t. This is what creates the austere and respect surrounding the word and label “artist.” (This goes for all types of artistry from paint to poetry, but this article will focus on recording artists.)
However, I’m finding that these days, you don’t have to see the world differently – or frankly: do anything differently – to be considered an artist; and I don’t think that’s right. Today, in fact, you get further along as an artist if you see and do the same as everyone else. You get more attention if you regurgitate what already is instead of creating something new. The public cheers comfort and jeers challenge. They don’t want to be challenged. Anything challenging is seen as a joke, satire, amateur, out of touch, yap or cringe. Nowadays the artists that make us comfortable are put on a pedestal. It wasn’t always only this way. It was even somewhat the opposite. Artists that made us squirm in our skin or discover new parts of ourselves or the world were revered and rewarded.
Charade Artists
This article was spurred by seeing some relatively popular artists (100k followers) singing original songs of the contemporary yet quickly-going-bland narrative style (popularized by Taylor Swift) accompanied by what I’m calling “charade acting.” Examples of charade acting are: pointing at yourself when you say “me,” pointing at the camera when you say “you,” and generally using obvious hand gestures in a way that illustrates the words you are saying. This feels like it makes the performance better, but it doesn’t It’s not better, artistically – it’s better in the way that a person who is better at miming wins a game of charades.
This is actually cringe. This makes me literally (literally) cringe – especially when I see how much support these “artists” have. Though I will admit that I sometimes catch myself doing these actions. This is partially because they aren’t solely a product of the progress/regress of the performing arts but rather the progress of technology and “selfie-awareness.” (Coined here and now!)
Actors Aren’t Artists
This goes back to a realization that I came to years ago: with each year that passes we have more and more actors parading as artists. There’s a song about it called “Wannabe” by The Offspring and it describes what I am referring to here. There’s also a song from the same time called “You Get What You Give” by New Radicals with a similar sentiment. The latter actually brings me to tears when I read every word. There is nothing remotely like this in sentiment on the charts these days.
True artists live, everyday, a life that demands physical expression of their thoughts and feelings because it will destroy them if they don’t. Blessing or curse, they are permanently tapped in to the ether of all creation, extracting and translating that which cannot be seen or expressed by others. (That said, every living being can do this, we’ve just forgotten how.) That is what makes artists special and therefore worthy of reverence. Someone tearing a page from their diary and reading it word for word with a nursery rhyme melody over a YouTube beat with charade acting does not make them an artist. As I said in my article about song topics, this action itself is not a bad thing; I encourage people express themselves. It’s when people who do this try to turn it into their vocation and act like it’s their life’s purpose that things get iffy. This “everyone’s an artist” mentality crowds and dilutes the market for true artists to fulfil their life’s purpose. Yes, this includes me, but as always, it’s not about me.
Blind Leading The Blind
Why are these wannabe artists our de facto cultural leaders? This is the blind leading the blind. Artists used to light the way; through the unknown; towards cultural, spiritual and societal progress. Very few contemporary artists, especially those already with power and influence, want to venture out and carry that light to new, undiscovered places. Nowadays, “artists” are mostly keeping their audiences placated in the places already illuminated, but frankly, the light on what is known and comfortable is getting so bright it’s blinding, because – newsflash! – the darkness is closing in all around. The light of modern entertainment is so bright and saturated yet so constrained that when people step outside of it, they step straight into the darkness of confusion and terror. Who wouldn’t run back into the comfort of the light, no matter how limiting it is? This is a great real-life example of the allegory of the cave.
Step Outside the Comfort Zone
We, as the consumer audience, have grown so strong and proud of our comfort zone that it’s starting to kill us. Our comfort has turned into regression and it’s draining us from the inside out. It’s as prominent in technology, politics and industry as it is in art. If you look with a keen and discerning eye, it’s everywhere. (“Everywhere you look can’t tell what’s real.”) The comfort zone is killing us.
As always, I have to reiterate that I have no intention of telling people to stop doing anything if it’s just them following their heart. Everyone’s incarnated here and now in this era of Earth for a reason and are welcome to express themselves in their way. Still, we have to get back to understanding and respecting that art, which generally leans in the direction of societal and cultural trailblazing, comes with discomfort. For society to progress, we need some spectacularly new art instead of just really good versions of the same thing over and over.
Want something new? (At least, new in thought and what I am capable of producing with no budget.) Check out my music here.
– Chad
