I saw a slide of an instagram post that really articulated something I appreciate. It's by @hidden_libraryx (writer Matt Sheridan Desmond) that says: "For every authentic and organic group of people, there is a mimetic-aestheticized version of them (which is separate) that is hollow and superficial."
Part of my thoughts after:
...This does not mean everyone with a distinct aesthetic is fake. However, it begins to call out the marketing lie that people have to constantly be buying the latest version of a target community's aesthetic to validate our own respective identities and values.
Being drawn to a style is perfectly natural; being expressive (please don't stop expressing through art) is wonderful. Just know thought that if you like or love something, contrary to what media and some individuals you may meet may suggest, not buying products being advertised to you doesn't make you any less sincere, and the average enthusiast is no less legit than an Instagram content creator who gets to markets products or even their own art using that aesthetic that they also like.
Express yourself, do things that you like. But remember that the most powerful advertisements are often not billboards and TV commercials. And on social media the line between sharing and selling art, versus contriving insecurities in the most genuine of people is being blurred.
But there's another catch: it's not actually individuals sharing their images and stories that have truly sparked their joy who are doing the smudging. Rather, it is the intentional billion dollar system that is trying to exploit the heart and soul of these expressive people, and then conveniently let those same people fall as the scapegoats when people start feeling betrayed.
Rant over ☕
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