Also, and this is going to make this post less popular than it already will be, but the idea of all people who pursue careers in any kind of artistic craft or industry being labeled someone who adheres to the ideology or methods of what people outside the industries consider “starving artist” mentality is, in all honesty, insidious.
Those who use their artistic crafts and abilities are seen as “outliers” but EVERYONE wants to do what they do.
You’re a human being, your heart cries out to be heard and understood through whatever form “Art” takes for you. Being able to create, make, build, and love alongside others who do the same is the dream for SO MANY PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET… and why?
Because it is seen as a joy to be able to do it.
But at the same time y’all go around throwing terms like “starving artist” around haphazardly because of two things:
1. A fear of failure in any capacity with whatever craft you desire to throw your heart into.
2. To downplay those who attempt to do it in spite of that fear of failure.
Most of the people who have historically or are currently actually chasing their dreams are doing so while also doing other work, looking for other work, and attempting to hold their lives together REGARDLESS of their dream chasing.
But none of the folks who deflect the truth of those efforts with terms like “starving artist” or phrases like “that industry is abusive” truly understand that IT’S ALL LIKE THIS!
The idea of pretending you’re superior to someone “silly” enough to chase a dream, dedicate time to focus on their art form in any shape it takes, and talking down to them as if they do not LIVE IN IT EVERY DAY and UNDERSTAND IT BETTER THAN YOU CAN is beyond ridiculous.
You idolize and become parasocial towards those few that succeed while you laugh and criticize those who you deem “lesser” or that you don’t “understand.”
And why? Because you want to be the former and you fear you are the latter.
Art, true art, made by humans, lovingly shaped by brushes, pencils, the written word, real voices, hands, hearts, souls, etc IS SOMETHING YOU WILL CRAVE UNTIL YOU DIE.
Yet you make fun of those who understand that desire so carnally they prioritize their own humanity because you refuse to acknowledge that desire within your own heart.
Those who care will create with reckless abandon and with no reward because humanity’s existence is to live and love.
You know what is really self destructive? Denying your own right and drive to create and downplaying the efforts of those who dare to dream.