highkey i do think we need to start making convention artists feel shame for selling blind box merch lines. it's a completely anti-consumer anti-art way of trying to bring your bottom line up. just because we can't stop corporations from using the incentive structures of gambling for profit doesn't mean we should be chill with our peers doing the same
Not to get into another discourse right after the other but I don’t think independent artists should be held responsible for market trends they have no control over nor should they be obligated to sacrifice their source of income for the sake of maintaining moral superiority over the major companies who are actually the problem.
And I say this as someone who hates pretty much all forms of blind bags.
There is literally nobody to hold responsible for this trend except for the artist themselves. Convention or event artist alleys and artists independent storefronts are not part of the same Market that general retailers are, and by their nature cater to niche specialty audiences. They are insulated and insular. The fact that they are independent means that they and they alone are 100% ethically responsible for every business decision they make. as a collective, within their specific communities, they are responsible for establishing the norms of what business practices are acceptable in their sphere and what isn't. I guarantee you there was no external pressure for anyone selling a blind box to start doing it; it's a decision they made after seeing one of their peers do it and deciding to give it a try.
Imagine trying to make the argument "I don’t think independent artists should be held responsible for market trends they have no control over nor should they be obligated to sacrifice their source of income for the sake of maintaining moral superiority" in defense of selling merchandise with AI generated images within these same communities. you would get laughed out of the room and then blacklisted by all of your peers. Because not capitulating to market trends and taking a moral stance about what kind of art you feel comfortable producing and selling is totally an option here, and something that happens all the time. It just seems it's much easier to have a sense of ethics when it comes to things that infringe on their interests, rather than their customers'.
There is just no real reason to believe that the deciding factor in whether a given artist will be able to cover their basic living expenses comes down to offering blind box or gacha style merch lines vs offering those exact same products for sale by specific choice. And I don't think "but everyone is doing it and I could use some money" is an acceptable defense for predatory business practices.
