Doomed by a cult of amateurs?

(NOTE: This is not a shameless book plug. I saw this guy on the Colbert Repor and found myself on both sides of his argument at the same time. It left a rash on my brain.)

Has anyone read The Cult of the Amateur? If not, the gist of the argument is that the Internet 2.0, online piracy and self publishing are destroying our culture by diverting profits from time tested systems of creative and intellectual distribution. As someone who exists (and profits) from both sides of this new "flat world" coin, I have conflicting feelings.

For example, a short film that I directed was released by the producer online, gaining nearly a million views in a couple of days. It was then picked up for prime time broadcast on a network TV show. Great exposure for me, plus I got paid to make the film. But the producer was out production costs and received so little R.O.I. that he probably won't make another. Not that people didn't like it, it simply wasn't profitable. So now I'm looking for a new client.

IMO, the "old systems" of distribution have become paralyzed by their inbreeding. The audience is simply not willing to watch, or more importantly "buy" the same old crap. So change is good. On the other hand, my mortgage payment is due.

I was curious as to what others in land of RAW thought about all this? Harglebargle or foofarah?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Palmer G. Pattison on October 18, 2007 at 9:17am: I wouldn't say that the Internet is "destroying our culture," at least no more than old media was already doing before the 'net came along.

Yes, the Internet has rewritten the rules of content distribution. Old media for the most part doesn't know what to do with it. It also doesn't help that over-saturation has almost completely devalued old media's revenue stream (when you have 500 channels, 30 seconds of commercial time is worth a whole lot less than when there were just three networks and a handful of UHF indies). Nor does the fact that Internet culture largely believes that everything worth having should be free.

My position is similar to yours. I want to know that when I graduate, I can get a job animating that makes it possible for my family and me to live comfortably. In the new digital frontier, I have a lot more potential employers, but no assurance that I'll be able to make an income without interruption. Add to that the knowledge that at some point in my career, I will very probably have to make "the same old crap" to feed my family, causing me to wonder if I'm just making a bad problem worse instead of better.

But the fact is, I like to draw, and I like seeing my drawings move and speak. I like it enough that I left a good job and drove 1800 miles to go to art college so I could do it professionally. It's insane. It also means I'm going to have to learn to market myself assertively, make some above-awesome work, and develop lots of foresight when planning for my family's financial well-being. But in the end, are those really bad things?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by PiGPEN on October 20, 2007 at 5:22am: Has anyone read The Cult of the Amateur?

I downloaded it., read a few chapters.... it read like a blog rant so i didnt bother finishing it.... good thing i didnt buy it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patrick Mallek on October 20, 2007 at 11:12am: This post is funny on so many levels!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Palmer G. Pattison on October 20, 2007 at 11:55am: As in, "argument that proves its antithesis?"; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by PiGPEN on October 20, 2007 at 11:59pm: but my post was big fat lie so thats ok.....as if i'd read a book when theres TV!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patrick Mallek on October 21, 2007 at 12:05am: Was hoping you'd say that!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by wes parham on October 30, 2007 at 4:07am: Rent, or dreams? The ages-old dilemma! I think we usually do what we must. Some abandon their youthful dreams for the practical necessities of maturity. Others dream their adult-hood away and never build up a solid nest. Many find a balance, though. Dreams always have a place; a necessary place, in our human lives. Those who say otherwise are selling something and _not to be trusted_.
the book! yes:
It sounds like this book is trying to predict the future of a medium.
If you try to compare a newly emerging system by the standards of the previous, you're not going to get very accurate results. In this case, the book seems to describe doom and gloom without shining a light on the mediums' potentials for uplifting humanity as well. The title pangs of self-importance, too, if you know what I mean. I smell sour grapes.

Until I read it or learn more, my vote is "foofarah".; ▶ Reply to This