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As a child, I would often sit in front of my family’s desktop computer in the kitchen. Storytelling became a way of expression for me, which was crucial as a child who struggled to socialize and connect with others.
Like many of my peers, I ended up being influenced by the mantra that creative writing is not a sustainable career path. My priorities shifted and I ended up in the arguably more stable field of journalism. At the very least, I could still make a living from writing.
But the sound of that little kid typing on my Dell keyboard still serves as the background soundtrack to my thoughts. I still create creatively—I write poetry, occasionally submitting it to literary journals and sharing it with friends—but what was once my ultimate career goal has had to remain a hobby.
What worries me is that pursuing a creative field generally seems to have become a privilege, something to be achieved rather than accepted as part of who we are.
It’s no secret that the starving artist trope is born out of some truth: it’s not easy to break into a creative field. It’s no secret that it’s hard to make money in the arts, especially in urban areas, and because of that, some people believe that pursuing a creative field is less beneficial to society than other, more traditionally successful professions.
Much of the frustration at the common experience of having to resort to less-than-creative professions has translated into a widespread critique of “nepo babies,” a term coined to describe the children of celebrities who become instantly successful in their chosen paths due to their parents’ success. The art world is not exempt from this phenomenon, and in fact has taken center stage.
Musicians and actresses Maya Hawke (daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman) and Gracie Abrams (daughter of JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath) are examples of people who many believe owe their careers to their parents. Criticism of Nipobaby’s success in art-related fields is widespread, but it speaks to the difficulty of the average artist ascending in such a career.
Cole Ross | Digital Design Director
These aspirations have become something of a gamble in a capitalist society that values visible economic success over supporting creative passion. What the current system fails to address is that not everything needs to make money to be considered worthwhile or important.
The arts have a proven power to enhance lives: A literature review in Frontiers in Psychology found that encouraging creative expression in school-age children reduces stress, improves memory, and fosters a sense of social connection.
Therefore, it is important to empower kids who seem interested in the arts rather than pushing them towards more traditional fields. Not only will this promote their own well-being, but it will also open up further conversations about the importance of creativity and arts-related fields, and hopefully inspire future generations to follow their dreams.
Supporting local artists is important to combat the negative influence that a capitalist mindset has instilled in people seeking to follow a more creative path. Syracuse is home to a wide variety of local artists, many of whom exhibit their work at venues like Wildflowers Armory. Funk and Waffles also regularly hosts shows featuring musicians and other performers from around Central New York.
For those without the financial means to directly support artists, sharing their work on social media and by word of mouth remains a powerful way to show support. Not only does it bring an artist’s work further into the public consciousness, it also creates an opportunity for the artist to be discovered by individuals who are able to financially support them.
Supporting local artists and arts education efforts sustains creative mediums and promotes the idea that creative expression is worth time and attention. This underscores the importance of providing creative spaces for everyone, not just those who already have the financial support to experience such a career.
If you have some free time during the day or need some ideas for weekend adventures, consider getting out and supporting local artists in the Syracuse community. By doing so, you’ll be supporting creative members of the community and maybe even find some inspiration for your own passions.
Grace “Gray” Reed is a fourth-year magazine, news and digital journalism major. This column will appear biweekly. She can be reached at (email protected).
Released on September 23, 2024 at 9:45 pm
