Scan barcode
A review by bootman
The Death of the Artist: How Creators Are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech by William Deresiewicz
4.0
This book was extremely well written and researched to discuss the difficulties of being a creative in this day and age. I would highly recommend this book to young people who are passionate about art and are thinking of turning it into a career because this book has a lot of truth about how difficult that can be. Although the majority of this book discusses the problems with trying to survive as an artist during this time, I think it did a great job summarizing some solutions in the concluding chapter.
As a creative myself, I was torn about this book. A lot of people can benefit from this book, but personally, it felt like there was a lot of entitlement throughout the book. While the world does need artists, it almost felt like the artists interviewed and the author knew of a mythical time when artists thrive, but that's not the case. As long as being an artist has been a thing, they've struggled, and I personally think that's fair. It's a big ask to want to do something you love and make a significant amount doing it; especially when art is so subjective.
Aside from some of what I felt was entitlement, there were a lot of good conversations about copyright and how Big Tech is screwing over artists. I enjoyed the book and recommended it, but only for the aspect that it helps people realize that being an artist as your career isn't a logical decision. Not only is it not a logical decision, but it never has been, and it never will be due to the nature of art.
As a creative myself, I was torn about this book. A lot of people can benefit from this book, but personally, it felt like there was a lot of entitlement throughout the book. While the world does need artists, it almost felt like the artists interviewed and the author knew of a mythical time when artists thrive, but that's not the case. As long as being an artist has been a thing, they've struggled, and I personally think that's fair. It's a big ask to want to do something you love and make a significant amount doing it; especially when art is so subjective.
Aside from some of what I felt was entitlement, there were a lot of good conversations about copyright and how Big Tech is screwing over artists. I enjoyed the book and recommended it, but only for the aspect that it helps people realize that being an artist as your career isn't a logical decision. Not only is it not a logical decision, but it never has been, and it never will be due to the nature of art.