One of those ideas that keeps coming back to me is a question that has been on my mind for at least ten years. Whether it is music, writing, or art in general: Where is the disruption and subversion?
This isn’t intended to be a Luddite-inspired rant against technology… Other people are better at it than I. And I quite like some elements of technology that we didn’t have when I was a kid.
However, I do have to make the observation that since the digital age settled in, the arts seem to be suffering from a lack of will when it comes to being disruptive and subversive. And when I use those two words, I mean them in the same way that early rock music disrupted popular music. Or when punk rock subverted rock. Or the dadaists and surrealists when it comes to art. Or Heinlein’s approach towards speculative fiction, Poe daring to write macabre in a time that people found it subversive and, perhaps, morally reprehensible.
After the rise of social media it seems many of the arts are stuck in the 90s—00s. Very little feels like it challenges the status quo in a way that provides a pivot to something new.
Maybe we still need some distance to have hindsight. To me, though, I wonder why I cannot think of any arts-related elements that ushered in a a paradigm shift in the public consciousness in the past twenty years. It seems like we are really overdue, but that the current technological state has held true artistic progress in limbo while itself advances. Iteration, emulation, and homogenization seems to be the standard practice these days. Where is the subversive?
Do you have counter-examples? Am I overplaying my hand at suggesting that the arts have largely succumbed to stagnation and enshittification?
15 responses to “Half-penny thoughts — 30may25”
I agree, but I keep hoping we’re on the cusp of something completely new, or at least more interesting than the pap we’ve been left with by the current trendsetters. That’s how it usually works, though, social upheaval goes along with the artistic, and we’re sure due for some. Second summer of love, anyone?
I’ll see your summer of love and raise you with some flowers in your hair.
When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
Yeah, baby✌🏽
☮️
I think they’ve succumbed to the realisation by publishers, film companies etc that they make more money by pandering to the desire by the majority for more of the same old same old. In the UK the BBC used to have a wonderful, varied programme that produced a wide range of material catering to a wide audience. Soap operas and ‘lighter’ entertainment was left to commercia TV stations. Then at some point the BBC realised that this was where the money lay, and they began producing soap operas too. ‘Eastenders’ began circa 1984/1985, and since then they’ve been in a race to the bottom with the commercial channels. So the BBC, that gave us ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’ – subversive personified – now has far too many game shows and detective series boringly similar to those shown on the commercial channels. It’s the same with writing – trad publishers don’t want to take a chance on something a bit ‘out there’, unless it’s by an already-successful/household name author, or by a celebrity (ghost written for them, in many cases). It’s a ridiculous state of affairs, but I don’t see it changing soon. ‘Follow the money’ has become the mantra, and nothing that doesn’t bring in the big bucks has a chance. Depressing. 🙁
“Perhaps you’d like another super hero movie?” 🤣
Even on the indie scene, though, there seems to be stagnation. You’d think that someone would self publish something “out there”, even specialize in weird stuff, but no. Maybe it doesn’t exist?
Same with music. With greater access to self publication, why don’t we see more actual variety?
I may be guilty of it myself, so is that my challenge? Something to ponder 🤔
No superheroes, thanks. And I think there is different stuff on the indie scene, but it’s pretty invisible due to a crowded market, amongst other things. At least, that’s what I think. 😐
That’s what I’d like to hope for. 🙂
I guess we have to dig a bit deeper to find it 😎
I would agree with your points here, Michael. Perhaps a lot of this is down to the vast majority of people not being subversive or not wishing to be – simply look at the most ‘popular’ music (hardly challenging) and even the ‘postcard’ art that people buy. Couple this with the ease of access to social media platforms it’s no wonder that much of what is floating around conforms to acceptable norms. Plus there’s the promotional aspect regarding what sells.
A lot of digging needs to be done to find gold.
And you found one for us recently. 🙂
Not entirely subversive, but different from the norm.
🙂
Some excellent points. Especially about the distance to have hindsight. I’m not a big fan of technology. Though I’m not a hater either. And maybe I’m just old, but music just seems so contrived nowadays. But maybe we won’t see the next subversive art movement coming until it’s here.
I used to be able to tease out the next underground thing, but I’ve either lost that ability or I’ve gotten too blinded by everything else around me.
I think I’m in the same boat.