Let's learn about Ethan
Once upon a time, in a small town filled with dreams, there lived a talented and passionate independent musician named Ethan. With his guitar in hand and a voice that could stir emotions, he poured his heart into every note he played. Ethan dreamt of sharing his music with the world, despite the challenges that lay ahead. He was as good a musician as John Dowland and Henry Purcell combined.
Ethan dedicated his days to perfecting his craft, performing at local venues, and tirelessly writing soulful songs that resonated with anyone who listened. However, as much as he poured his soul into his music, life had other plans for him.
To compensate for his music and life expenses, Ethan found himself working long hours at a warehouse. The monotonous routine weighed heavily on his spirit, but he refused to let it extinguish the fire within him. Every evening, after a tiring day's work, Ethan would retreat to his small apartment, where he transformed his emotions into beautiful melodies.
His songs were masterpieces of raw emotion, woven together with lyrics that captured the human experience in all its complexity. Though his music was a solace for his own soul, Ethan yearned for it to reach the ears of others and touch their lives.
Years turned into decades, and the world changed around Ethan. The music industry shifted, embracing new sounds and trends that left his soulful melodies behind. Despite this, he persevered, never compromising his artistry or integrity. He kept up with the new trends, but at the same time never left his original sound. His music may not have appealed to the masses, but he created a legacy of authenticity that few could match.
As the years passed, Ethan's songs were cherished by a small circle of loyal listeners. They became the soundtrack of their lives, providing solace, hope, and a connection to something deeper. But the wider recognition Ethan longed for eluded him, and he remained a hidden gem, cherished only by those who were fortunate enough to stumble upon his music.
As Ethan approached his 89th birthday, the weight of unfulfilled dreams grew heavier. He had spent a lifetime pouring his heart into his craft, sacrificing financial stability and personal comfort to pursue his passion. Yet, despite his unwavering dedication and the beauty he created, his music remained unheard by the masses.
On the eve of his 89th birthday, Ethan sat alone in his apartment, reflecting on his journey. His fingers trembled as he strummed his guitar, feeling the weight of time pressing against his worn-out body. Memories flooded his mind, the joy of creating music, the struggles he endured, and the hope that sustained him throughout the years. He never got famous, he never earned considerable money from his music, but he was not feeling gloomy. for him, it was the journey that mattered not the destination. he lived his life pursuing what he loved, despite the fact that no one cared about his unparallel genius music, he enjoyed composing and writing songs over and over again, and after all these years, that seemed enough for him. he was the only real fan of his work, and that was all he needed at that moment.
As the clock struck midnight, Ethan closed his eyes, taking solace in the fact that he had lived a life true to himself and his art. He knew that his music, like himself, would soon be forgotten, lost in the vast sea of forgotten melodies.
Two weeks later, Ethan's time on Earth came to an end, and he peacefully joined the realm of forgotten legends. The news of his passing barely made a ripple in the world, and his music slowly faded into obscurity.
Sometimes, in the quiet corners of the world, a faint melody would echo through the years, carried by the wind of forgotten dreams. Those who stumbled upon it would pause, their hearts stirred by the haunting beauty of Ethan's compositions. In those moments, his music would find new life, transcending time and reminding the world of the passion and resilience of an independent musician who refused to let his art die.
Although this didn't last long either, less than a few years after his death, no one ever listened to his music again, and he was never discovered again. One of the most genius composers of history lived and died without anyone even noticing it. But at least he lived a real life in a world filled with Fakism.
Introduction to the Fakism
Ok, this one was a story, but there are many musicians going through the same thing, more or less, all the time. Actually, not just musicians, but artists in all fields. All around us, we are filled with success stories of people with no money who rise to the occasion and succeed.
However, something is always missing. First, the fact that all those stories are more romanticized versions of the truth rather than the plain truth. Second, almost all of those success stories end with someone becoming famous or rich. That's how we define success in our era. Money, followers, and likes are the pillars of success in all fields.
The traditional view of "success" does not always reflect reality, at least not in every aspect of life. For an artist, having more likes, more followers, or more money is not necessarily success. Are the top hit songs always the best songs? Are the most famous artists always the best artists?
I don't mean that artists should not earn money; on the contrary, my idea is that what is making money right now, in most cases, is not art at its best. And the reason for that is mainly our social conduct, our lifestyle, and maybe, more than anything, the general belief that art (or content in a more general term) should be free.
In fact, I'm not even trying to compare artists with each other. I'm pitting art against many other aspects of our daily life, most notably technology. Let's talk numbers! The average salary for a developer working at Spotify in a year is $240,000, according to the Median Yearly Report. And how much is the average income of a good musician on Spotify in a year? Well, it's better not to answer that; it's just too sad.
I have an analogy comparing Spotify and other streaming services to the dishes that our food is served in, and you can already guess what the food is. So, what happens here is that we search for the best dish maker and the best brand of plates, and all the plate and cutlery designers earn a considerable amount of money. Good for them. But when it comes to the food, no one cares for the cook, the chef is not paid well, and we don't actually care that much about what we are eating anymore. It's just the plate that matters, and that is Fakism.
It might feel a bit sad and dark, but in reality, it is much more tragic than that. We have barely scratched the surface. Here it feels like I wrote a bunch of random thoughts, I started by saying success is not earning money and ended by saying why artists don't earn more money!
I will write more and more about this and it will make sense in time, just give me time and stay tuned for the next article on Fakism. In the meantime feel free to comment and tell me how wrong or right, fake or real, my idea is.