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> Is an artist useful? Are they a respected contributor in their field? Can they afford to support themselves here?
by teacup50 10y ago
> Is an artist useful?
Are they a respected contributor in their field?
Can they afford to support themselves here?
- ghurtado 10y agoStart running down the list of classic famous artists and you may be surprised at how many wouldn't have met those criteria at the time when they created their most important work.
- sotojuan 10y agoTo be fair... a lot were. If anything, most of the artists we still remember from before the modern era did their best work under wealthy patrons or a purpose (David's Death of Marat and Oath of the Horatii both being pseudo-propaganda for the French Revolution). The view of the starving artist doing their best work for free is compatible with our modern, post Industrial Revolution views but largely inaccurate.
- differentView 10y agoShould artists be exempted from the basic requirement of being able to support themselves that we expect from people of other professions?
- rdl 10y agoIf the bar for "can support himself" is suitably low, someone could be an artist, immigrate to the US to work as an engineer or accountant or nurse, and be an artist. Once he can support himself through art (and is likely a citizen), then be a great artist full time.
- eli_gottlieb 10y agoIf are are going to be deprived of the means of subsistence by state force, we shouldn't expect them to be able to support themselves.
- pizza 10y agoWhat is the point to making self-sufficiency an externally-enforced requirement?