3 ms·

So you mean that personality will trump content? The cult of personality? I think we're already seeing that in the most-watched Youtube videos. The most follow

So you mean that personality will trump content? The cult of personality? I think we're already seeing that in the most-watched Youtube videos. The most followed Youtubers usually are the ones who are most "way-out-there" in terms of personality.

keiferski 1y ago
I wouldn't call it a "cult of personality" because that seems unduly negative. It will just be...different, both better and worse. Better, because creators are no longer dependent on a film exec in LA / publishing exec in NYC / etc. to "make it" as a creative. Worse, because while those gatekeepers did lock out many talented people, they also had the function of allowing the creator to focus excellent, "pure" work. I'm thinking of anonymous/semi-anonymous authors that wrote world-famous novels while being unknown. I don't think that is going to be a viable route anymore, because it depended on the middle-men. Now that I think about it, this last function might actually appear again: agencies that manage a creator's marketing, budget, etc. and just let them focus on making stuff. In short: I don't know if we could have the open opportunity of social media without it also being dependent on personal charisma.
- roenxi 1y ago
  > I'm thinking of anonymous/semi-anonymous authors that wrote world-famous novels while being unknown. I don't think that is going to be a viable route anymore, because it depended on the middle-men. It is entirely viable, there are a couple of pipelines that go something like [forum -> patreon -> widespread appeal] to pick up aspiring writers who can rise above the herd. It reminds me a bit of Charles Dickens - a man who was clearly being paid by the word - but much more accessible. Then there are the sites that just aggregate masses of amateur stories. Mostly badly written stories, but talent has a chance to be seen. There isn't going to be any difficulty for the next great novel making it out into the world. The issue is more the living conditions of the legions of also-ran writers.

keiferski 1y ago

I wouldn't call it a "cult of personality" because that seems unduly negative. It will just be...different, both better and worse. Better, because creators are no longer dependent on a film exec in LA / publishing exec in NYC / etc. to "make it" as a creative. Worse, because while those gatekeepers did lock out many talented people, they also had the function of allowing the creator to focus excellent, "pure" work. I'm thinking of anonymous/semi-anonymous authors that wrote world-famous novels while being unknown. I don't think that is going to be a viable route anymore, because it depended on the middle-men. Now that I think about it, this last function might actually appear again: agencies that manage a creator's marketing, budget, etc. and just let them focus on making stuff. In short: I don't know if we could have the open opportunity of social media without it also being dependent on personal charisma.

roenxi 1y ago
> I'm thinking of anonymous/semi-anonymous authors that wrote world-famous novels while being unknown. I don't think that is going to be a viable route anymore, because it depended on the middle-men. It is entirely viable, there are a couple of pipelines that go something like [forum -> patreon -> widespread appeal] to pick up aspiring writers who can rise above the herd. It reminds me a bit of Charles Dickens - a man who was clearly being paid by the word - but much more accessible. Then there are the sites that just aggregate masses of amateur stories. Mostly badly written stories, but talent has a chance to be seen. There isn't going to be any difficulty for the next great novel making it out into the world. The issue is more the living conditions of the legions of also-ran writers.