The Internet - good or bad for artists?

[Dan Goodwin]

There's been much discussion in another thread about the pros and cons of the proliferation of artists on the internet.

Creativity has exploded online in the last couple of years. Is that a good thing because now anyone can share their art with the waiting world? Or does the sheer volume of art available somehow dilute the work of all artists?

Share your thoughts below...

[Lin Neiswender]

A Godsend- connects artists everywhere realtime. Presents source materials never before accessible. Instant venue for presenting one's work.

Downside- easy to get ripped off. Lack of artistic protections in this day of print on demand and cheap imported knock-off goods.

[Nick]

Pros:
It keeps the local music stores honest:-)
CCS is certainly a plus
It is much easier to find obscure items or instruments


Cons:
Nearly everyone's out to make a buck (or a million).
It's often difficult to fish through the plethora of info to get what you're looking for.
It is easy to get the gist of typed words wrong.

[Dan Goodwin]

Re the music stores, I remember when I was younger and I devoured the NME every week for the latest obscure records that were going to change my world. Not having a local independent record store, I'd go to the local HMV on a Monday morning, hoping they might have the record(s) in question. Almost always the answer was "No, but we might be able to order it for you. It costs £16.99..." That's if they even found it on their dated computer system! Since the launch and exponential growth of sites like Amazon you can virtually any record you want at the click of a few buttons, all delivered to your door in a matter of days. That has to be a good thing for fan and artist...

[Susan Hosken]

My creative work has exploded since getting a computer. CCS has been an absolute inspiration and led me places I'd never imagined. I wouldn't have got the quantity and quality of information and inspiration without the internet

[Dan Goodwin]

One of the great bonus for me has been although I set up CCS with the intention of helping other be more creative, it's helped me too. Although I've aways created in some way or other, and writing's been my predominant medium by far, I've not been as creative in as many different forms ever in my life life before... Couldn't have happened without the internet... Well, not without me going to live in a creative community of some kind anyway!

Having creative people around you (even in the online world) is a huge inspiration.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Cat, my best friend in the whole wide world that I met about two years ago was diagnosed with MS twenty years ago. When I met her, I wanted to help her in so many ways ... she refuses to let people feel sorry for her. I thought she should be in a wheelchair. She is so independent and so much fun ... and she has a real heart of gold. We have done a lot of fun stuff together. I want to be around to receive heart to heart hugs from my friend SuZen for as long as I am allowed to be. I think the Universe knew that. Lately she has had more problems with focusing and being as organized and tidy as she would like to be, and she has asked me for help. It makes me sad and I'm dealing with that. I'll help with whatever I can do and I'm blessed with a great friendship! She's a real activist for equal rights for the disabled, in many ways ... she will not keep quiet about the lack of handicap access when she notes it, and she speaks her mind to those who can change things. I'm her biggest fan because she is truly an inspiration to me.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

SuZen!

[Lin Neiswender]

What a joyful person! Give her a hug from me!

[Dan Goodwin]

Didn't someone on CCS posted about SuZen's blog and classes recently, is this the same lady?

[Susan Hosken]

Hi Suzen

[Susan Hosken]

How great Barbara to have such a wonderful friend. Sounds like you are both very good friends

[Dan Goodwin]

I don't think you're alone Cat, for many on CCS and beyond the internet has become a lifeline to the kind of courses, resources, communities and support you talk about.

In my day to day life, most people I know are still really uninformed about and unfamiliar with the internet and see it as something only for techy/geeky people!

The bottom line is that all community sites, whatever they're about, are driven by the fundamental human need to connect with other people who are into the same stuff we're into. That drive will always be there, the internet has simply made it a hundred times easier...