That is exactly why I left Instagram and FB (never been on TikTok), because I caught myself posting things which weren’t me or only to feed the monster called algorithm. Substack is different for me in that way, but the risk of let’s called it over-sharing (especially in Notes) is here too! Thank you for your thoughts on this. Very insightful as always.
I really appreciate your perspective on this. I’ve been putting out a substack post weekly for a year and a half or so. I started it as a way to share my photography without social media, and maybe being a little more brave with showing work that means something to me rather than what is “safe” and will do well on instagram. Now I find myself in similar patters trying to post regularly and wondering what the metrics will be when I have new ideas. It makes me sick and I think I’m going to step back and just start creating for myself for a while. I think your post has given me the extra push I need. I love the idea of sharing my work but I wish I could do it without having to hear what people thing sometimes. Thanks!
Thanks for reaching out, Dan. I'm glad the piece landed for you. It's really hard to consciously go against the grain on what social media wants, but I really do believe that we're starting to see a renaissance of the personal web site. I have talked with so many artists and photographers who are tired of chasing the algorithm and who also miss being able to present their work the way they want it to be seen. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help, even if it's just signal boosting what you're trying to do. Be bold and show us who YOU are!
Absolutely. I'll add that in these days of such creative volume, even if you edit down to the stuff that you really like, it can be a challenge to maintain 'truth' to oneself. It's easy to get distracted. It's easy to look at peoples work that you respect, or work that's new and intriguing, and not find yourself drawn to do something similar. I'm definitely working at a 'micro' level as James Hart describes below, but gladly I find myself a little 'influenced' as well... creatively. At first this realization bothered me, but after connecting with some of these artists and discussing work, I enjoy it because I see it for what it is: another artists personal work inspiring me to move forward in MY own direction. Let's face it, sharing work, back and forth, with someone who's work you respect is fun... and inspiring.
The macro is stuff like TikTok trends. Content creation. Side hustles. Influencers, algorithms, likes and platforms.
The macro has also been the predominant way to look at making things for centuries. You're nobody until you break through into the mainstream.
I have to say, though, that Ted Gioia's book that he's writing here on Substack, "Music to Raise the Dead," has really snapped me out of macro thinking. (No affiliation whatsoever, I'm just a fan.) Some artistic endeavors, which are still very much alive today, focus on small groups only, facilitate internal experiences and seek to help people, not monetize. We just don't hear about them because our culture only acknowledges macro success.
The micro stuff is where it's at for me, though, I think. There's some incredible work happening out there but the ethos couldn't be more different.
Thanks, James. Yeah, I agree with you and the more personal "micro stuff" is where I find more value. If you're really into slot cars or model trains and there's an interesting backstory as to why, I'm already interested. Show me that! I want to see what lights you up, not what you think is going to get the most likes.
The amount of times I’ve tried to be consistent or make “content” and failed have informed me in the direction I need to take in what I want to do for me.
I do not post much to instagram at all. I’ve tried other platforms and received that dopamine hit from a like or in some cases constructive critique but it never persisted or drove me to create more. Creating for the platform has never felt right or comfortable to me. I like making photos that I like, I really enjoy the process. That’s what drives me to make more. My kids will have nice photos documenting their journey through life, and I love pressing that shutter and hearing the mechanisms, be them film or digital.
Not just about quality vs quantity but what actually the content is. Are some forms of social media for more ...instant reactions rather than a subject which is more in alignment with more than a short video of inane topic???
Great post. As an older visual artist (painter), I've been firmly in the camp of posting whatever and whenever I want to. The manufactured immediacy of social media platforms has caused a rush to make work and post it online for a few scraps of attention by artists of all ages. I see artists constantly complain about not having enough likes, followers, sales, etc... and continue to hustle for attention when the platforms aren't in the business of helping anyone except themselves. In the meantime, so many creative people are burnt out because they've been led to believe that the only way to succeed is to make videos, edit them, post to social media on a schedule, post to several platforms constantly, etc... only to have to chase new goals the next day because of changes to algorithms. This is no way to have a thriving creative life.
That is exactly why I left Instagram and FB (never been on TikTok), because I caught myself posting things which weren’t me or only to feed the monster called algorithm. Substack is different for me in that way, but the risk of let’s called it over-sharing (especially in Notes) is here too! Thank you for your thoughts on this. Very insightful as always.
Thank you, Susanne. I would agree that Substack feels the healthiest of the bunch — I just don't have the budget for all of the paid subscriptions!
I really appreciate your perspective on this. I’ve been putting out a substack post weekly for a year and a half or so. I started it as a way to share my photography without social media, and maybe being a little more brave with showing work that means something to me rather than what is “safe” and will do well on instagram. Now I find myself in similar patters trying to post regularly and wondering what the metrics will be when I have new ideas. It makes me sick and I think I’m going to step back and just start creating for myself for a while. I think your post has given me the extra push I need. I love the idea of sharing my work but I wish I could do it without having to hear what people thing sometimes. Thanks!
Thanks for reaching out, Dan. I'm glad the piece landed for you. It's really hard to consciously go against the grain on what social media wants, but I really do believe that we're starting to see a renaissance of the personal web site. I have talked with so many artists and photographers who are tired of chasing the algorithm and who also miss being able to present their work the way they want it to be seen. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help, even if it's just signal boosting what you're trying to do. Be bold and show us who YOU are!
Great to hear! Thanks again!
Absolutely. I'll add that in these days of such creative volume, even if you edit down to the stuff that you really like, it can be a challenge to maintain 'truth' to oneself. It's easy to get distracted. It's easy to look at peoples work that you respect, or work that's new and intriguing, and not find yourself drawn to do something similar. I'm definitely working at a 'micro' level as James Hart describes below, but gladly I find myself a little 'influenced' as well... creatively. At first this realization bothered me, but after connecting with some of these artists and discussing work, I enjoy it because I see it for what it is: another artists personal work inspiring me to move forward in MY own direction. Let's face it, sharing work, back and forth, with someone who's work you respect is fun... and inspiring.
I see it as a micro/macro kind of distinction.
The macro is stuff like TikTok trends. Content creation. Side hustles. Influencers, algorithms, likes and platforms.
The macro has also been the predominant way to look at making things for centuries. You're nobody until you break through into the mainstream.
I have to say, though, that Ted Gioia's book that he's writing here on Substack, "Music to Raise the Dead," has really snapped me out of macro thinking. (No affiliation whatsoever, I'm just a fan.) Some artistic endeavors, which are still very much alive today, focus on small groups only, facilitate internal experiences and seek to help people, not monetize. We just don't hear about them because our culture only acknowledges macro success.
The micro stuff is where it's at for me, though, I think. There's some incredible work happening out there but the ethos couldn't be more different.
Thanks, James. Yeah, I agree with you and the more personal "micro stuff" is where I find more value. If you're really into slot cars or model trains and there's an interesting backstory as to why, I'm already interested. Show me that! I want to see what lights you up, not what you think is going to get the most likes.
The amount of times I’ve tried to be consistent or make “content” and failed have informed me in the direction I need to take in what I want to do for me.
I do not post much to instagram at all. I’ve tried other platforms and received that dopamine hit from a like or in some cases constructive critique but it never persisted or drove me to create more. Creating for the platform has never felt right or comfortable to me. I like making photos that I like, I really enjoy the process. That’s what drives me to make more. My kids will have nice photos documenting their journey through life, and I love pressing that shutter and hearing the mechanisms, be them film or digital.
It's called originality. That's where it's at, in your own voice.
Not just about quality vs quantity but what actually the content is. Are some forms of social media for more ...instant reactions rather than a subject which is more in alignment with more than a short video of inane topic???
Great post. As an older visual artist (painter), I've been firmly in the camp of posting whatever and whenever I want to. The manufactured immediacy of social media platforms has caused a rush to make work and post it online for a few scraps of attention by artists of all ages. I see artists constantly complain about not having enough likes, followers, sales, etc... and continue to hustle for attention when the platforms aren't in the business of helping anyone except themselves. In the meantime, so many creative people are burnt out because they've been led to believe that the only way to succeed is to make videos, edit them, post to social media on a schedule, post to several platforms constantly, etc... only to have to chase new goals the next day because of changes to algorithms. This is no way to have a thriving creative life.