Artists dedicated to positive & revolutionary change.

Monday, October 9, 2017

Shut Up and Sing



In these turbulent times when tensions between political ideologists are at their peak, while constant battles between social justice caretakers versus cultural conservationists, and fascists versus anarchists continue to stoke the embers of a societal fire that’s been burning in this New World since the Jamestown settlement many artists are at the forefront taking the slings and arrows of outrageous contempt or throwing their own proverbial punches towards a disturbing rise of populists and blinding nationalistic barbarians. For anyone who has ever pursued a career as an actor, singer, writer, musician, painter, sculptor, photographer it is not shocking that artists would have a perspective on society and feel a duty to share it with the world. What is alarming to the artist is how many of their fans have cognitive dissonance when it comes to enjoying the fruits of the artist’s labor yet ignoring the content of the material they profess to love.

In the past, House Speaker Paul Ryan spoke about his love for the group Rage Against the Machine while front-man Tom Morello’s response to this ironic revelation was 'Paul Ryan is the embodiment of the machine our music rages against!' Millions and millions of Bruce Springsteen fans flock to concerts each year to hear him pour out his heart and soul for 3-4 hours usually singing anthems dedicated to a poor, struggling working class, down on their luck debt-loaded paycheck-to-paycheck survivors, or immigrant families who still believe the shining beacon on the hill is the best way of life regardless of the faults or past sins of our country. Yet many of these fans prefer Springsteen keep his mouth shut when it comes to espousing his political and social beliefs as if it is possible to separate the man’s art from his core values. Even beloved icon, Meryl Streep has not been immune as her criticism of the President at the SAG-AFTRA awards show last year vaulted her to top villain status amongst political ideologists who disagreed with her statement as well as her use of an awards show to voice her opinion. America loves when Ms. Streep portrays Julia Childs with frightening accuracy or is forced to make a choice as Sophie, but they forget the predominant attribute that makes her one of the best actresses to ever live is also the reason for her outrage when she sees an injustice. That attribute is empathy.


Empathy is a true mark of many artists. Painters view their subject with an eye towards capturing the soul of the individual. Singer/songwriters toil for the perfect melodies and lyrics that will resonate and touch their audience. Actors study human behavior and become mini-sociologist and psychotherapists when crawling into the skin of the part they are playing. It is the artist’s job to bring truth to their subject and this isn’t reserved for artists who only lean to the left politically. One can doubt the character and choices of Mel Gibson, the man, but if you doubt his ability to empathize and bring truth to a character please watch (or re-watch) Lethal Weapon where his portrayal of a broken detective who may lose it at any second while still wearing a badge and carrying a firearm is nothing short of genius.

For better or worse, the empathy artists possess make them the perfect catalysts for change in the world whether local or on a more grand scale. What type of person dedicates their entire life to a craft that may never allow them a steady income or stable home environment? What type of person ditches six figure salaries so they can perform 3 or 4 times for no pay in a 99-seat theatre gig because the plays they audition for speak to them? Meat and potatoes Middle-America may mock these choices but they may not understand that for a true artist there is no other choice. They rather toil in obscurity and work unconventional jobs at odd hours to support themselves just so they can have a couple of moments a year where they have touched the heart of someone watching, listening, or studying their work.

You cannot separate the artist’s work from their soul. They are one. Empathy isn’t just being compassionate to loved-ones and those traveling in the same circle. Empathy is being able to care for the health and welfare of human beings you will never meet and live half the world away from you. If portraying truth and empathizing with subjects is the predominant characteristic trait an artist possesses then it should not shock their audiences and fans when these same artists decide to speak up for those less fortunate or those who are not protected.

In Los Angeles, we are acutely aware of the fact that whatever happens on DACA will affect our own family and friends. This city has also struggled with race wars from Watts and the Rodney King reactions to current day Black Lives Matter protests and continues to do what it can to bring down racial barriers. Our community has also made it clear that LGBTQ citizens are not an isolated, fringe outcast rather they are beloved leaders, members and workers in our society. Have we reached Utopia? We’re far from it, but artists in this town are standing up, lending help behind the scenes as well as out in front to let others in our city know that they are welcome here regardless of race, creed, religion, sexual orientation and immigration status.

While many fans would prefer entertainers to shut up and sing or be quiet and perform, they are ignoring market realities. The industry where most artists ply their trade is an important contributor of the American economy. The U.S. Media and Market Entertainment Industry (M&E) industry is comprised of businesses that produce and distribute motion pictures, television programs and commercials along with streaming content, music and audio recordings, broadcast, radio, book publishing, and video games. The U.S. M&E market, which represents a third of the global industry, and is the largest M&E market worldwide, is expected to reach $771 billion by 2019.(1)
“By 2020, box office receipts are projected to grow to $10.9 billion, home video will reach $20.9 billion, and both streaming video and TV video on-demand will reach over $15 billion. The United States has a mature subscription TV market and thanks to rising bundle prices and premium service increases, will grow modestly to $102.3 billion. The U.S. recorded music industry (including concerts and touring) is expected to surpass $18 billion by 2020. “(2)
Of course it is true that not everyone who works in these industries are artists, but the artists are the lifeblood of the US M&E market so thankfully it is unlikely that decision-making executives at these M&E companies are going to ask artists to ‘tone down their messaging’ as they understand where their bread is buttered. High profile liberal artists make a strong economic case for their voices to be heard in D.C. and Wall Street and it is doubtful they will curtail their practices of speaking out because some of their fans in red states may boycott them.


Conservatives may bristle every time they see or hear George Clooney, but artists who work in Hollywood prefer to thank him for employing upwards of 300 people each time he does a film which helps them put food on their table.
The economics are on the side of high profile artists and they are taking advantage of their platform to help affect positive change in this world, but what about those artists who don’t have the worldwide following or name recognition to affect grand scale change? How do they get involved or contribute? Organizations like ARULA are tailor-made for artists who want to get involved and lend their talents to a cause that preaches vigilance and pro-active resistance to current administration policies. There will be more and more opportunities in many communities for the local artist to bring their usual coffee shop guitar gigs to bigger venues and preach their social messages to more people.
Empathy in artists will not wane, if anything in times where darkness, struggle and bleak fortune appears it will be the painters, poets, and pianists who will keep us focused on striving to do better for our brothers and sisters in this gigantic pool of humanity on earth.

Keep Rising! #ARULA 
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