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Reverse the mindset of following
Recently I went to a music festival and after observing the crowd there for a while I suddenly realized that the position of being "a fan" is incredibly disempowering. As a so-called music fan, you are giving your attention and energy to a person (the musician) who possesses all the dazzling skills, who's the provider and who gets all the accolades and fun doing something cool. And this person doesn't even remotely recognize you and you are lost in the audience just as a faceless entity in the collective. I also remember one of my favorite musicians once said "the intriguing phenomenon of the entertainment industry robbing our attention, money and time and how it continues like nothing". This also reminds me of the existence of groupies and the kinds of precarious conditions they put themselves into.
I think if we do spend a lot of our free time "following" (i.e., for enjoyment) that is to our own peril. For example, I have stopped browsing websites and reading just for fun, stopped watching videos just because I'm curious. I am now trying to evaluate if I'm gaining insights and knowledge, and is there actionable advice there about developing myself or specific skills, when I try to absorb content. I think only if it pivots some way to me developing skills or adding value to a specific deliverable or product, that my time spent there would be valuable. For example, if I just listen to content podcasts because I'm curious, then I learnt nothing but useless content. But if I'd like to start my own podcast, listening could be intentional for gauging the kinds of arrangements and tactics the successful podcasts are using (and much more of course) - very different approach.
Just throwing it out there and feel that in everyday life we have a lot of choices to shape our life - and we need to cherish our own lives by making those choices consciously.
Yep, great thread and reflection, Emily.
When I used to go to clubs in the past I used to say that dancefloors were superior to concerts because in concerts you're a passive "fan" down in power.
While on a dance floor, you are in far more egalitarian placen and part of the "artistic creation" (from a single guy perspective, in clubs you're not competing with the band, which is another benefit).
And quite a concidence, I recently recorded a YouTube short with the (provocative) title "sport fans are losers" for that same reason you explain.
Albeit I'd consider concerts "less disempowering" than being a sport fans, since the artist is also working to deliver an experience for you in a way, and you're not projecting your ego and tying your happiness to the performer like the many sport fans do.
Also, adding some more personal takes on this:
While I can respect and love an artist, I still wouldn't necessarily want to look at them perform in the middle of a crowd.
It feels "passive" to me, like an empty recipient and a bit too "pedestalizing".
I'd rather consume their work on my own time and "style", ranging maybe from a romantic dinner to me jumping around like an idiot in my room or to simply just cooking.
Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on August 7, 2023, 9:56 pmYep, great thread and reflection, Emily.
When I used to go to clubs in the past I used to say that dancefloors were superior to concerts because in concerts you're a passive "fan" down in power.
While on a dance floor, you are in far more egalitarian placen and part of the "artistic creation" (from a single guy perspective, in clubs you're not competing with the band, which is another benefit).And quite a concidence, I recently recorded a YouTube short with the (provocative) title "sport fans are losers" for that same reason you explain.
Albeit I'd consider concerts "less disempowering" than being a sport fans, since the artist is also working to deliver an experience for you in a way, and you're not projecting your ego and tying your happiness to the performer like the many sport fans do.
Sure, Lucio - same with sports fans or course (and worse). I read somewhere in MJ DeMarco's book that he likes sports but he wouldn't tie any of his happiness to it like you said - not over identifying with it and just leave it as what it is, would occasionally take the value of it but not attached to it.
Haven't thought the context of dance but it makes sense, the level of participation rebalances power and if you are having fun then you are also getting value out of it despite the power imbalance.
Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on August 7, 2023, 10:43 pmAlso, adding some more personal takes on this:
While I can respect and love an artist, I still wouldn't necessarily want to look at them perform in the middle of a crowd.
It feels "passive" to me, like an empty recipient and a bit too "pedestalizing".
I'd rather consume their work on my own time and "style", ranging maybe from a romantic dinner to me jumping around like an idiot in my room or to simply just cooking.
Haha this is gold - will probably just not go to concerts anymore. To be honest, my experiences with concerts have not been too great especially when there's a huge crowd but I agree strangely you go to a concert to have more personal connection to the artist (since you are up close) but it creates more disconnection somehow because of the dynamics.
