by Jess C Scott
Praise for Jess C Scott
“[Please] keep up the good work . . . the world can certainly use some more authentic, original work like yours, rather than the same old re-packaged mass-market pulp.”
— TGirl Revelations / Bibrary.com, October 2010
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“With the plethora of cookie cutter fiction out there, [The Other Side of Life] was a breath of fresh air for me. . .the world was so believable that when I went to bed that night I had a dream about breaking in to a corporate tower with a group of elves. I’m not lying.”
— Review @ The Bitter Truth
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“Ever since I came across Jess C Scott’s teenage blog novel, EyeLeash, I’ve known that some very talented writers will emerge from the epublishing revolution.”
— Joseph Grinton / October 2011
REAL LOVE VERSUS ROMANCE
Published by Jess C Scott / jessINK
www.jesscscott.com
Copyright © 2011 by Jess C Scott
Cover art © by Michael Thompson @
https://www.flickr.com/people/freestylee/
All rights reserved.
First Edition: November 2011
Summary: A 4500-word mini collection of (informal) essays on commercialism’s de-spiritualizing effects on society, by author/artist/non-conformist, Jess C Scott.
Note: These essays appear on the articles page of Jess’s website.
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Author’s Note:
I understand that “romance” is a very popular genre—everyone has their own preferences!
However, as an author/artist, there are certain things I’d like to create a greater awareness of as well.
If you’ve something to say/share, feel free to contact me anytime.
~ Jess C Scott / jessINK
missfey[@]gmail.com
Table of Contents
+ ESSAYS +
1. Commercialism, Consumer Capitalism, & Commoditization (18 September, 2011)
2. ‘Elite’ is not the same as ‘Elitist’ (22 September, 2011)
3. The Corrupted Publishing Industry (29 October, 2011)
4. Real Love Versus Romance (1 November, 2011)
+ THE DARKER SIDE OF LIFE +
+ [AUTHOR Q&A] +
ESSAYS
1. Commercialism, Consumer Capitalism, & Commoditization
(18 September 2011)
Jess on arts, culture, society, and her resistance towards commodity production & 100%-commercialization.
P.S. She means to inform and educate, not insult.
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ONE EXAMPLE:
Twilight Syndrome = Commoditization
DEFINITION OF ‘COMMODITY’: A commodity is a good for which there is demand, but which is supplied without qualitative differentiation across a market (i.e. commodity = something disposable/replaceable).
* * *
Short Version / Summary:
“Too Much Commercialism = Pollution”
(paraphrased quote by Bob Dylan).
Commodization stifles originality and innovation. Commodification serves to keep mass society pacified, which in turn allows the mass media empires to sustain their uninhibited pursuit of the accumulation of more wealth and power (at the expense of art/culture, social cohesion/integration, and the individual’s sense of self-identity).
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Longer Version / Full Article:
I grew up in Singapore, and attended a mass communications course when I was 17 years old.
I left the course when I turned 18, because I just felt largely disengaged from and uninspired by the coursework.
At the time, I wanted to make a difference (though I wasn’t quite sure how!). I’ve always been instinctively aware of the power of the mass media, and was seeking to have a deeper understanding of how society is influenced by the (ever pervasive, ever commoditized) Mass Media.
Once upon a time, I based my self-worth on financial success (I recently turned 25; I have struggled with the “art versus commercialism” concept since 21 years old, maybe).
I now see how commodity production has completely replaced originality and innovation, with regards to mainstream creative work (books, movies, music, etc.). Everything is driven by the almighty dollar. Money is God, even as mass society continues to espouse values and virtues which its members have been told/encouraged to aspire to (that the ultimate goal in life = “financial success”), but not necessarily subscribe to (can all the money in the world really buy a meaningful existence?).
In our post-modern era, the value of mainstream creative work has mostly been reduced to its value as a commodity. Challenging the status quo (via original/innovative perspectives) is always a bad thing for those in power, because it is a direct threat to the control they wield over people/subordinates/society/etc. By and large, it’s less to do with actual skills and (artistic) talent—it’s more to do with packaging/image, how well a product plugs into the existing “mainstream media” system, and a certain amount of marketing hype (hype has come to replace meaning).
As an author, I enjoy both the creative and business aspects of writing/publishing. I have always felt society’s collective need for fulfillment, and spiritual fulfillment (the type that matters) isn’t going to come from materialistic fulfillment. The endless cycle of desiring and acquiring more wealth and more stuff doesn’t lead one to develop or attain a sense of self-identity or social integration. People simply end up more shallow and more dissatisfied.
I have nothing against occasional mindless entertainment (everyone needs some escapism/fantasy...), though I do get annoyed with the shallowness which the mass media actively perpetuates (life is more than money, looks/image, “titillation,” and formulaic love triangles).
The mass media, instead of having some sense of moral obligation to society due to its PERVASIVE MASS INFLUENCE on society, has absolutely zero moral conscience whatsoever, and is completely motivated by the post-modern religion of consumer capitalism (more info here).
The mass media has a tremendous amount of impact and influence in shaping the norms and values/goals of mainstream society, which is why my sentiments are mostly directed to the mass media, and not mass society. Movies studios and major book publishers are all owned by parent companies (which means the power is held by an extremely small group of people). How is this not a form of mind control on the masses, when everything that the public can view/consume in the form of entertainment/infotainment is dictated controlled by the few key people that are right at the top of the economic food chain?
As a writer, I like doing meaningful work, and I like keeping society in mind when I do my creative work. Art, to me, is not for self-glorification purposes. True art has substance and quality, which transcends the individual’s egotistical needs for validation and acceptance.
It is my aim to engage this sense of fulfillment and inclusion that each person seeks. I do it in different styles and different ways, but I understand how artists and the arts can help cause a true “cultural revolution, [where] the creators of culture resist trends toward despiritualization and commercialization. . .where a rejuvenation of humanitarian values could happen in a ground-up scenario.”
As an author/artist, I’m more than happy to do what I can to counter the de-spiritualizing, ill effects commercialization has imposed (and continues to inflict) upon current generations.
Because I understand that if artists/creative types stop fighting, that’ll really be the end, where Big Brother wins.
Commercialism Quotes:
Here are some commercialism quotes which reflect/echo some of my sentiments.
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“Many modern writers rely on their capacity of shocking and thrilling people ad nauseam, because they have nothing concrete and valuable to give to the world. So they [rely] on sensational effects to attract people.”
— Silvanasono
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“Big publishers are more interested in a shallow book with a built-in audience than a substantial book from an unknown. . .it’s better to turn the focus to the positive and consider the best ways for conscientious authors to make the very most out of the new trends and available platforms.”
— Admin @ ChuckPalahniuk.net
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“From environmental pollution to spiritual pollution, from artificial food to artificial joy—these are the side effects of the pursuit of materialism (a by-product of the American Dream, as we know it). Today, everything is fair game in the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain and personal responsibility, not to mention the absence of morality and a wholesome values system.”
— The American Dream: Materialism
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“The struggle between art and commerce is an ancient one and thank God there are always a few individuals who refuse to run with the herd. It’s the mavericks and iconoclasts who break new ground and present us with exciting and original perspectives on this mad, mad, mad, MAD world.”
— Cliff Burns, Setting the Bar High
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From the collection of essays by muralist/fine artist, Rip Cronk:
“[It is up to artists to] oppose the despiritualization and commodification of art.”
“Do not expect new directions in art until distance is established between artistic production and the commodity requirements of the gallery.
While art is unavoidably connected to class struggle, it remains the responsibility of the artist to expose the underlying injustices of the status quo, and not be gulled by promises of fame, fortune and tenure into producing status symbols for the oligarchy. The artist is certainly capable of producing art that is of interest to both the general audience and the esoteric viewer. Public art can be challenging and evocative without demeaning the public.”
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Comment posted by: Akira MacKenzie | July 4, 2011 12:36 PM
“The only thing the media gatekeepers are helping are themselves—helping themselves to profits that come from contributing to the stupidity of the consumer. . .The existence of media gatekeepers has done nothing to improve the quality of literature, motion pictures, or television. Everything produced by the Capitalist-run ‘Mainstream Media’ only serves to make the bourgeois pigs richer and the boobeois knuckle-draggers stupider.”
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Christine 8/21/2009
“The majority is hypnotized by the mass media. And this is why quality gets lost.”
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Tasmanian Autonomous Zone, 4 July 2009
“Capitalist economics have combined with left-wing social values to produce a nihilistic society where people care about little besides money, sex, food, and a mindless evening in front of the idiot box. Is it any wonder that youths form gangs to rob and assault people? The solution lies in placing more emphasis on local communities (and less on centralised government) and, more importantly, in rejecting the plastic ‘culture’ of this decaying, nihilistic society, and replacing it with something better, something grander and more noble…”
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“We’re developing a new citizenry. One that will be very selective about cereals and automobiles, but won’t be able to think.”
Rod Serling (Author of The Twilight Zone)
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“As we peer up from our popcorn, it is worth remembering that behind the magic of the movies lurks the darker power of corporate public relations.”
AdBusters: Meme Warfare (Article)
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“Music can save people, but it can’t in the commercial way it is being used. It’s just too much, it’s pollution.”
Bob Dylan
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“The independent artist might be the last bastion against the grand, hegemonizing mindset of corporate scum everywhere—one world, one people, one wallet. Screw them and their mercenary mentalities.”
— email from a jessINK website visitor
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“It is scary when the most popular music is not the most creative, and that it is all shaped by the label more so than the artist. And then capitalized by the record companies by hiring copycat artists till the next meme rolls through the top 40. [So much so] that ‘talent discovery’ means finding some chump that can mimic current norms rather than real originality. There are some recurring fests that some living legends throw still with some extreme diversity, but it doesn’t draw enough attention to become anything more than a cult occurrence or a fringe clique. The more cookie cut we become through the buying and selling of these legislators in government the easier and easier we become to manipulate and keep happy or at least numb to the deletion of our freedoms.”
— email from a Nabokov fan (YouTube personal message)
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“There’s a lot of mediocrity being celebrated, and a lot of wonderful stuff being ignored or discouraged.”
— Sean Penn
“I have nothing against people’s dreams, and everything against mediocrity. Rewarding mediocrity encourages people to find every possible way to ‘make it’ except for actually studying and practicing to become good at what they do. Hey, why should they study English when a schlob who can’t string two sentences together is making millions? That’s what’s really dangerous for our country. And that’s precisely what’s going on.”
— ProudToBeVeryLiberal
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“When even B and C list celebs are now writing their own children’s books, there is less and less room for new, untried, but wonderful young talent. And sometimes less room for old valued midlist authors as well. . .it is so crowded with celebs hawking their dubious wares.”
— Jane Yolen on “celebrity authors”
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“XL’s focus seemingly continues to intensify; to work with the most original and inventive artists possible, regardless of genre, and help them take their music to the widest possible audience—without compromise. XL Recordings is 100% independent, continuing a great tradition of non-corporate record label culture.”
— XL Recordings
(works with Beck, Adele, Thom Yorke, The White Stripes, etc.)
MORE INFO:
Art on the Rebound [A Collection of Essays on Art and Culture], by R.Cronk (an inspirational must-read for all artistic/creative types)
# # # # #
2. ‘Elite’ is not the same as ‘Elitist’
(22 September, 2011)
Jess on the differences between being ‘elite’ and ‘elitist’, and why quality still matters.
* * * * *
“Unapologetically Elitist: Mr. Peanut tipping his glossy top hat” | Sketch by Grimaud
* * *
I’ve observed people’s public comments and sentiments on the subject of “art” versus “commercialism.”
Many (financially) successful writers can be outspoken that part of their success is due to the fact that they write “commercial genre fiction” —they’re not elitists who write in order to “satisfy an inner muse.”
While it’s up to the individual to decide if they want to go an artistic or commercial route (or something in between), I thought it was interesting how the attitude of “elitism” has become synonymous with being “committed to artistic quality.”
Art doesn’t have to be “high-brow” or “difficult to comprehend” in order for it to be considered art. Art contains a spiritual aspect, where it has the power to speak to a person on a deeper level, and is therefore remembered (as opposed to a commercial commodity, which many people try to emu
late in the hopes of “making money”). Artistic quality and accessibility are part of the same equation.
Elitism = snobbishness. Since when did being an artist mean to be “arrogant and annoying“? Besides, the ego involved with the attitude of elitism usually gets in the way of producing a truly great piece of creative work.
And while things with commercial appeal are likely to bring in a lot more money than works that are fiercely 100%-artistic (Katy Perry versus classical music, for instance), there’s “no substitute for quality” (as is, incidentally, the official slogan for Arnott’s Biscuits).
Some people judge quality on the basis of commercial value alone. That’s fine if one’s goals are of a somewhat mercenary nature (where one is motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain).
But it doesn’t justify lumping anything of an artistic nature into the category of “elitism.”
According to The Free Dictionary, the words ‘elite’ and ‘elitism’ are defined as follows:
1) Elite — Selected as the best;
“an elite circle of artists”; “elite colleges”
2) Elitist or Elitism
The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources.
According to Logic + Emotion (an essay which I got to via Andy Rutledge’s website):