This is an incredibly myopic view of what's considered "culture." If you're only looking for culture on TV and mass media, then you're going to find products, because that's exactly what those things were designed and optimized to sell. But culture definitely still exists, and it's exactly where we left it: In the genuine interactions between the people around you.
You don't seem to understand what I mean at all. I mean people who try to make a living from their creative work. Do you think that's still possible?
Of course it is. Has mostly always been that way, will probably be possible for quite some time.
Just not for every artist, also like always.
I am neither a musician nor a particularly good writer, but I am somewhat good with LLMs. Thank you very much for your encouragement. That removes all my ethical doubts about closing this chapter. If it has always been this way, then I don't need to worry about it anymore.
^ This was reported for being a troll. I think the reporter is correct. Even the original post is a bit of a troll for the average Lemmy person.
If you choose to reply to this comment, careful not to feed the trolls.
Mass market products are still culture.
Culture is around all the time, we’ve just denied ourselves the right to use it because we started believing people could own ideas and let copyright/IP laws act as a gateholder.
Is dictated make-believe still culture? I don't think so, but that's what it boils down to.
Honestly, I can't understand how you can't see that, because it's been the case all over the world for a very long time. Take a look at the so-called social media applications. Do you seriously believe that what people see there has anything to do with who they really are? With their every day lives? What they understand as culture based on their experience there?
Yes, of course, the real world still exists, but do you really think it's independent of what people see online?
What do you think culture is?
To me culture is the shared stories, history, values and ideals of a group. So yes those make belief stories reflect people’s daily lives because they touch on themes that resonate with them.
I see no distinction between online or offline in terms of “real”, it’s the human that matters not the medium their idea is spread in.
That's true, but culture has also been a business for a long time. What you see and hear is the result of this, because there are media that reinforce your awareness of your senses. If you think that you would remain unaffected by this, you don't understand my point.
We will always have art because it is a fundamental human thing to do no matter if we do it for money or just for ourselves. What we lose is the potential output of artists who could make a living making great things all day every day and feed themselves doing it.
What makes you so sure, when there's not even the prospect of making a living from it anymore? Do you think most artists do it as a hobby?
Not as a hobby by choice. They would love to do it and pay the bills but given no other choice they will work some other 9 to 5 and work on their passion in their off time. That's why artists are always taken advantage of so often. They know artists do it because because they love it and can be paid and treated like shit. Just look at the video game industry.
Then I can turn it into a business. With LLMs, that's hardly a problem anymore. Don't worry: I'll do it alongside my job - just a hobby that brings in some nice extra income.
If you think people will pay for AI slop, you must be young or deeply cynical
The vast vast vast majority of artists create art with neither expectations of payment nor the ability to do it full time, yes.
Is Mozart's music culture?
He was doing his stuff almost 100% for profit and was seen as a sell-out by a lot of the musicians at his time. He wrote his songs in German instead of Latin because he wanted to make essentially pop songs that were sung by kids on the street, and the musical establishment derided him for it, because they didn't think what he was making was actually art.
I think you’re looking in the wrong places. Culture is everywhere. The mediums and groups of people that propagate culture shift over time, but humans are inherently creative and will always develop it.
Try looking in places where there is a focus on community, connection, and the art itself—not places that focus on producing “content” for profit.
There are many people who make a living from it. Where else do you see them earning a living?
I’m not sure what you’re asking.
A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.
Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:
If you made it this far, showerthoughts is accepting new mods. This community is generally tame so its not a lot of work, but having a few more mods would help reports get addressed a little sooner.
Whats it like to be a mod? Reports just show up as messages in your Lemmy inbox, and if a different mod has already addressed the report, the message goes away and you never worry about it.