How Steemit could revolutionize the Arts and create a whole new economy

For much of recorded history, the Arts were never a commercial enterprise. Right from the Egyptian papyrus nearly 5000 years ago to as recently as couple of centuries ago - painting, music, sculpture, architecture was always commissioned by kings, noblemen and patrons of the art. The artists were left to their own devices, and operated with pure creativity. 

Since the dawn of capitalism a couple hundred years ago, this concept has completely left us. Sure, there are some patrons still, but they are few and far between. Today, we have a middleman who is between the audience and the artist, for whom it's largely about money. For example, in movies, this is the studios or producers. They decide what gets made based on a guess of what the audience would like. And more often, than not, they underestimate the audience's intelligence and perception. Artists are driven to compromise to satisfy the money men's requirements. Finally, audiences are disappointed with mind numbing products of mass consumption. Entertaining maybe, but not innovative works of art. Sometimes, they are just truly bad. At the end of the day, it's a vicious circle.

We have seen a revolution in the digital age, which really, finally, connects the audience directly with the artists. Youtube, Vimeo, Tumblr have been fantastic, but they don't solve the financial problem. Movie Maker Magazine has a nice article about how the business model has failed. Artists can now reach out to audiences, sure, but there's not much many to be made. Particularly mediums like filmmaking or sculpture are very expensive. 

So how is Steemit different? Simple. It has the potential to reverse the last couple hundred years of capitalism at odds with art. It goes back to the millennia old model of patrons of the arts. 



You see, whales on Steemit are the new patrons of the art. Whether you are a musician, photographer, painter, filmmaker, graffiti artist - whatever - Steemit has the potential to finance your work. It doesn't need a huge audience, just a few wealthy (in terms of Steem Power) who will upvote your content. It's just the beginning - and we have already seen content earn well over $10,000. This finally gives the artists the rewards and respects they deserve, which has been missing since Michelangelo and Beethoven centuries ago. 

Not everyone will succeed - of course not. For every Raphael or Da Vinci, there were thousands of obscure artists. But Steemit has the potential to finally give back artists the means and freedom to access their innermost creativity and express themselves to their fullest extent.