Comments on: Creatives & The Hope Economy: What Do We Do Now?

By: Donald E Giannatti

Donald E Giannatti — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:30:28 +0000

This is one helluva article, Bruce.

To the point, well written and thought provoking. This, along with the post at Heather Morton’s Blog this morning have me deeply in creative mode.

I believe in change. I believe that things must change to evolve and that most of the time evolution is for the better. I give no credence to ‘hope’ as that is a non-engagement mentality. Hoping for something and working for it are very different approaches.

BTW, your note on the less qualified leading the pack could not come on a more auspicious day. Seriously, the truth of what is in this article has never been more cogent.

Thanks, Bruce.

By: Bruce DeBoer

Bruce DeBoer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:15:46 +0000

I now this is also true. It’s bound to change but remains hard to predict in which direction.

By: Bruce DeBoer

Bruce DeBoer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:14:24 +0000

“Mediocrity makes people comfortable” – good thought and true in many cases – it’s approachable and non threatening. There is something inclusive about knowing “I could have done that”. Mediocrity is disposable though isn’t it and perhaps that’s why our culture is starting to embrace it more – hmmmmm – I’ll have to think on that some more.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:38:17 +0000

Liked the points that you made, but would say that it is us who are driving things. We get what we deserve. There are also a lot of people out there who want and appreciate better and are prepared to pay for it.

Although I agree that we are in a time of bottom line economics, I think that this time will pass, as it has done in history and in the mean time…Does mediocrity not bring the most happiness to the most people?

By: Trudy

Trudy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:22:53 +0000

Powerful article. I agree….I don’t think the hope that somehow businesses/consumers will wise up and miraculously will want higher quality when the bar is set so low in many things will happen. For some people, it seems beyond the concept of cost alone and the sheer idea of expertise and excellence is met with disdain, while mediocrity is praised and revered. Mediocrity makes many people feel “comfortable” and personal comfort matters more than excellence or quality…to the point that they believe that they can no longer feel “comfort” with excellence at all. Unfortunate. Many people who set the bar high will have to market to those who want the bar high, instead of trying to convert those who seek comfort in mediocrity.

By: Kristin Lamendola

Kristin Lamendola — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:15:38 +0000

Doesn’t this one sentence say so much: “Marketable mediocrity is preferred over unmarketable brilliance or extraordinary talent with low ROI”. I fear this is true, particularly in times of economic unrest. We market to the lowest common denominator, because it is easy. It is something we can do quickly — probably in a sound bite’s time — and move along, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Sadly, what we are left with is a pool of tepid water. We are becoming a culture who lives for their fifteen seconds of fame, regardless of how mediocre the output, as long as it is broadcast somewhere. The wonders of the internet make broadcast more accessible, and that contributes to the problem.

We must hold strong to our creativity ideals, lest we all become fodder for Joel McHale on The Soup and our bookstores carry nothing but Captain Underpants (for kids) and vampire thrillers (for adults).