Following on from my last blog (last November), I thought I’d elaborate on my views a little further. I don’t expect anyone to read these blogs, so I do it for my own gratification. On the other hand, if you are reading this, then good for you, taking the time and trouble to do so. You may disagree with my views but hey, that’s life!
As I have said already, I take issue with the idea that in this day and age, all self expression is just ‘content’. It serves to cheapen or devalue the worth of the work; and it seems to trivialise it too – it puts expression alongside all of that other crap that really is just ‘content’ – such as stupid videos of pets doing daft things etc. Oh it’s all content is it not? Well yes, it is in the eyes of big tech who provide the means to do all of this. Sure.
The problem is that a lot of people who would otherwise engage in self expression – such as writing songs – are instead creating ‘content’ videos. Here’s the difference: whilst I accept that a video can provide a platform for self expression, it is hardly a replacement writing a song, for instance. Songs that mean something, songs that change the world etc. Oh I guess there are musicians showcasing their musical expression in video form. Well yes, that is true. But the problem with video – and this is a sociological point – is that it is creating a culture centred around watching videos all day. It seems to me that half of the world is creating videos whilst the other half watches them. And there’s your culture. Good isn’t it? Well not really. It’s bad enough that kids are locked indoors these days for a whole variety of reasons; and glued to some kind of screen. Oh where does one start with things that are wrong about…today!
Ok, I could rant on but I’ll stop there. Take from that what you will. It wasn’t exactly a thesis of academic proportions; just an attempt at saying something about something. Yeah, I object to songs and musical composition being called, ‘content’. Stuff your content!
