PressPausePlay

The form of art, film and music is ever changing, as time progresses the expectations of the industry changes

to fit the new form of incoming artists.  In the past, it was common only for those in the 'elite' group - those who had time and money to spend, could go and visit great works of art that were considered in that time to be a rare sighting. Nowadays it is more common for a individual to see a piece of art that had previously considered to be in limited access. Anyone today who has a source such as a computer, phone, or even a souvenir can see these types of art without having to see the real thing. Today's generation has more access than ever before and with it comes a new source of profiling artistry. A term known as 'democratization' describes this process - everyone having equal access to media and technology. The documentary 'PressPausePlay' delves into this discussion, questioning what the process of democratization has of value, and if these values are helpful or harmful to the budding cultural changes. Some are opposed to this new change, and want things to stay 'elitist' where only a chosen few are cut out for the business with the right  talent. And others embrace this as a means of putting themselves out there, they want to show the world that what they can do, that they have something to offer.  "With a lot more people making music, and music is definitely democratized now, to where anyone can make an album. Any single person with the most minimal software can make a record, put the record on the internet, and let the entire world know they exist, the problem is everyone's doing that" (Christopher Weingarten - Music Journalist, presspauseplay). This quote may be referencing to the idea  of democratization where when everyone has access - and anyone can make something an put it up on the internet it almost ruins the idea of people having a society built up on talent and fame, but now with everyone doing it, it makes it much harder for other competing artists to survive in this kind of society. If everyone thinks that they have the greatest idea that only they can offer, and if everything they are making is mediocre, then the concept of real talent is taken away. "Anybody can go out and make a movie, anybody who has fifteen hundred dollars can buy a camera, even if you don't, there's so many ways to make a movie, to distribute your film on the internet, there's a million different platforms, and that's all really good for people who want to express themselves, but it makes it harder to break through all of the noise" (Lena Dunham - Film Director, presspauseplay). Quite like the quote suggests, the idea of democratization, and the distribution and making of art is good for those who want to try their hand at something such as photography, but for someone else who might be trying to possibly make a living off of that same scaffolding, it bemes difficult to separate through all of the music and art being made. For someone to make a serious career, they would have to depend on critiques, and sponsors to sift through everything and find them. With everyone doing the same thing it makes the competition to be seen much more difficult and strenuous.          

        More and more opportunities present themselves today for new generations to find ways of communicating, processing, constructing and spreading forms of art. The uprising of a digital revolution has created a new turn for the ways in which people listen to, explore and view media. The spis that everyone believes that reading epidemic of using the internet for recognition and fame, though has essentially killed music stores, monopolized musicians, and sales in marketing for the music industry. People can illegally download music, or simply create their own. In a world where it is easy to make a piece of art and put it up onto of one the many sites that pervade internet where everyone follows the same ideals of making their own art form, where everyone is the artist - there becomes an atmosphere of self preservation.hen everyone is the artist - there is no audience.  "What happens with the media now is that, you go to a concert, there's ten thousand people there, the difference is; that everyone believes that they are the artist, and everyone else is the audience. The problem with that of course, is everyone else thinks the same" (David Girhammer - pop magazine, presspauseplay). This quote explains the problem with everyone trying to exercise their creativity; is that everyone is the artist - there begins a breakup of community; while no one is left to enjoy other types of music (again with the idea of sifting through and finding the 'talent' that resides in a sea of ordinary types of art).

When a performer gets on stage to perform - they have an audience, and then everyone else has an audience too when they film, or take a recording and throw it up on the internet for everyone to see. the point of going out to see the performance is then broken down - as then anyone can just easily look up a video on YouTube and in such a way, are denying themselves the experience of seeing the art, or performance in person. Another issue with the democratization of art, some people argue, is that the expectations for artists these days has dropped, and lowered. From a standpoint of some; technology can just easily be used to 'fix' what is wrong with the problem (i.e auto-tune). "Younger musicians, and some older ones are guilty of this to, where they rely to much on the technology. They give a substandard, they give a sub par performance, and they expect the technology to compensate for it. You have a tool that does that, You can tune that, you can edit this to death. You can adjust this, you can adjust that" (Nick Sansano - Music Producer, presspauseplay). Now with technology aspiring artists and the like can just simply adjust what they don't like, rather than work on correcting the problem. The rapid use of technology has provided the opportunity for many to create their own art, but at the price of breaking down the ideals of what is art, and who is seen as the artist, or who is good enough to be the artist. Democratization can have a few different points in viewing that affect the artist industry - as new artists are using the technology at their advantage. It is good for some, and troubling for others. The 'elite' who think more towards the ideals of  art being only for those who are deserving and not for those who can just make something on a laptop at home, are more open to the idea of art being a private setting - only there for those chosen for it. But as the movie entails, it shows how the process of democratization can be beneficial, and yet how it can lower the standards for the industry, or what is left of it.