When Did Artists Become the Product?
I recently watched another artist talk about how the "game" keeps changing for creators.
Her words stayed with me because I have lived through so many versions of this transformation.
Artists have always had to adapt. We learn new tools, experiment with new ideas, and find new ways to share our work.
But somewhere along the way, the expectations changed.
Artists were no longer only expected to create art.
We became photographers of our own work, website designers, graphic designers, marketers, social media managers, videographers, editors, and content creators.
And the list keeps growing.
Before Algorithms
I graduated from the Professional Photography program at Langara College in 1995.
The world was completely different.
There were no smartphones.
No Instagram.
No TikTok.
No websites.
We studied photography seriously. I spent hours looking at photographs in magazines like Vogue, studying composition, lighting, storytelling, and what made an image powerful.
Photography was expensive. Film, processing, printing, and equipment required commitment.
Your portfolio was everything.
We were told: Never leave your portfolio with someone. It could be lost or stolen.
Your work existed in your hands. You carried it. You protected it. You presented it in person.
Then technology changed.
The Artist Learns Again
The internet arrived, and artists were told:
"You need a website."
So I learned HTML when many people had barely heard of it. I learned Photoshop. I created branding, designed online spaces, and adapted to the digital world.
Then came social media.
"You need a presence."
So I learned blogs. I created hundreds of YouTube videos. I learned Instagram. I learned how to tell stories online and connect with people.
I adapted.
Again and again.
But the finish line kept moving.
Now artists are told:
You need video.
You need reels.
You need to understand algorithms.
You need to post constantly.
You need a personal brand.
You need to make yourself visible every single day.
When Did Artists Become the Product?
One artist described how far this has gone. She talked about the pressure of creating TikTok videos and even making sure her hands looked perfect on camera.
That comment made me stop.
Not because there is anything wrong with enjoying beauty, fashion, or self-expression.
The problem is what it represents.
When did artists become responsible for not only creating the art, but packaging ourselves as the product?
I am an artist.
Not a salesperson.
Of course artists need to share their work. Of course connecting with people and selling art is part of being a working artist.
But there is a difference between sharing your creativity and becoming a full-time marketing machine.
Every hour spent chasing algorithms is an hour taken away from creating.
Every new platform creates another learning curve.
Every new trend creates another demand.
And we have to ask:
Are these technologies truly helping artists share their work?
Or are they creating another layer of unpaid labour that takes artists away from the very thing they are here to do?
Create.
Who Benefits?
We need to ask a bigger question.
Who benefits from this endless cycle?
Are artists truly being empowered, or are we providing free content, free data, and free labour to massive companies that profit from our creativity and attention?
Artists have always adapted.
We are curious.
We are problem-solvers.
We learn new tools.
But adaptation should not mean the art becomes secondary.
AI: Tool or Replacement?
Now we face another enormous shift: artificial intelligence.
I want to be clear.
I do not use AI to create my paintings, murals, or photography.
My artwork comes from my own hands, my experiences, my imagination, and my connection to the world around me.
I do use technology, including AI tools, for things like writing, brainstorming, organizing ideas, and creating posters for communication and activism.
There is a difference between using a tool to communicate an idea and replacing the creative process itself.
Artists have always learned from others. We study masters, practice techniques, and build on what came before us.
The important questions are:
Who created the idea?
Who shaped the message?
Who is telling the story?
Where does the human experience come in?
Art Has Always Fought Back
Throughout history, artists have responded to difficult times.
Political cartoons, protest posters, murals, songs, and photography have challenged power and brought people together.
That is where ideas like #FightBackWithArt and #WarriorUpWithArt came from.
When people felt attacked, artists responded with creativity.
Humour.
Satire.
Imagination.
Resistance.
Art has always been a way to say: We are still here.
Finding the Balance
I have always been a person who asks questions.
Sometimes my words come out sharp because I care deeply.
I am learning that the craft is knowing when to sharpen the blade and when to soften the handle—so people can pick it up and use it with you.
The blade asks questions.
The handle invites conversation.
That is what art can do.
Technology should support creativity, not consume it.
Artists are not content factories.
We are not algorithms.
We are human beings with something to say.
The value of art was never measured by views, likes, or what a computer decided to show us.
It was measured by connection.
A human being creating something that reaches another human being.
And maybe that is what we need to protect most:
The human heart of creativity.
We are at a really good point. The article has evolved from “Facebook views dropped” into a much bigger reflection on the changing life of an artist: technology, algorithms, unpaid labour, AI, activism, and protecting the human part of creativity.
I also brought in the “sharp blade / softened handle” idea because I think that is part of your creative voice.
Here is the full blog draft:
The Never-Ending Game: When Did Artists Become the Product?
I recently watched another artist talk about how the "game" keeps changing for creators.
Her words stayed with me because I have lived through so many versions of this transformation.
Artists have always had to adapt. We learn new tools, experiment with new ideas, and find new ways to share our work.
But somewhere along the way, the expectations changed.
Artists were no longer only expected to create art.
We became photographers of our own work, website designers, graphic designers, marketers, social media managers, videographers, editors, and content creators.
And the list keeps growing.
Before Algorithms
I graduated from the Professional Photography program at Langara College in 1995.
The world was completely different.
There were no smartphones.
No Instagram.
No TikTok.
No websites.
We studied photography seriously. I spent hours looking at photographs in magazines like Vogue, studying composition, lighting, storytelling, and what made an image powerful.
Photography was expensive. Film, processing, printing, and equipment required commitment.
Your portfolio was everything.
We were told: Never leave your portfolio with someone. It could be lost or stolen.
Your work existed in your hands. You carried it. You protected it. You presented it in person.
Then technology changed.
The Artist Learns Again
The internet arrived, and artists were told:
"You need a website."
So I learned HTML when many people had barely heard of it. I learned Photoshop. I created branding, designed online spaces, and adapted to the digital world.
Then came social media.
"You need a presence."
So I learned blogs. I created hundreds of YouTube videos. I learned Instagram. I learned how to tell stories online and connect with people.
I adapted.
Again and again.
But the finish line kept moving.
Now artists are told:
You need video.
You need reels.
You need to understand algorithms.
You need to post constantly.
You need a personal brand.
You need to make yourself visible every single day.
When Did Artists Become the Product?
One artist described how far this has gone. She talked about the pressure of creating TikTok videos and even making sure her hands looked perfect on camera.
That comment made me stop.
Not because there is anything wrong with enjoying beauty, fashion, or self-expression.
The problem is what it represents.
When did artists become responsible for not only creating the art, but packaging ourselves as the product?
I am an artist.
Not a salesperson.
Of course artists need to share their work. Of course connecting with people and selling art is part of being a working artist.
But there is a difference between sharing your creativity and becoming a full-time marketing machine.
Every hour spent chasing algorithms is an hour taken away from creating.
Every new platform creates another learning curve.
Every new trend creates another demand.
And we have to ask:
Are these technologies truly helping artists share their work?
Or are they creating another layer of unpaid labour that takes artists away from the very thing they are here to do?
Create.
Who Benefits?
We need to ask a bigger question.
Who benefits from this endless cycle?
Are artists truly being empowered, or are we providing free content, free data, and free labour to massive companies that profit from our creativity and attention?
Artists have always adapted.
We are curious.
We are problem-solvers.
We learn new tools.
But adaptation should not mean the art becomes secondary.
AI: Tool or Replacement?
Now we face another enormous shift: artificial intelligence.
I want to be clear.
I do not use AI to create my paintings, murals, or photography.
My artwork comes from my own hands, my experiences, my imagination, and my connection to the world around me.
I do use technology, including AI tools, for things like writing, brainstorming, organizing ideas, and creating posters for communication and activism.
There is a difference between using a tool to communicate an idea and replacing the creative process itself.
Artists have always learned from others. We study masters, practice techniques, and build on what came before us.
The important questions are:
Who created the idea?
Who shaped the message?
Who is telling the story?
Where does the human experience come in?
Art Has Always Fought Back
Throughout history, artists have responded to difficult times.
Political cartoons, protest posters, murals, songs, and photography have challenged power and brought people together.
That is where ideas like #FightBackWithArt and #WarriorUpWithArt came from.
When people felt attacked, artists responded with creativity.
Humour.
Satire.
Imagination.
Resistance.
Art has always been a way to say: We are still here.
Finding the Balance
I have always been a person who asks questions.
Sometimes my words come out sharp because I care deeply.
I am learning that the craft is knowing when to sharpen the blade and when to soften the handle—so people can pick it up and use it with you.
The blade asks questions.
The handle invites conversation.
That is what art can do.
Technology should support creativity, not consume it.
Artists are not content factories.
We are not algorithms.
We are human beings with something to say.
The value of art was never measured by views, likes, or what a computer decided to show us.
It was measured by connection.
A human being creating something that reaches another human being.
And maybe that is what we need to protect most:
The human heart of creativity.
Reflective Questions
1. When did creating art become inseparable from constantly marketing ourselves?
2. Are digital platforms helping artists, or creating more unpaid work?
3. How much time should artists spend feeding algorithms instead of creating?
4. Should art be measured by views and likes, or by the connection it creates?
5. What parts of creativity can technology support, and what parts must remain human?
6. How do we protect artists from becoming content creators first and creators second?
7. Who benefits when artists provide endless free content online?
8. Can AI be a useful tool while still protecting human creativity?
9. What does it mean to create art in a world ruled by algorithms?
10. How can we support artists so they have more time to create?
#ArtistsAreNotAlgorithms
#ArtMatters
#EthicsInTheArts
#CreativeFreedom
#FightBackWithArt
#WarriorUpWithArt
#HumanCreativity
#SupportArtists
#ArtAndTechnology
#FutureOfArt
