"Like A Mighty Army"

"If all the professional dancers in the United States stood shoulder to shoulder to form a single chorus line, it would stretch from 42nd Street for nearly the entire length of Manhattan. If every artist in America’s work force banded together, their ranks would be double the size of the United States Army. More Americans identify their primary occupation as artist than as lawyer, doctor, police officer or farm worker."

My friend, Randy Elrod, pointed me to this article in the New York Times.  It's an interesting article that talks about the impact that the artist community has on the American economy and culture.

Most of this year I've heard the mantra about "changing culture through the arts".  It seems to be a resonant theme that I've picked up at conferences, in magazines and in podcasts that I've heard.  This article to me is the statistical information needed to show that  there really is an impact that Art can make on culture--if only all of the forces were somehow in concert together.

Look at the statistical breakdown of artists (by men and women-by profession).  It's amazing that this many people consider themselves in the artistic field.  I shouldn't be surprised since Daniel Pink predicted the rise of the creative class in his book, A WHOLE NEW MIND talks about the second wave of the technology revolution will give rise to the class of creatives who move away from hard, cold, logic to a more expressive and introspective culture of arts and personal creativity.

I've noticed it in jobs--titles are changning.  A funeral director is no longer just a funeral guy--he's a Memorial Designer; a person who prepares visuals for business and events is no longer the window dress--they are visualist;  a copy specialist is no longer just a paste up person--they are a production designer/engineer;  a minister of music is no longer the song director-he/she is the Creative Director/Producer.  Is it all semantics?  Maybe, maybe not.

 

Maybe more people consider themselves artists because their job titles reflect more artistic responsibilities.  I do think that future jobs will require people to be more creative in their personal productions and will give a lift to those who already call themselves part of the Creative Class.