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- Is this art?
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What is art?
Painting. Sculpting. Writing.
Does everyone agree these can all be forms of art?
Maybe. Maybe not. What is considered art is a heavily debated concept.
When I was in Spain I got to visit the Reina Sofia modern art museum where I witnessed what much of society has agreed is very good art.
Lots of Picassos, including the giant anti-war Guernica painting. And a lot of cubism. A little too much for my taste.
But looking at the art of the past got me thinking about the art of today.
In today’s world we still have painters, sculptors, and writers, but I would argue they aren’t appreciated as much anymore.
Now, people appreciate movie-stars and influencers. People that fill their feed with content or entertain them on the big screen.
But I think the question I originally asked is more prevalent than ever.
What is art?
Are Instagram reels and tik-toks art, or are they brain rot?
Are TV-shows and movies art, or are they something you binge to pass the time?
In my opinion, art makes a statement, asks a question, makes you think, and makes you feel all at the same time.
In the end, I think art entertains, but I don’t think arts primary purpose should be to entertain.
I bring up the topic of art because the stories of different generations are often told through art. This can be seen in history books and museums.
When I think about the art of our generation, I get somewhat ashamed.
The ratio of production and consumption of thoughtful, challenging pieces of art compared to brain rot is unbalanced.
Way too many people are putting out time-wasting content, and we are rewarding them by consuming it.
We need to start using our spare time consuming and appreciating real art, not what many influencers would claim to be “art.”
Because your attention is money.
And if you keep paying people that produce brain rot instead of art, maybe brain rot will take art’s place.
I don’t want that to happen.
Neither should you.
🌱 This week’s step worth taking
As you scroll through social media this week (if you do at all 😉), try to spot the difference between videos that are creative and worth your attention, and ones that are just brain rot.
Then, unfollow or hit “not interested” on the brain rot. Not only will it boost your creativity and attention span, but it’ll also help real artists rise above the noise of click-chasers and empty content.
🎥 Worth the Watch
If you are interested in moving away from social media entirely, this short video shares some interesting insights on how to successfully do that:
How to Successfully Delete Social Media by Dr. Cal Newport and Dr. Andrew Huberman
🔄 Misstep of the week
Lately, I’ve been replacing mindless scrolling with reading. But when I wasn’t feeling great this week, I reached for my phone more than my book.
I let my mood dictate my actions.
When I felt good, I did good things; when I felt bad, I did the opposite.
Moving forward, no matter how I feel, I need to choose the actions that lift my mood and mindset.
🙌 Step Spotlight
Liam has always wanted to run for fun, but being a college athlete lead to an unhealthy relationship with the sport.
Starting with short, comfortable runs, Liam’s been redefining his relationship with running in a way that’s good for his body.
And he’s been loving it so much that he decided to kick it up a notch and train for a marathon.
Keep on running Liam! We’re all cheering you on 🏃♂️🏁
Want to be featured in next week’s Step Spotlight? Respond to this issue with a step you’ve taken that you’re proud of.
Until next week.
Step by step,
Nathan
P.S. Here’s Picasso’s giant painting that I saw in Spain 👀
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