The Loss of Artistry

One of the reasons why America sucks is because of the loss of artistry.  Most know that I’m a huge finger pointer when I go to point out that this country is going down hill fast, but honestly, there needs to be something done.

In 90% of the jobs out there, it seems, there is no need for art of any kind.  Just manual labor.  Do this and get paid for it.  But those that get promoted, normally, are the ones that think outside the box, the ones that see a solution to a problem no one had even noticed.



But then I look at my step-daughter’s school.  The only ‘art’ program is a drama class.  There is no band, no art, no music of any kind.  Admittedly, it’s a small school, but still, kids can’t thrive, kids can’t be kids without something to challenge their imagination.

Without imagination, kids are hamstrung straight out of the gate.  75% of understanding math is to be able to imagine it.  Triangles are everywhere in this world, if you learn how to see them, and no one does anymore.  All this makes it harder and hard to succeed in this world.

But then the school systems are about succeeding, their about getting by.  Training a workforce instead of a management staff.  Its hard not to weep for this country, a country of children who don’t know how to dream realistically.  We are now taught that the only way to truly get ahead is to win the lottery, because by the time your 30 you’ll have so much debt you can’t breath and your one true dream will be retirement.

And retirement itself is a joke, by the time you are old enough to, you’ll be too worn out from working all your life....  And you’ll not have the imagination to do anything but find a hobby and rot away....

Is this a bleak look at it all?  Yes, how can it not be?  I look at the school system now, and shutter.  They now have curriculum for Pre-school that gets them ready for testing later in school.  Its all about the tests....  Schools are no longer about getting good grades and passing, its all about passing tests so that the schools can get more money.  And tests are how we are all graded.

When they show statistics on world education, the USA is very low on that list, far lower than it should be for a country with so much money.  The biggest revolutions in culture have come from artisanry.  Designers inspire with their designs for consumer products, but every car looks exactly the same now....

In fact, the car industry is the BEST example of how artistry and pride in what we make is gone.  Every car looks the same, the only differences now are the bells and whistles.  Cars made in America are normally crap now because the workers no longer car about what they make.  There is so much automation that there is no way for the worker to make their mark, thus making them just part of the machine itself.

The first car Toyota made in a US factory was recalled, and it was the first recall in the company’s history.  Workers here make mistakes, because workers here no longer care.  Any why should they?  Their bosses get all the money, huge bonuses that if divided through the company would get all the employees a huge raise....

I worked in the auto industry for over two years, and not once did I meet anyone that was proud of what they did.  They just wanted to get their paycheck and go home.

I myself had the pride knocked of me once.  I found a great local grocery store chain that was doing all the right things in the retail world.  I enjoyed working at the warehouse and wanted to make it a better place.  I worked and worked and ended up hurting my back.  But I still wanted to stay, wanted to contribute.  But I was then fired 21 days after coming off medical leave for talking to a subordinate about how he needed to settle down and not destroy any product that night.  I was just part of the machine, and they thought I could no longer perform so they found an excuse...a lame excuse, but one that worked.

To succeed in the USA, the status quo is to not think outside the box.  Keep your head down, shuffle through, do what your told, and simply regurgitate answer that you are fed when you are asked.  Which is what the school system is now.  Artistry has been taken out of our schools, because the people in management don’t want another revolution.  They are making more money than anyone in the country, and spending it to make sure they keep it.

Keeping people from seeing a better way by not giving them the skills to....  Yeah, that’s the way to do it.  Anyways, what is your thoughts on our lost of artistry in this country?  Please, I’d enjoy seeing your comments on this subject below!