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When I was a kid, you could often find me seated in front of the family desktop computer in our kitchen. Storytelling became a form of expression for me, which was crucial for a child who struggled with socializing and connecting with others.

Like many of my peers, I eventually fell susceptible to the mantra that creative writing is not a sustainable career path. My priorities shifted and I found myself in the arguably more stable field of journalism. At the very least, I could still write for a living.

But the sound of that little kid typing away on a Dell keyboard serves as the background soundtrack of my thoughts. I still write creatively, composing a poem here and there and occasionally submitting pieces to a literary magazine or sharing with friends. But what was once my ultimate career aspiration has been forced to remain a hobby.

What troubles me is that pursuing creative fields in general appears to have become a privilege; something to be achieved rather than accepted as part of our nature.

It’s no secret that the starving artist trope stems from some sense of truth —- it is not easy to break into creative fields. It’s common knowledge that it is hard to make money in the arts, especially in cities, leading some people to believe that pursuing creative fields is less beneficial to society compared to other, more traditionally successful professions.

Much of the frustration over the shared experience of having to fallback on less creative careers has morphed into the widespread criticism of “nepo babies,” a term coined for the children of celebrities who find instantaneous success in their chosen paths due to their parents’ success. The world of art is not excluded from this phenomena, and in fact serves as its center stage.

Musicians such as Maya Hawke (daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman), who also works as an actress, and Gracie Abrams (Daughter of J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath) are both examples of individuals whose careers many people credit to their parents’ influence. The extensive criticism of nepo baby success in arts-related fields speaks to the difficulty of the average artist struggling to ascend within such careers.

Cole Ross | Digital Design Director

These aspirations have become a gamble in a capitalistic society that values tangible financial success over supporting passions of a creative nature. What our current system fails to address is that not everything needs to be raking in money for it to be considered valuable or important.

The arts have been proven to have life-improving qualities. A literature review from Frontiers in Psychology found that fostering creative expression among school-age kids reduces stress, improves memory and fosters a sense of social connectedness.

Therefore, it is important to empower children who appear to take an interest in the arts instead of trying to drive them toward more traditional fields. Not only will it encourage their own well-being, but it will also open up more conversations about the importance of creativity and arts-related fields, hopefully inspiring future generations to follow their dreams.

In order to combat the negative implications that capitalistic mindsets have instilled upon those looking to pursue more creative paths, it is important to support local artists. Syracuse is home to a wide array of local artists, many of whom have work displayed at locations such as Wildflowers Armory. Funk n’ Waffles also routinely hosts shows featuring musicians and other performers from around the central New York area.

For those without the ability to directly support these artists through financial means, sharing their work via social media and word of mouth is still a strong way to show support. Not only does it bring their work further into the public consciousness, but it also creates the opportunity for them to be discovered by individuals who are able to contribute monetarily.

By supporting local artists and arts education efforts, we ensure that creative mediums are sustained and encourage the idea that creative expression is worthy of our time and attention. It highlights the importance of providing creative spaces for everyone, and not just those who already have the financial support to experience such careers.

If you have time during your day or need a weekend adventure idea, consider going out into the Syracuse community to support local artists. Doing so is a way to help creative members of the community, and you might just find some inspiration for your own passions as well.

Grace “Gray” Reed is a senior magazine, news and digital journalism major. Their column appears bi-weekly. They can be reached at greed04@syr.edu.

Published on September 23, 2024 at 9:45 pm