I think it's our responsibility as artists to not only fight for our art but fight for the communities that are the reason we're able to continue making art, especially since, in Brooklyn's case, we as artists somehow made it 'cool' enough for the bigger money-making industries to start taking over.
Interpretation
Artists have a duty to advocate for their communities and safeguard their art from commercial exploitation.
In this quote, Mitski emphasizes the essential role artists play not only in creating art but also in protecting the cultural and community contexts that foster artistic expression. She suggests that as artists gain recognition, there comes a responsibility to ensure that the very communities contributing to their artistry are not overtaken by commercial interests, thereby losing their unique identity and significance.
In practice
In a speech at an arts fundraiser, one could quote Mitski to highlight the connection between artists and their communities.
Honestly, in the music business, it's all about being cool or being the newest thing or being the 'It' person, and I've tried really hard to be what is expected of me or what would be advantageous to my career, and I just reached the point where I said, 'No, I'm an emotional loser. I can't pretend to not care.'
In performance capture roles, it's not a committee of animators that author the role, it's the actor. I think that's a significant thing for people to understand.
The artist and the photographer seek the mysteries and the adventure of experience in nature.
Let us prove to the world that good taste, good art, and good writing can be good selling.
I was meant to be a composer and will be I'm sure. Don't ask me to try to forget this unpleasant thing and go play football - please.
I try to bring the audience's own drama - tears and laughter they know about - to them.
People aren't going to support an artist just because they have an audio file. They have to feel a real connection.
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