I mean this is a discussion can be asked bigger and apply to all forms of art in the modern world in my opinion. Let's just look at a movie for instance. A director's role is to coordinate a group...
I mean this is a discussion can be asked bigger and apply to all forms of art in the modern world in my opinion.
Let's just look at a movie for instance. A director's role is to coordinate a group of artists to work in such a manner to produce their ideas of what a film should be about. We give the director credit for their work and their ability to coordinate all the pieces to create what may wind up being a beautiful piece of art.
However film gives credit to all those involved and no respectable director will ever leave those who worked to hard as uncredited for their contrubutions.
That is the heart of the issue with ghost writing. It's more about supporting and idea that the artist is the sole creator of his or her art. It's better for marketing in a very celebrity-worship heavy culture to promote the idea an individual we can idolize is "making art."
Top 100/pop music as a genre is less sexy when you take on board that 90% of it (made up number because ranting but close) is produced by the 4 same producers with a high chance of it being written by an old dude in Sweden. Music is less created by the artists and more by these four dudes and media companies, specifically in terms of what is promoted through mass media outlets.
In closing, in my semi-informed opinion, and with a heavy heart I say: Yes it's "bad" and fundamentally disagrees with the idea that music, as art, should reflect an artist and they should be comfortable with their own artistic expression. In the eyes of the mainstream public I don't think they'd care. We don't value the integrity of art that much in America specifically; I can't speak for other countries. We prefer our art to lean more to the entertainment side vice the creative side. Just look at the depth of high grossing movies, chart toppers, and best selling novels. Look at major award ceremonies and all the snubbing of objectively great and critically acclaimed art there.
Art does not exist in a vacuum, even if artists "write" their own songs they will be subject to outside influence, aid, or pressure. I think it's fine for an artist to hire a ghostwriter if they...
Art does not exist in a vacuum, even if artists "write" their own songs they will be subject to outside influence, aid, or pressure. I think it's fine for an artist to hire a ghostwriter if they feel they need the help getting a message across: nothing about Art demands it not be collaborative, and some of the most personal or touching stories can be the work of many people collaborating.
I think where some people take issue is with the idea that touching lyrics could be written by "mercenary" ghost writers for aloof artists who aren't really interesting in creating a piece of art, but in manipulating your emotional response in order to make money. To that I would say that it doesn't necessarily matter all that much: your emotional response is your own and the nature of the producer doesn't really change that. Being sceptical of it is fine but I don't think it invalidates how you might feel about a Kanye West song if you find out he didn't write it.
Basically, Kanye says a ghostwriter wrote "Violent Crimes". In that song, a lot of it talks about the over-sexualization of women and how he does not want his daughter to become sexualized when...
Basically, Kanye says a ghostwriter wrote "Violent Crimes". In that song, a lot of it talks about the over-sexualization of women and how he does not want his daughter to become sexualized when they grow up.
Do you think it's acceptable for Kanye, or any Artist, to not write such a personal verse?
I mean this is a discussion can be asked bigger and apply to all forms of art in the modern world in my opinion.
Let's just look at a movie for instance. A director's role is to coordinate a group of artists to work in such a manner to produce their ideas of what a film should be about. We give the director credit for their work and their ability to coordinate all the pieces to create what may wind up being a beautiful piece of art.
However film gives credit to all those involved and no respectable director will ever leave those who worked to hard as uncredited for their contrubutions.
That is the heart of the issue with ghost writing. It's more about supporting and idea that the artist is the sole creator of his or her art. It's better for marketing in a very celebrity-worship heavy culture to promote the idea an individual we can idolize is "making art."
Top 100/pop music as a genre is less sexy when you take on board that 90% of it (made up number because ranting but close) is produced by the 4 same producers with a high chance of it being written by an old dude in Sweden. Music is less created by the artists and more by these four dudes and media companies, specifically in terms of what is promoted through mass media outlets.
In closing, in my semi-informed opinion, and with a heavy heart I say: Yes it's "bad" and fundamentally disagrees with the idea that music, as art, should reflect an artist and they should be comfortable with their own artistic expression. In the eyes of the mainstream public I don't think they'd care. We don't value the integrity of art that much in America specifically; I can't speak for other countries. We prefer our art to lean more to the entertainment side vice the creative side. Just look at the depth of high grossing movies, chart toppers, and best selling novels. Look at major award ceremonies and all the snubbing of objectively great and critically acclaimed art there.
TL/DR: Yup.
Art does not exist in a vacuum, even if artists "write" their own songs they will be subject to outside influence, aid, or pressure. I think it's fine for an artist to hire a ghostwriter if they feel they need the help getting a message across: nothing about Art demands it not be collaborative, and some of the most personal or touching stories can be the work of many people collaborating.
I think where some people take issue is with the idea that touching lyrics could be written by "mercenary" ghost writers for aloof artists who aren't really interesting in creating a piece of art, but in manipulating your emotional response in order to make money. To that I would say that it doesn't necessarily matter all that much: your emotional response is your own and the nature of the producer doesn't really change that. Being sceptical of it is fine but I don't think it invalidates how you might feel about a Kanye West song if you find out he didn't write it.
Basically, Kanye says a ghostwriter wrote "Violent Crimes". In that song, a lot of it talks about the over-sexualization of women and how he does not want his daughter to become sexualized when they grow up.
Do you think it's acceptable for Kanye, or any Artist, to not write such a personal verse?