The difference


Nomen 
August 28, 2016



Hi, dear readers!

I 'm so happy to see that many creative people have sites here on Althemy platform, so many different styles, ideas, arts, interests... And I want to thank you all for reading my texts, leaving comments, and supporting my work!
The 'Coffee time' text category is dedicated to various themes, you can imagine us sitting comfy and drinking nice coffee while discussing

Today's entry will be a little reality check, and probably pretty sour for some people.
Because the moment when someone must speak up and get the things cleared up once and for all, must be unpleasant. And the truth cannot be hidden under the rug forever.

Every person that had burning passion for a hobby and tried to turn it into something more serious will be familiar with this question: How does it feel when people identify all of your hard work as someone's effortless gain?

Let me give you an example: world of design.

On one side -
We have person who worked hard to balance private life, paying bills, and gaining extra money to pay not so small scholarship and finish education which will upgrade beloved hobby to a job, and make it professional. Many years of fighting for an idea to survive, making your products. Getting better. Promoting, organizing exhibits, events, all by yourself. Finally, making an recognizable name.
Years of learning, months of sleepless nights, hours of drawing, physical pain in hand as consequence, biting lips and keep up working to finish final projects. Finally, getting the diploma.
Then, starting the serious fight for a place under the Sun among many brands.

And, on the other side -
We have person who likes this idea too, but this guy sits in front of a computer and orders components from cheap Chinese websites, visit shops and buys half finished, or ready stuff. Then he puts it together, or just paints it a bit, adds details -and thanks to options given on social networks, he proclaims himself a 'designer'. He names his work 'unique', 'handmade', 'designed by me'.

I say NO. I say STOP lying. And stop degrading people who have actually achieved something with hard work!

THE DIFFERENCE is that piece of paper which is 'a cherry on top' for the first kind of people - educated, professional, with clean reputation. It's the crown for their effort, tears, sweat, time and money spent. It stands for their passion, sacrificing, hard work and persistence.
And NOBODY has the right to degrade, or consider that difference unimportant, or to declare that 'it's all the same as others do'.

It is fine to be creative, have a hobby and to sell you stuff. But then don't call yourself professional - call yourself hobbyist! Don't be another human garbage. People are not stupid, sure they will buy your 'unique' stuff once, and they will learn that they've been lied to.

What has motivated me to write all this is, unfortunately, uprising number of people who 'decorate themselves with other's feathers', swarming the online market with garbage.

I dedicate this blog entry to all of my dear diligent friends: designers, engineers, artists and others who are being pushed aside by self-proclaimed 'professionals'. Don't be silent, and don't let them get away with it.
Quality over quantity!

N.
To add a comment to the blog, you have to first join the site or login as a user
Aion
OtherMother ,
I see this discussion and I'm running away before Lady Nomen kills me for completely disagreeing :D
10 years ago
Aion
Nomen ,
Evixrodd- I'm from European ex socialistic country, and only very small number of people who have the best score can get first year on state university on budget, and if they don't have requiring grades, they must pay all next years of studying. The rest of the students (many with top grades too, when there's no more place on that college) are paying for full scholarship. So, unfortunately it's not free. It would be nice if education was free, but still keeping high criteria. Also, what Coryaya said "a privilege to learn in the fancy building, with professors handing down information on the silver plate", well unfortunately there are no fancy buildings here, nor the ready info on silver plate. State universities are robbed, and poor. You have to find information by yourself, by visiting libraries. There are no click-and-download brief files given by professors, and for extra knowledge you have to explore by yourself- that's what studying means. But in the end, on state uni you get the real knowledge, and the base for further work and development. There are also private colleges, more expensive, were you study to be "manager of something", with minimum of work and minimal knowledge. But nobody takes those seriously, and people that finish them usually have strong connections or reserved place in some cousin's company, or are in political party that helps them. The saddest fact regarding the high education here is that the people from generations which had 100% free education, and now are in politics are ruining the university and trying to turn it into "money for paper" kind of private business. So, it's not all rainbows and sunshine here. @Coryaya- You are studying photography? Where can I see your work? :) To all of you: Forum is activated on my site here, you can introduce your work on one of the themes! http://nomen.althemy.com/forum :)
10 years ago
Aion
Evixrodd ,
I would support Coryaya on this, we are a bit spoiled here in Europe and in US and take education a bit for granted. But that does not prevent us from being snobby toward the rest of the world. Specially us people from ex socialistic countries where we have high education free and available to almost anyone. But, that is a whole other topic... @Coryaya you are from an African country if I remember correctly?
10 years ago
Aion
Nomen ,
Coryaya, I think you should read Diamond's comment below. Thank you all for your comments, you gave me nice idea for next themes ;)
10 years ago
Aion
Coryaya ,
I am an art student in a country where any form of education (even primary school) is considered a privilege. On that note: I know some well educated people who never stepped a foot in the university building, but they had to put even more blood, sweat, time and effort to reach the level of education a lot of Europeans take for granted. I am so lucky to be able to study photography at the university but I know and admire many photographers who are self taught. Someone who pushed trough much more than school with insatiable desire to learn is just as educated as someone who had a privilege to learn in the fancy building, with professors handing down information on the silver plate (again I am one of the lucky ones). Sometimes I see a lot of uneducated lazy people with their diploma, breezed trough uni, cheated on exams, bribed professors.... All from countries that take education for granted. But that is a whole other topic...
10 years ago
Aion
Demons ,
Like Catwhisperer I agree with almost all of this. If we are talking about academia then yes, a formal education and a diploma are clear ways to differentiate between amateurs and professionals. On the other hand if we are talking about arts and crafts then I don't think it is so black and white. A formal education is one way to perfect your trade, probably the best one because it also gives you some perspective about your chosen field of art by, for example, giving you insight into the history of your trade and thus making you a more well rounded artist. But that isn't to say that someone who is self taught cannot match your level of expertise if they have the raw talent and nurtured it properly. The key thing to both of these methods is commitment and hard work. Whether you spent years in school learning your trade or, on the other hand, never had the opportunity to do so but nevertheless spent years being an apprentice or teaching yourself bits and pieces of knowledge here and there, if, like you mentioned, you put in the years, days and hours of blood sweat and tears into your craft then you can call yourself an artist. At least if you ask me :) The lazy people who don't put in the work and who take shortcuts are another matter entirely. Like you said, they should be called hobbyists (or at the very least amateur artists). Not because there is no artistic talent involved there, maybe there is, but because they cannot and should not be put in the same category as people who spent years and dedicated their lives to nurturing their art and making it blossom. The most depressing thing for me is that a lot of people can't tell the difference between the two and so just blindly accept whatever bullshit title someone puts on their facebook page :(
10 years ago
Aion
diamond ,
So well said. There is a reason why studying programs are so hard and complex, and why a level of education reflects on job opportunities and paychecks. There are pay grades for God's sake. And it has been that way since the first empires and civilizations on Earth- people who are well educated had a different treatment and social position than those who weren't. This doesn't mean that the less educated are less worthy, but in terms of expertise and ability to do any work, even art, the level of education is what sets apart the experts from amateurs. It just happens that like all values, education and diplomas that come with it are being discredited by those too lazy or intellectually challenged to actually acquire one. People who are ok with not being highly educated will do their job the best they can and won't try to say they are equal with those who busted their behinds off to get to that "just stupid piece of paper". Of course it is just a stupid piece pf paper to those who can not possibly grasp its value, because they never worked for it. Never be ashamed to ask for recognition, it is not a crime to be educated and proud of it :) If they can all shout that we are equal we can shout too
10 years ago
Aion
Nomen ,
Catwhisperer- I'm not talking about art education, and design was just an example. A metaphor: Bijouterie is nice, but it's not fine metal, pearls and gems. The same thing is with knowledge and education, there are different levels of it, and I'm speaking about problem when mediocrities without an hour of studying something want to persuade others that they are on the same level as someone who is highly educated. With all respect for people with high schools and different courses, it's not the same. Also, artistic talents, practiced skills and abilities are totally different theme.
10 years ago
Aion
Gaelira Gwealon ,
I agree with you. I am sick of seeing bad jewelry, plastic components just BADLY glued together... And the worst are the people calling themselves a jewelry designers, creators, artists when they didn't do anything expect throwing some cheap money to buy almost finished piece! The one thing is to recreate your own jewelry if you want to have something different and unique and to redesign the piece that you already have, but stop calling yourself a designer when you're not designing anything! I am so proud of wearing jewelry from the brands that own quality, uniqueness and politeness to their costumers. And I can proudly say that you are on my list of those brands :)
10 years ago
Aion
Catwhisperer ,
I would agree with 90% of this! Except for needing a diploma... Education is super important and yes, art education is more than necessary. I have a doctorate in art and I still believe that conventional education can (but not always) suck balls compared to some other forms of art education. Art actually takes decades of mastery and constant learning, that is the trick...
10 years ago