The Arts Are Suffering From A Lack Of Meritocracy
It’s noticeable in every medium — film, music, theater, fine art, literary arts: our culture is no longer lifting up the best art. As long as we collectively prioritize an artist’s identity over the quality of their work, we'll be missing out on experiencing the most inspiring, genuine, and beautiful art that our artists have to offer.
When I was a young artist, I could tell when someone was giving me an opportunity just because I was a girl. Whether it was a gig opportunity, an interview, or a compliment, it mattered to me that my musicianship and my songs were gaining respect and admiration not because of my gender but because of their own merit. It felt patronizing to be seen as needing encouragement or validation just because I was a minority in my chosen medium when I felt that my guitar playing and songwriting spoke for themselves. Like anyone else, I put in hours and hours of practice, felt I had endless creativity and ability to musically innovate, and more than that, I wrote from the heart.