a day ago
- In the 1990s, bands like Pearl Jam rejected commercial success and fame, viewing selling out as a serious compromise of artistic integrity.
- Today, celebrity-brand collaborations like Lady Gaga's Oreos are widely accepted without stigma, reflecting a cultural shift away from anti-consumerism.
- The decline of art criticism and the rise of poptimism, which equates popularity with merit, contributed to the erosion of the anti-commercialist ethos.
- The 'Great Switcheroo' describes how people now aspire to fame rather than wealth, seeing themselves as temporarily unknown celebrities, which fuels tolerance of celebrity greed.
- To restore cultural integrity, the author argues for reviving the stigma against selling out and redrawing the line between art and advertisement.