You want fries with that? Creative careers are still out there, for now
Young people from poorer backgrounds looking to get into careers in creative industries could be amongst the most hard-hit by the government’s new ‘earn or learn’ social security policies argues Ruth Bridgstock, senior lecturer at Queensland University of Technology in a cross-posting from The Conversation.
The old jokes about creative arts and humanities graduates serving at the local fast food outlet are hard to put to rest – they speak to long-held concerns around the value of creative degrees, and to worries that students of creative arts programs aren’t employable when they graduate.
But soon-to-be released national graduate tracking research findings conducted by my research team at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation show that, while Australian creative arts graduates can take a while to settle in to their careers, their outcomes are actually very good.
But it seems likely the federal government’s new “earn or learn” social security policy will hinder the graduates’ attempts to launch into creative careers.
I like this article very much. It explores and exposes the possibilities that many in the creative world will already, to some degree, be aware of, and in many cases (I hope) seriously concerned about.
I agree with much in the article, but I hold a few reservations that may or may not be at odds with the general tenor of the piece. Creativity is one of a small number of things that can not be covered by a universal set of academic examination questions.
A degree in creativity is, at best, something of questionable integrity. There are almost certainly degrees that will help one individual or another to find the way, but the total absence of any kind of scholastic input beyond the three Rs, has seldom impeded progress along the road to the world of creativity.
To be a successful creative, one must be prepared to think differently to the main road travelers, be determined, and very brave.
The reality is that the ad industry is bottom loaded with creative positions which pays no better than McJobs.
Cream will rise but the odds are stacked against them.
The majority will keep struggling-churning out bread and butter work at mediocre salaries (which inflation adjusted) are less than what others made 10 years ago.
@ Another POV.
Yes you are right, but the application of funds and the promise of millions will not make for better creativity, this is the problem, when attempting to cut off talent by the meter or price it by the hour. The person with a degree may well demand more money, but the degree will not guarantee better creative, any more than will years of experience. Creativity can be lost, can desert one and return years later, in the same way as writers block or stage fright or blinding self doubt.
When I worked for state run radio forty years ago, we were called “the fairies of fantasy land” by all those who considered themselves in proper employment.
Please note everyone…
ADVERTISING is technically NOT a “creative industry” as that of film, TV, visual arts is.
Advertising is used for commercial purposes.
Most creatives @ agencies did general BUSINESS (Advertising, Marketing, Design) degrees — NOT visual art degrees!
Completely wrong. I’m a creative and I don’t know any agency creatives who did Business degrees. The art directors mostly come from graphic design, photography, vis comm degrees and the copywriters arts, law, comms degrees. Then most of them do AWARD School afterwards. I can tell you now a business grad trying to be an art director is not going to get very far without the skills you gain coming out of a creative degree.
Also, how are TV/film not for ‘commercial purposes’ either? They are not pure artforms – they are made for viewership and, in turn, profit. The only thing I can see being relevant to your argument is fine art.
Doesn’t matter what degree you have – you soon find out you should just have skipped uni and paid the $2K for AWARD school anyway…
Maybe I am an exception but I had a pretty much rewarding and well awarded creative career.
I entered with a BA in Marketing & Admin.
But the secret was learning from good mentors who never hesitated to kick your butt if you stepped out of line.
They patiently taught the fundamentals of how commercial arts work.
Infused good manners and creative discipline.
Explained why its wrong to scam.
Not to take shortcuts.
And what comes around, goes around.
Naturally when I was younger, i bristled at their preaching.
But now I appreciate them for actually bothering to polish this rough stone.
The apprenticeship path is the best way to carving a creative career that pays the mortgage(s), and still have a retirement kitty.
fast forward to today.
There are no worthy mentors to look up to.
Everyone is interested in short term hires.
AWARD school only churns out award junkies and creative clones.
We are commercial artists.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
@ Another POV
AMEN with all my heart. Yours is the statement to rank with the birth of the blues and the rediscovery of the lost chord. However, your last line should have read:
We are commercial artists, nothing less, but occasionally something much more.
The true creative must always leave at least one door open.
If you ask most creatives in advertising, they don’t see what they do as art. It’s a great way to get paid to do the things you otherwise would probably be doing for free for a very long time. Film, music, art and writing stuff. Sometimes you get paid well. And it might be a compromise, but nobody will invest $500k in a short film idea you have, let alone a 30 second short film idea you have – outside of advertising.
I agree with @Another POV. I learned the hard way and learned my craft (and my place!) well before I earned a position in a creative department. Under bristly, harsh creatives that were a lot scarier and better paid back then.
But I disagree there are no worthy mentors to look up to. Look around the room you’re in. If you can’t see a worthy mentor there, then take a look in the mirror. And realise you can be a worthy mentor. Get out and teach. It might be a pain in the arse, but it’s rewarding. If at the very least you save someone ten years of mistakes.
On another note, curse Abbott, Hockey and all their neo-con mates. And curse anyone who voted for them.
@richard moss
I agree we can and should all aim to be more.
But in the ‘look at me, bow to my awesomeness’ culture, I believe its better to humbly lead by example instead of swanning around.
I value the complimentary feedback of peers and juniors more than the microphone induced feedback from the knee jerk praise of the cocktail crowd.
@honest tea
You are absolutely correct. My most satisfying days in advertising were when people I mentored pull me aside at their promotion, after awards, weddings, house warming, agency opening and whisper a sincere thanks.
What comes around, goes around.
The trouble is that for every willing ear there are a lot more who rather listen to the sound of their ego.
As Matt Leblanc says in Episodes: What can you do about?
@Another POV
Ah that old dilemma. If everyone else is eating meat / driving a car / polluting the environment / voting Liberal / being a pompous prick, how can I, just one person make a difference?
By being yourself you give others permission to do so also. Please don’t stop doing it. And remember, it’s not what you took but what you gave that you’ll be remembered by.