6- Art in the Professions of the Future
Hello, 'Flowers of My Imagination'.
I'd like to begin this piece with a question, if you may. My question is this, dear readers:
"Is it challenging to combine our art with our profession?"
Should drawing, designing, painting, or whichever art form we're interested in, remain just a hobby in our lives?
We'll delve into this, of course. But let's pose another question:
"How intertwined are science and art?"
Though these questions seem distinct, their answers converge in this article. We know that technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, reaching speeds we can hardly keep up with.
It's madness!
Every day we hear about new developments. We watch in astonishment as rapid and, sometimes unsettling, advancements unfold before us. Every morning introduces us to innovations. Things we once saw or heard in movies and science fiction series are becoming reality.
When witnessing these frenzied technological advancements, don't specific disciplines come to mind?
Engineering, mathematics, physics, etc. We can even speak of an educational model associated with them:
STEM.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics.
This concept has been foundational in educational models in many countries over the past decade. Our education aims to equip us with skills related to these four disciplines, but is it sufficient?
There's been a proposal to add another skill to this mix recently, which is "Art".
Hence, STEM evolves into STEAM.
With our ever-analytical minds, we quickly realize that as technology advances, art becomes increasingly integrated into our lives.
But how?
Let's clarify from the outset,
"As technology advances, many professions will vanish."
We've heard this numerous times. Many professions we've witnessed have already disappeared. However, it's crucial to note:
As many professions fade, many new ones will emerge.
And I can confidently state:
Art will play a significant role in these emerging professions.
How so?
Let's consider some examples:
Imagine the integration of VR technology into our daily lives, becoming more entrenched as days pass.
In circumstances like a pandemic, "Virtual Tourism" can offer a refreshing experience. You'll explore incredible places and see flora and fauna you've never encountered.
All of this requires art and artists.
If you own a restaurant, you could offer your customers a table on the surface of the sun. You'll need artists for this!
For this technology to be functional, it requires the touch of an artist. Moreover, there's the creation of "VR universes". This requires creators, developers, and artists. The industry will undeniably need imaginative and design-proficient individuals.
We often dream about the future.
I'm sure many imagine a world filled with incredible technological devices and structures.
Unless, of course, you're picturing a post-apocalyptic dystopia... Ahahah... Ahem...
These amazing technological gadgets obviously have a design aspect. Hence, the future's appearance, its aesthetic, and vibe will be in the hands of individuals rich in imagination and design capabilities. There's no doubt that art will be one of the chief architects of this.
"Art is the very essence of the future."
If you wonder where we'll prominently see traces of art:
Robot technology, architecture and urban planning, VR technology, colonization and design of habitats on other planets...
Art, drawing, and imagination will be essential in many areas. There's already a significant demand in these fields.
Okay, understood.
But what about those who don't want to work in these areas and simply enjoy content creation?
Where do we place cartoonists, manga artists, webtoon, and comic book creators? The projection is this:
These artists can easily earn money on social and digital platforms.
YouTube
ReROku
Patreon
Webtoons
Tapas
Kickstarter
Content creator artists have already started earning on these platforms. Soon, other social platforms like Instagram and TikTok will join the fray, and their numbers will increase rapidly. Regardless of the format - be it cartoons, manga, or comics - those who invest sufficient effort will comfortably earn a living.
Of course, talent and creativity will create a distinctive advantage. Artists who create more refined universes, stories, and characters will take the lead and earn significantly more through their fan base. Some artists are already earning enough to lead luxurious lives.
For a rough estimate, mangas selling thousands in print could potentially reach hundreds of thousands when opened up to the global digital market. Right now, globally popular mangas like One Piece are being read and followed by hundreds of millions, thanks to digital access. (Note: I'm not talking about official sales figures; I mean fan translations.)
Perhaps the next big thing could be your work.
Global exposure is now easy.
Let's also look at the evolution of comic books with technology.
As I've mentioned in my previous writings, the history of comic books is older than we think. They first appeared as mini cartoons in newspapers, and now we watch their high-tech movies. What's next?
We're heading to a point where we'll likely experience interactive movies. The only limit now is our imagination. Imagine being able to create and share a universe we dream about.
Who knows?
It might be challenging now, but with technological advancements and new opportunities, it won't be hard to present these experiences to people. And I'm not talking about a distant future.
According to scientists, by 2030, the lines between digital and reality will blur.
If a cat approached you, you wouldn't be able to tell at a glance whether it's real or virtual.
So, where do you want to be amidst all these developments?
Do you want to be just a consumer of this content? Or do you want to be in the producer's seat, designing new stories and universes?
I want to dwell a bit more on the topic of
"What will happen in the future as technology advances even further?"
Consider the movies and anime we watch now;
we'll be able to enter their universes in the "Mirror Worlds" (Metaverse). Perhaps we'll join the story as one of the characters in that series. Or we could play games in VR that feel "entirely real."
Let's set VR technology aside for a moment and think:
"What if, instead of immersing ourselves in the virtual world, we incorporate the virtual directly into our real lives?"
I'm talking about hyper-realistic holograms, like the cat example mentioned earlier.
There's a lot of work being done on advanced hologram technology. They produce impressive images by rendering two-dimensional objects in three dimensions. I can't even imagine playing games like Pokemon Go not on our phones but with our digitally advanced lenses or glasses.
Wouldn't it be fantastic if every street and avenue became a playground?
I think it would...
To conclude, where should we position ourselves in this entire design and creative process?
"First and foremost, we need to understand this better:
Art and technology cannot be considered separately, and when we look at future professions, we will need art even more.
So, of course, we must be brave, have confidence in ourselves, and with a clear understanding of what we want, we should be at the heart of these pioneering efforts."