New Books Network Sophie Bishop, "Influencer Creep: How Optimization, Authenticity, and Self-Branding Transform Creative Culture" (U California Press, 2025)
Nov 12, 2025
Sophie Bishop, an Associate Professor at the University of Leeds, explores how influencer strategies infiltrate the arts in her new book. She discusses the risks of platform dependency, revealing how artists and influencers adapt to opaque algorithms. Authenticity becomes a double-edged sword as creators navigate privacy issues. With TikTok's rise and AI's impact on creativity, the pressures on artists intensify. Bishop's insights into monetization and the evolving landscape of online creative labor are essential for understanding modern cultural dynamics.
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Influencer Strategies Have Spread Widely
- Influencer strategies have migrated beyond niche content creators into broader creative life.
- Sophie Bishop calls this spread 'influencer creep' because influencers shape tastes and techniques across sectors.
Platforms Prioritize Ads Over Creators
- Platforms prioritize advertisers and use opaque algorithms to promote content.
- Creators lack recourse and have no real ownership over their audiences or visibility.
COVID Followers Didn't Guarantee Income
- Artists gained followers during early COVID but later lost visibility and income.
- Some quit jobs expecting online sales and found the promised audience wouldn't reliably appear.
