Yancey Strickler, writer, entrepreneur, and founder of Metalabel, dives into the redefinition of creativity in the digital age. He discusses the historical shift from collective identities to hyper-individualism and how the internet shapes our sense of self. Yancey believes the 21st century will be a 'Creative Century', emphasizing collaboration over isolation. He also unveils his concept of the Artist Corporation, aiming to align artistic expression with economic sustainability, and highlights the urgent need for meaningful community ties in an increasingly digital world.
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insights INSIGHT
Individualism Is a Recent Shift
Individualism as we understand it is relatively recent, emerging around 1000 AD with societal changes like banning cousin marriage.
The internet now spawns a new society enabling identity plasticity where people can continuously redefine themselves online.
insights INSIGHT
Internet Spurs Identityism
The internet celebrates multiple identities, enabling users to cultivate various authentic selves.
Identityism online is about proliferating identities as sources of power and connection.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Creativity's Modern Origin Story
Creativity as a concept emerged in the 1940s linked to military and advertising needs for divergent thinking.
The idea of creativity shifted art from lone genius myth to accessible human potential.
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In *The Second Self*, Sherry Turkle examines the computer as an integral part of our social and psychological lives, affecting how we think and interact with others. The book explores how technology shapes our self-awareness and relationships, using interviews with diverse groups to understand these dynamics. First published in 1984, it remains a foundational work in the psychology of computation.
The WEIRDest People in the World
Joseph Patrick Henrich
Korey Jackson
Joseph Henrich
In this book, Joseph Henrich explores how Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations developed their unique psychological profiles. He argues that changes in family structures, marriage, and religion, particularly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, led to the emergence of WEIRD psychology. This psychology is characterized by individualism, self-obsession, control-orientation, nonconformity, and analytical thinking, which contrast with the more group-focused and shame-driven cultures of non-Western societies. Henrich uses research from anthropology, psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology to explain how these psychological differences contributed to the industrial revolution and the global expansion of Europe[1][4][5].
Our Band Could Be Your Life
Michael Azerrad
Our Band Could Be Your Life is a comprehensive account of the DIY revolution in American rock music during the 1980s. The book profiles 13 influential indie bands, including Black Flag, Sonic Youth, The Replacements, Minutemen, and Husker Du, among others. It explores the personal stories, struggles, and successes of these bands, highlighting their impact on the music industry and their enduring influence. The narrative delves into the DIY ethos, the formation of independent labels like SST Records and Dischord, and the broader cultural and political context of the Reagan era. Azerrad's detailed and engaging writing humanizes the mythology surrounding these bands, providing a personal and insightful look into the lives and music of these pivotal figures in indie rock history.
Yancey Strickler (Website, X, Metalabel) is a writer, entrepreneur, creative, and founder of Metalabel, a network and platform that allows creative people to release work together. He is also a board member, co-founder and former CEO of Kickstarter and is currently working on establishing a new kind of corporate structure, the Artist Corporation.
Yancey's life and work has revolved around what it means to be a creative individual, and how to improve the cultural and mechanical forms that enable artists and creatives.
We talk about how much of modern society is rooted in individualism, how that wasn't always the case, and how the internet is evolving our sense of self. We get into creativity, the term's surprisingly recent origins, and why Yancey believes the 21st will be the "Creative Century." Then, we go beyond the individual and discuss the deeply-rooted longing that all of us have to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Yancey suggests that is not simply about being subsumed by a collective, but by maintaining our individual star while becoming part of larger constellations—like the labels that have empowered the distribution of ideas for centuries. Finally, we discuss the forms Yancey has or is helping to build and imagine a future where even more of the world creates professionally.
May we all shine more brightly and find others who inspire us to make wonderful things.
This episode is brought to you by Hampton, a private, highly vetted membership for founders. Hampton surveyed over 100 members with net worths of $1M-100M to create its 2024 Wealth Report. They asked about financial goals, spending habits, how much founders themselves, investment portfolio breakdowns, risk tolerance, estate planning and philanthropy, and more. Visit https://joinhampton.com/community to access the report.
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Timestamps
1:41: Individualism, Identity, and the Internet
19:13: Creativity — Its Origins, Art, and Reaching Toward Something Deeper
33:30: The Creative Century and a Case for the Continued Growth of Professional Creativity
38:27: Hampton
40:02: Something Bigger than Ourselves — The Post-Individual, Bentoism, Being a Star and a Constellation
51:51: Labels & Conspiring Together in Practice
1:07:15: New Forms & Kickstarter
1:18:44: Metalabel
1:31:56: Creativity and Commerce & A Brand New Form: The Artist Corporation
1:46:22: The Long Game: Supporting the Artistic and Creative Life
Key Links & References (all available at dialectic.fm)
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