Rant: Digital art showcases now reward copycats over creators

I've been in digital art spaces for years, and showcases have lost their soul. Artists just repeat what's popular to get likes, not to express themselves. I spent months on a personal project, but it got zero attention because it wasn't trendy. Everyone posts the same shiny characters or epic landscapes, and it's boring. Back in the day, we shared work to learn and get better, not for fame. Now, if your art doesn't fit the current style, it's ignored. I've given up on big showcases and found real talk in smaller clubs. True art should break rules, not follow them.

2 comments

2 Comments

laura_carter2d ago

But isn't chasing likes just part of the game now? Maybe the algorithm pushes shiny stuff, but people have always liked what's popular.

carter.hugo2d ago

Remember when Instagram first added likes in 2010? It started as a simple heart button, but now it feels like a constant popularity contest. Sure, algorithms boost whatever gets clicks, but people have always cared about what others think. Like, remember trying to dress cool in school just to fit in? The tools changed, but that basic human want for validation is still there.