When I first heard that John Mayer had quit Twitter I wasn’t very shocked but I thought to myself something along the lines of:
Oh well, his loss.
This was mostly due to the fact that he had so many followers on Twitter (I mean, what I wouldn’t give for all of those!).
But his response later about how “No one creates lasting art via twitter” got me thinking – I’m not sure where I sit but it’s a good thing to think about:
It occurred to me that since the invocation of Twitter, nobody who has participated in it has created any lasting art. And yes! Yours truly is included in that roundup as well.
Thoughts? Read the full article here. Most people seem to agree with him on that poll.
Lyle Spain says
As an A/V guy most of what i do in ministry isn’t a “lasting art”. it’s disposable. for example … my team will bust their chops to create a video. it gets used once, or for a series. then it goes buhbye.
Matt Ralph says
I think there’s some truth in what Mayer has to say, but also plenty of self-indulgence.
Twitter isn’t going to help him create more crappy music that we’ll inevitably be tortured by for many years to come but it is helping me to discover music I enjoy listening to much more than his and people whose 140 characters or less commentary is opening me to up to much larger works of art I otherwise would not know existed.
Is there an issue of Twitter distracting people from creating art? Yes. Is the answer to jettison the whole technology? I’m not so sure.
I have a friend who is creating pretty incredible art right now on a web comic (ourobros.com) he is collaborating on with someone he met through Twitter. How am I reminded that he has a new comic up each week? Through Twitter, of course.
Josh Wagner says
I see that as a challenge. Tools are neutral. It’s all in how you use them.
Bramdg says
Hi John,
I never thought twitter had anything to do with art, lasting or not. I thought it was about relationships. In that area it works pretty good. Even lasting. At least, I’ve found new friends through twitter. I hope lasting friends. How about you?
God Bless,
B
Kyle Reed says
Is that what twitter is about though, creating art?
Stephen Bateman says
+1
Lee Bezotte says
I’m making a compilation of all the Tweets I’ve posted of strange things my kids have said. It might not be art to most but it’s something lasting I can pass on to them.
What about all those photographers that post to TwitPic? That’s art.
Tony Alicea says
I love Mayer’s music but I take his rants with a grain of salt. Just because he hasn’t been able to create “art” through Twitter doesn’t mean that nobody has or will. If that’s his choice, then so be it. Unfortunately (or not) he will take his lemmings along with him.