ku10

As the artists, musicians, directors, and the like get more popular they’re usually accused of “pandering” or “selling out” to, presumably, the “masses.” The implication is that the artist is somehow compromising his original intent for the sake of getting more fans, money, or whatever.

I think this accusation comes from a simmering blend of two things:

1. Genuine fear on the fan’s part that something they cherished and enjoyed is being replaced by something less cherish-able and enjoyable.
2. Uneasiness about losing a previously exclusive cultural ace; not being able to go to parties and whip out lines like “oh, you haven’t heard of…” to impress friends/chicks.

The first fear is perhaps founded, but it sure as hell can’t be helped. No one lives in a vacuum—artists are going to be influenced by their own popularity, other artists, and their own fans whether they want to or not. They’re not compromising their “vision” because their vision is changing along with them. At most, they’re compromising your vision.

The second is basically an unjustified variant of “their old stuff was better”-syndrome. People get uncomfortable when the things they like get too popular, because they perceive popularity as diminishing their uniqueness. Yet, it’s not the artist’s responsibility to stay unknown; it’s silly to hate an artist for being popular because, if they’re really that good, then it’s a good thing for more people to share in their talent.

Penny Arcade’s Jerry Holkins addresses pandering this way:

The idea that art can’t be something the viewer enjoys is just one of these ideas that is hanging around out there. Art must whirr and whine like the dentist’s drill, skipping off the enamel to bury itself in the gum. Something that was created in joy, with the purpose of creating joy in others, well, we’ve got a term for that.

My point is that whether or not “pandering” is consciously occurring, it’s not something to complain about, simply because there’s no alternative. Protesting compromise or popularity is fruitless. The creator’s changed and what s/he makes is going to change with it.