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| “The good writers touch life often. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and leave her for the flies.” Ray Bradbury |
Half a century ago, Andy Warhol predicted that “In the future everybody
will be world famous for fifteen minutes.” His prediction came true partially when
the TV channels multiplied and programmes such as reality shows thrust fame on
a whole lot of people who would have otherwise remained in total obscurity. Later
the internet and the social networks extended similar fame to anyone who wished
to achieve such fame.
The latest topic of debate at Indiblogger
[a blogger community] is whether quite many bloggers are “idiots”. Blogger Arvind Passey initiated the debate and his
phraseology is not quite felicitous. Let me quote the motion of the debate as
stated by him: “Most book, tech,
lifestyle, food, and fashion reviewers and influencers, reviewers, and bloggers
are idiots who hardly understand what they are doing. Do you agree? #OnlineWriting”
It’s a very daring question particularly given the fact that it is
raised at a blogger community by a fellow blogger. The question had risen in my
mind many times though I would never have dared to state it so bluntly in
public.
My understanding is that popularisation of anything tends to trivialise
it. For example, blogging popularised writing and at once trivialised it.
Anyone who could put words together became a writer. Pathetically prosaic lines
passed off as poetry that won public accolade. Books with neither substance nor
style became best sellers at E outlet stores albeit for a few days. Which
reminds us of Andy Warhol’s 15 minute-fame.
Quite many of these popular bloggers achieve success through the cliques
they form in various ways like blogger communities or social network groups
where they follow the mutual back-scratching policy. They support each other in
the process of hogging the 15-minute limelight. In the process, quality is
sacrificed and trivia is glorified.
That is also quite a view!
ReplyDeleteI resisted the temptation to go beyond and apply the 'view' to what's happening in the country now. See how everything from science to religion is being trivialised.
DeleteGood view
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWhat do you have to say about personal bloggers?
ReplyDeleteThere are quite many very genuine bloggers most of whom belong to that category. Of course, there are also good travel bloggers, recipe bloggers and so on. But the overwhelming number of the others is rather disappointing
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