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www.psmag.com: The life of a poet, painter, or performer is seldom an easy one. Aside from the few who make it big, earnings tend to be low, while unemployment rates tend to be high. So why do so many people pursue a career in the arts?
In two words: Job satisfaction.
I knew from a very young age that an 8-hour workday 5 days a week sitting at a cubicle and working on a computer was not for me. It would seem that most artists agree with me; it is wonderful to be able to express yourself on a daily basis, to let creativity reign instead of repeating the same routine every day. Who doesn't want each new day to be an adventure? With the arts there is always something different, a new way to approach things or some new problem to tackle. Governmental funding groups should read this article to know that often their money streaming to the "four core subjects" is not quite right; instead, it should be diverted to the arts so that students can learn that there is more available to them than the few tracks that are drilled into us throughout our primary and secondary educations.
The data in this article did not surprise me. Even though I did not know what I wanted to study in college until pretty recently, I knew it would be some kind of art and I think a lot of people feel that way too. I would be interested to see though how much job satisfaction factors into people's overall satisfaction with their lives. You spend a lot of your life at work, so it is important to enjoy that and if you can be doing something that you love, its ideal. But there are ways to do what you love outside of work too and I think a lot of people may feel fulfilled just through enjoying art as a hobby. I also thought it was interesting that the satisfaction for the UK was so low. I wonder if they are just tougher graders than other countries?
I think this is an important study not to show that artists are possible overall happier people because of their jobs, but instead, to identify what elements in jobs lead people to have an increased enjoyment in their work. The article read that learning new skill, flexible hours, and being to take your own initiative were three reasons artists could possibly be happier. I think that corporations should try to in corporate these three things into their businesses. Although businesses often try to stay organized and often these characteristic are considered to be chaotic I think it is still possible for a business to organized and in corporate these thing without it being detrimental to their overall outcomes.
This article does not surprise me in the slightest. I knew that choosing a career in art would mean a lot of work, a lot of time, and not a lot of money. However, I wouldn't want to do anything else with my life that wasn't theater. To me, it is important to be doing something that you love. Now I understand there are times that we do have to take jobs we don't like because we need the money. If your in this situation you should work hard, so that one day you can get back to be doing work that you love because that is the best kind of work.
The term "artist" is arguably ubiquitous at this point, but it's hard to argue that the pursuit of making your art your life career is one chosen out of passion and the pursuit of happiness, not one of monetary greed and parental piety. Some artists do pursue the industry for fame and fortune, but they'd be foolish if they believed they would undoubtedly succeed in their ventures and base their lives on said premise. Most artists look upon their craft as something that makes them happy. And with the time we spend on our jobs, a happy job will be incredibly important to a happy life. (Ask any of the 8-to-7 guys in their fancy 4x4x4 cubicles over there!) But back to the ubiquity- I think many people can argue that their job is an art in and of itself, whether it's their theatrical devotion or their passion for technological presentation. A guy programming video games is an artist, in a different way from a film actor, but their both contributing their knowledge in a way that they deem is artistic. But they're happy doing what they do, and maybe that's what matters to them.
I'd also argue that happiness can't be measured on a one-dimensional, linear scale. Sure, this guy says he's an 8, but that's dependent on his upbringing and experiences. Perhaps childhoods in the UK for those surveyed were spectacularly artistic, and as adults their lives cannot compare. Maybe the Swiss had the worst, most stressful primary school experiences ever so as adults they found their lives rich and full of happiness. Who knows? (I don't.) Additionally, the article seems to presume that many artists have more of a choice in what they want to do, often meaning they are self-employed. Artistic endeavors are hard to control, so that makes sense, but what about the artists that do work for a large company, with rules and strict deadlines? And what about the IT guys who are freelances and determine their own schedules and duties?
4 words: Why We Do This. We constantly remind ourselves in times of trouble and stress that at least we're doing what we want to be doing. And that counts for a lot. I think some companies (like Google) are starting to pick up on the high morale that the arts can bring and incorporate some of it (like having employees work on interesting side projects a few times a week) because it shows how important expressing yourself creatively is. I hope that everyone is encouraged to do whatever makes them happy, and that they don't settle for less. There's just not much motivation to go into the arts unless you want to be. Not worth the hassle.
Artists go through a lot -- lack of funding, lack of jobs, idea droughts. It's tough, but constantly I'm reminded how much joy there is in making art. My parents are both self-employed artists. My dad always tells me that he knew what he wanted to do when he was a young boy and that's what he did. He says that even after 50 years in the business, he's still getting better and finding new challenges. I love hearing him talk about his art -- he's still so excited about it even after so much time! He's the most job-satisfied person I've ever met. That's what's amazing about art. There's always something new and there's always a challenge, and even if we're looked down upon sometimes because we're not curing disease via science, I always think about how much better the world is for having art. How else would the world stay so colorful? Corny, most definitely, but I fully stand by my statement!
This seems logical. Particularly as Millenials come of age into a world where the retirement age probably won't be 65 and student loans put people into the red before they've even started, being happy with the work you're doing becomes significantly more important. I feel like this does not just apply to artists though. I know engineers, store owners, doctors etc. who are equally fulfilled by what they do. In fact, I'd argue in the 21st century, many new fields contain roles in which people consider themselves artists.
I agree with what the research says, It makes sense. I believe artists are more satisfied with their job than those who are working at a desks, behind counters, etc. I think it is the satisfaction you get when you're making and/or when you are finished with a project (painting, sculpture, blog post, etc.) Working should be enjoyable especially since people spend so much of their time at their jobs. I don't know about everyone else, but when I draw (especially with charcoal...) I feel so much better and I get so into the drawing that the world seems to fade away and it's just me and my drawing (which is also why when I'm in a drawing class and the professor walks over to check how I'm doing I freak out because I forget that there are other people around). I think art, in every form, is a way for people to relax and leave their problems behind, a kind of self-reflection period in a person's day. When you have a non-artistic job, you basically have to either smother your problems or just constantly face them without time to think about them.
It's weird they mentioned money (though that is the reason to get a job). I always feel bad when I talk to my friends about money because I've never cared about it. I grew up in a family that didn't like spending money and I learned how to be frugal and all but my parents never drilled "money-making" into me or my brother's minds. I love them for that, but sometimes I never know what to tell my friends because while they're saying how they are going to make money and then retire, I just say I want to be happy and I want to love my job so much that I'll never want to retire.
This was an interesting article and I agree with most of what it said, but I think they entirely missed the point of why artist have the most job satisfaction. I would guess the majority of non-artistic jobs, have quite a number of people working in them that are doing it because they need the money or because their dad or someone told them thats what they needed to do with their life. Ergo, there are many unhappy people in non-artistic jobs. I have never heard of anyone becoming an artist because they need the money or because thats who their family required them to be (aside from the circus). By default that only leaves people who really enjoy being an artist in the artistic jobs. Personally, I do not understand having a career in something that makes you miserable, what is the point of life it all then? Anyways, good article, but I think they can take the surprise out of their tone.
I can understand how artists are more satisfied with their work than the person in claustrophobic office. I think being an artist gives a person space and room to experiment. Being here at CMU in the School of Drama, I can proudly say that I have learned so much because of the long leash the faculty gives us. I have had room to experiment. I have been able to observe others as well as myself. I learned to frequently ask myself why something is the way it is and why I believe in certain things. I believe that artists are professional observers. We watch, we listen, and then we produce our thoughts in physical form. It is true, we are not paid as much as we would like, but we learn and experience so much. The experience makes it worthwhile, and sometimes the experience makes us smarter and more aware than the person making billions of dollars. I wouldn't trade my career for anything.
I love this article. It's natural for people to be curious and want to learn, but it seems that so many jobs don't require creative thinking and constant learning. Artists, however, are always discovering new things. It's part of our job to be informed and to explore, then to take what we learn and turn it into our personal form of expression.
I love this article. It's natural for people to be curious and want to learn, but it seems that so many jobs don't require creative thinking and constant learning. Artists, however, are always discovering new things. It's part of our job to be informed and to explore, then to take what we learn and turn it into our personal form of expression.
(^The above comment was not Sarah, it was me, Anna! She borrowed my computer yesterday and was still logged on. I didn't realize)
Isn't the entire reason we do what we do because we love it? We all know that we're not going to be famous or wealthy (actors aside) but we do it because it's what we love and enjoy doing. I've spoken to many high school and college groups and one of the first things I tell them is that if there is anything else they want to do in the world, go do that because the arts world is hard and difficult. We continue doing this job and working in the arts because it is our passion. We're happy doing what we are doing and when we are no longer happy with it we find something else. That's why those numbers are so high. The people working in the field are happy, the unhappy ones are no longer in the industry.
I agree with Tyler. The arts is filled with passion. From the people who create/produce it, to the audience who experiences it. There's a direct line from our input to our output and it's all very fairly personal. There is definitely no true benefits to our craft except for what is personal satisfaction or fulfillment. I honestly feel that "job satisfaction" is so limited what we derived for our jobs, at least in the theatre. Because we get so much more than that.
This article isn't really surprising at all, although it is gratifying. Of course artists have the highest job satisfaction... if they didn't love the arts, there's no way they'd be working in them. With few exceptions, artists don't become wealthy or famous; there's no incentive to stay in the industry if you don't love it and it isn't satisfying. It's also true that, after talking to some of my friends who aren't in the arts, I think that artists tend to be much more invested in their work and take more pride in it since it comes from a more personal, passionate place. It's very clearly not a 9-5, leave the work at the office industry, and in order to stay in, you have to love it.
I was a bit surprised by this article, but then giving the topic at hand another thought, I guess it actually makes a lot of sense. I think a lot of the happiness that artists feel is because they believe in the work they do and are emotionally connected to it. In many ways, becoming an artist is a sacrifice, mostly because of the low income. So many people who do choose to become artists do it out of sheer passion for their work. Artists find themselves working at a job that they sincerely feel passionate about. And this, I think, is what ultimately makes them happier than other employees.
17 comments:
I knew from a very young age that an 8-hour workday 5 days a week sitting at a cubicle and working on a computer was not for me. It would seem that most artists agree with me; it is wonderful to be able to express yourself on a daily basis, to let creativity reign instead of repeating the same routine every day. Who doesn't want each new day to be an adventure? With the arts there is always something different, a new way to approach things or some new problem to tackle. Governmental funding groups should read this article to know that often their money streaming to the "four core subjects" is not quite right; instead, it should be diverted to the arts so that students can learn that there is more available to them than the few tracks that are drilled into us throughout our primary and secondary educations.
The data in this article did not surprise me. Even though I did not know what I wanted to study in college until pretty recently, I knew it would be some kind of art and I think a lot of people feel that way too. I would be interested to see though how much job satisfaction factors into people's overall satisfaction with their lives. You spend a lot of your life at work, so it is important to enjoy that and if you can be doing something that you love, its ideal. But there are ways to do what you love outside of work too and I think a lot of people may feel fulfilled just through enjoying art as a hobby.
I also thought it was interesting that the satisfaction for the UK was so low. I wonder if they are just tougher graders than other countries?
I think this is an important study not to show that artists are possible overall happier people because of their jobs, but instead, to identify what elements in jobs lead people to have an increased enjoyment in their work. The article read that learning new skill, flexible hours, and being to take your own initiative were three reasons artists could possibly be happier. I think that corporations should try to in corporate these three things into their businesses. Although businesses often try to stay organized and often these characteristic are considered to be chaotic I think it is still possible for a business to organized and in corporate these thing without it being detrimental to their overall outcomes.
This article does not surprise me in the slightest. I knew that choosing a career in art would mean a lot of work, a lot of time, and not a lot of money. However, I wouldn't want to do anything else with my life that wasn't theater. To me, it is important to be doing something that you love. Now I understand there are times that we do have to take jobs we don't like because we need the money. If your in this situation you should work hard, so that one day you can get back to be doing work that you love because that is the best kind of work.
The term "artist" is arguably ubiquitous at this point, but it's hard to argue that the pursuit of making your art your life career is one chosen out of passion and the pursuit of happiness, not one of monetary greed and parental piety. Some artists do pursue the industry for fame and fortune, but they'd be foolish if they believed they would undoubtedly succeed in their ventures and base their lives on said premise. Most artists look upon their craft as something that makes them happy. And with the time we spend on our jobs, a happy job will be incredibly important to a happy life. (Ask any of the 8-to-7 guys in their fancy 4x4x4 cubicles over there!) But back to the ubiquity- I think many people can argue that their job is an art in and of itself, whether it's their theatrical devotion or their passion for technological presentation. A guy programming video games is an artist, in a different way from a film actor, but their both contributing their knowledge in a way that they deem is artistic. But they're happy doing what they do, and maybe that's what matters to them.
I'd also argue that happiness can't be measured on a one-dimensional, linear scale. Sure, this guy says he's an 8, but that's dependent on his upbringing and experiences. Perhaps childhoods in the UK for those surveyed were spectacularly artistic, and as adults their lives cannot compare. Maybe the Swiss had the worst, most stressful primary school experiences ever so as adults they found their lives rich and full of happiness. Who knows? (I don't.) Additionally, the article seems to presume that many artists have more of a choice in what they want to do, often meaning they are self-employed. Artistic endeavors are hard to control, so that makes sense, but what about the artists that do work for a large company, with rules and strict deadlines? And what about the IT guys who are freelances and determine their own schedules and duties?
4 words: Why We Do This. We constantly remind ourselves in times of trouble and stress that at least we're doing what we want to be doing. And that counts for a lot. I think some companies (like Google) are starting to pick up on the high morale that the arts can bring and incorporate some of it (like having employees work on interesting side projects a few times a week) because it shows how important expressing yourself creatively is. I hope that everyone is encouraged to do whatever makes them happy, and that they don't settle for less. There's just not much motivation to go into the arts unless you want to be. Not worth the hassle.
Artists go through a lot -- lack of funding, lack of jobs, idea droughts. It's tough, but constantly I'm reminded how much joy there is in making art. My parents are both self-employed artists. My dad always tells me that he knew what he wanted to do when he was a young boy and that's what he did. He says that even after 50 years in the business, he's still getting better and finding new challenges. I love hearing him talk about his art -- he's still so excited about it even after so much time! He's the most job-satisfied person I've ever met. That's what's amazing about art. There's always something new and there's always a challenge, and even if we're looked down upon sometimes because we're not curing disease via science, I always think about how much better the world is for having art. How else would the world stay so colorful? Corny, most definitely, but I fully stand by my statement!
This seems logical. Particularly as Millenials come of age into a world where the retirement age probably won't be 65 and student loans put people into the red before they've even started, being happy with the work you're doing becomes significantly more important. I feel like this does not just apply to artists though. I know engineers, store owners, doctors etc. who are equally fulfilled by what they do. In fact, I'd argue in the 21st century, many new fields contain roles in which people consider themselves artists.
I agree with what the research says, It makes sense. I believe artists are more satisfied with their job than those who are working at a desks, behind counters, etc. I think it is the satisfaction you get when you're making and/or when you are finished with a project (painting, sculpture, blog post, etc.) Working should be enjoyable especially since people spend so much of their time at their jobs. I don't know about everyone else, but when I draw (especially with charcoal...) I feel so much better and I get so into the drawing that the world seems to fade away and it's just me and my drawing (which is also why when I'm in a drawing class and the professor walks over to check how I'm doing I freak out because I forget that there are other people around). I think art, in every form, is a way for people to relax and leave their problems behind, a kind of self-reflection period in a person's day. When you have a non-artistic job, you basically have to either smother your problems or just constantly face them without time to think about them.
It's weird they mentioned money (though that is the reason to get a job). I always feel bad when I talk to my friends about money because I've never cared about it. I grew up in a family that didn't like spending money and I learned how to be frugal and all but my parents never drilled "money-making" into me or my brother's minds. I love them for that, but sometimes I never know what to tell my friends because while they're saying how they are going to make money and then retire, I just say I want to be happy and I want to love my job so much that I'll never want to retire.
This was an interesting article and I agree with most of what it said, but I think they entirely missed the point of why artist have the most job satisfaction. I would guess the majority of non-artistic jobs, have quite a number of people working in them that are doing it because they need the money or because their dad or someone told them thats what they needed to do with their life. Ergo, there are many unhappy people in non-artistic jobs. I have never heard of anyone becoming an artist because they need the money or because thats who their family required them to be (aside from the circus). By default that only leaves people who really enjoy being an artist in the artistic jobs. Personally, I do not understand having a career in something that makes you miserable, what is the point of life it all then? Anyways, good article, but I think they can take the surprise out of their tone.
I can understand how artists are more satisfied with their work than the person in claustrophobic office. I think being an artist gives a person space and room to experiment. Being here at CMU in the School of Drama, I can proudly say that I have learned so much because of the long leash the faculty gives us. I have had room to experiment. I have been able to observe others as well as myself. I learned to frequently ask myself why something is the way it is and why I believe in certain things. I believe that artists are professional observers. We watch, we listen, and then we produce our thoughts in physical form. It is true, we are not paid as much as we would like, but we learn and experience so much. The experience makes it worthwhile, and sometimes the experience makes us smarter and more aware than the person making billions of dollars. I wouldn't trade my career for anything.
I love this article. It's natural for people to be curious and want to learn, but it seems that so many jobs don't require creative thinking and constant learning. Artists, however, are always discovering new things. It's part of our job to be informed and to explore, then to take what we learn and turn it into our personal form of expression.
I love this article. It's natural for people to be curious and want to learn, but it seems that so many jobs don't require creative thinking and constant learning. Artists, however, are always discovering new things. It's part of our job to be informed and to explore, then to take what we learn and turn it into our personal form of expression.
(^The above comment was not Sarah, it was me, Anna! She borrowed my computer yesterday and was still logged on. I didn't realize)
Isn't the entire reason we do what we do because we love it? We all know that we're not going to be famous or wealthy (actors aside) but we do it because it's what we love and enjoy doing. I've spoken to many high school and college groups and one of the first things I tell them is that if there is anything else they want to do in the world, go do that because the arts world is hard and difficult. We continue doing this job and working in the arts because it is our passion. We're happy doing what we are doing and when we are no longer happy with it we find something else. That's why those numbers are so high. The people working in the field are happy, the unhappy ones are no longer in the industry.
I agree with Tyler. The arts is filled with passion. From the people who create/produce it, to the audience who experiences it. There's a direct line from our input to our output and it's all very fairly personal. There is definitely no true benefits to our craft except for what is personal satisfaction or fulfillment. I honestly feel that "job satisfaction" is so limited what we derived for our jobs, at least in the theatre. Because we get so much more than that.
This article isn't really surprising at all, although it is gratifying. Of course artists have the highest job satisfaction... if they didn't love the arts, there's no way they'd be working in them. With few exceptions, artists don't become wealthy or famous; there's no incentive to stay in the industry if you don't love it and it isn't satisfying. It's also true that, after talking to some of my friends who aren't in the arts, I think that artists tend to be much more invested in their work and take more pride in it since it comes from a more personal, passionate place. It's very clearly not a 9-5, leave the work at the office industry, and in order to stay in, you have to love it.
I was a bit surprised by this article, but then giving the topic at hand another thought, I guess it actually makes a lot of sense.
I think a lot of the happiness that artists feel is because they believe in the work they do and are emotionally connected to it.
In many ways, becoming an artist is a sacrifice, mostly because of the low income. So many people who do choose to become artists do it out of sheer passion for their work.
Artists find themselves working at a job that they sincerely feel passionate about. And this, I think, is what ultimately makes them happier than other employees.
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