In Pursuit of Prosperity: The Contribution of Art and Artists to Society

I am investigating why artists are undervalued under capitalism and how we can change this standard. Under capitalism, success is defined by money. This excludes art that exists separate from this value system. Art that exists for itself in its purest form, rooted in expression, meaning, and beauty is becoming rarer due to its inability to sustain artists financially as capitalism and technological advancement progresses. Under this system, art is only valued when it can be used and exploited for revenue. Passion and fulfillment for artists and for people in general are more important than reckless technological advancement that destroys our planet and collective wellbeing. I am arguing for the value of prosperity and fulfillment over “progress.” I plan to interview artists across the world to investigate the exploitation of artists and the reasons for which art is valuable in ways that cannot be quantified by money for the sake of human fulfillment