What is the "beautiful way of life" of musicians today?

A beautiful way of life" - what a sweet, yet troubling phrase. For some reason, when people hear this phrase, they feel as if they are talking about some distant world. It sounds like a utopia, like the vision of some philosopher or the soul of some virtuous artist. But reality is not so simple.

Especially when one begins to think about what a "beautiful way of life" is for a musician, one's vision immediately becomes blurred. One reason is that the profession of musician is an ambiguous existence that does not belong to any social hierarchy. Some behave like aristocrats, while others work from morning till night like laborers. Others continue their creative activities in the midst of poverty, while others are members of the wealthy class and can afford to indulge in art. The definition of "a beautiful way of life" is slightly different for each of them.

What is a beautiful way of life? --From a Sociological Perspective

To begin with, what is a beautiful way of life? From a sociological perspective, it is "a way of life that is admirable in the eyes of others. In short, it is not about an individual's inner fulfillment, but about being evaluated as "beautiful" from the outside.

However, a problem arises here. This is because the standard of what is considered "beautiful" changes depending on the era, culture, and class to which one belongs.

Aristocratic aesthetics: A person who is composed, unconcerned about money, and devoted to art. The aristocratic aesthetic: a person who is composed and composed, not concerned with money, and devoted to his art.
Craftsmanship: He is a master of his craft and lives his life with music. He challenges to competitions, makes a name for himself, and achieves fame through hard work. The crystallization of sweat and tears is the "beautiful way of life.
◆Contemporary aesthetics: make full use of SNS, do not neglect marketing, and be financially independent. Not only immersing oneself in art, but also valuing social influence.

With such a wide variation, it is no wonder that it is difficult to define a "beautiful way of life. And there is an even more complicated issue regarding the way of life of musicians.

The question of how to view "a musician who is close to being a full-time housewife."

Musicians, especially performers, are often associated with the image that a glamorous world awaits them if they succeed. In reality, however, only a handful of musicians succeed, and most of the rest are supported by others while continuing their activities to some extent. And there are different evaluations of how to be "supported" by others.

In particular, opinions are divided among musicians. Some believe that it is natural for a musician to have a partner of the opposite sex to support him or her in life so that he or she can continue with music, while others question whether this is naive. Some question whether this is naive.

Here is a very classic debate: "Should artists be free or should they be financially independent?" The classic argument, "Should an artist be free or financially independent? There is an untenable tension between the pure pursuit of music and working to support oneself.

This debate is also a sensitive issue. This is because, on the one hand, there is the idea that one should create an environment in any way possible to continue music, while on the other hand, there is the ethical view that musicians are members of society and should be self-reliant. What is important here is not which side is right, but that this is one realism, a fact that cannot be avoided from a journalistic point of view.

Evolution of technology and changes in the "beautiful way of life

How, then, do contemporary musicians achieve a "beautiful way of life"? The key here is the evolution of technology. In the past, musicians had to be on stage at concerts in order to survive. Today, however, it is possible to work in a unique style using platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify.

This change has also changed the definition of the "beautiful way of life of a musician. In the past, "success" would have meant being featured in the media and performing in prestigious concert halls. Now, however, connecting directly with fans on social networking sites and continuing to create at one's own pace is also considered a form of success.

As technology evolves, the standards for a "beautiful way of life" are changing. Musicians who can adapt to this change may become "first-class" in a new way.

Conclusion: Who decides what a "beautiful way of life" is?

After all, who decides what is a "beautiful way of life"? Is it society, the individual, or history?

The profession of musician always oscillates between "freedom" and "social obligation. And how to strike that balance changes with the times. In the past, it was considered "beautiful" to be supported by aristocrats, but nowadays, being "independent" is required.

Most important, however, is that a "beautiful way of life" is not the same for everyone. What is ideal for someone may be a compromise for someone else, or conversely, a failure for someone else may be a sign of success for someone else.

So if we are aiming for a "beautiful way of life," perhaps we need to first consider, "What is beautiful for me?" First of all, it may be necessary to think about "what is beautiful for me? Rather than being swayed by society's standards, one must have one's own aesthetic and stick to it. This is the "beautiful way of life" for a musician today.