"My art is for me. Only."
It does act as a filter though, sifting through people that my art resonates with and those it doesn't. I am stoic and anti-capitalism, also a recovering nihilist. I don't think I can put it more plainly, but I struggle with society (mobs) and the apparent pressure to be more, do more, have more, be a good consumer or be a valued producer of goods/services. I put this out in the World because I feel I cannot accurately articulate the need to just read books, create art, and listen to music, be out in nature, etc.
Creating for Oneself
It's easy to forget, in a world saturated by "content," that not everything needs to be made for an audience or made for sale. My creative practice is profoundly personal. I don't chase trends, market validation, or applause. I create for the sake of creating, and that in itself acts as a subtle filter — those who resonate with my work pass through; those who don't, simply drift away. There's no need to force connection or broaden appeal. This process feels honest, almost sacred. Read more here: kristendroz.substack
The Stoic Antidote to Societal Pressure
Stoicism teaches the importance of living by one's principles and not being buffeted by appearances, crowds, or fleeting "needs" manufactured by society. In a culture obsessed with hustle, productivity, and climbing some endless economic ladder, these lessons have helped insulate me from the expectation to be "more" — more productive, more visible, more of a consumer or a producer. The mob mentality, pushing people towards standardized goals, is something I actively resist. Read more here: modernstoicism
Anti-Capitalism and Recovering Nihilism: Reclaiming Value
Anti-capitalism, for me, means rejecting the commodification of everything, most especially the soul of creative work. Art isn't a product to be packaged for the marketplace, nor is personal worth measured by GDP. Nihilism — when nothing feels like it matters — often hovers in the background in a system that wants everything to have a price tag. I'm recovering from that mindset, finding meaning in reading, creating, listening, and walking in nature. These activities are both resistance and restoration. Read "Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?" by Mark Fisher.
The Importance of Non-Productive Living
Modern society struggles to accept people just "being" instead of always "doing." But stillness, contemplation, creativity for its own sake — these are not frivolous pursuits, but deeply necessary ones. It's not a failure to want to spend days with books, sketches, music, or just the wind in the trees. This is how I reconnect with what matters, without needing anyone's approval or transaction.
For something completely different, I'm going to point out some writing that is of similar mindset to the above paragraph, but it is on a fucking Shopify blog. I don't do this to be ironic. I do this to merely point out an example of what many of us have been feeling for most of our lives: we know there is more to life and we yearn for it, but still feel compelled to produce. Here is a "creator" that longs to just create, but still feels he has to both justify his feelings and attempt sell them. Example here: urbancreativeclothing My posit is that this sort of duplicity is what is leading to our general sense of hopelessness, malaise, and schizophrenia.
Living Authentically: Choosing Stillness Over Hustle
My ongoing challenge is to articulate, most of all to myself, that a simple life filled with art, books, music, and nature is not a lesser existence, nor some escape. It is a conscious choice, a return to authenticity. It's a way to filter out societal noise, create my own meaning, and live deliberately in a world bent on distraction and consumption. And therefore: destruction.
In this refusal to produce art for consumption, in resisting capitalist measurement of worth, and in practicing stoic detachment, I've found a quieter, deeper fulfillment. The struggle continues, but so does the creative spirit. These pages are personal. The intent is to capture and express my Self and my feelings as accurately as I can. The temptation will likely be to try to find a way to sell you something, because I have been sold on that idea for over 50 years.
I'll try not to. I'm a recovering capitalist too. I'm tryin' real hard, Ringo.
This is my initial salvo.