Welcome to the 204th insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode, we question the ethics of gatekeeping, explaining our inclination for individuality, the impact of commercialization and the adverse effects of a niche market.
For years, gatekeeping has been debated as both a deterrent for newcomers and a necessity in maintaining a niche’s existence. Often plagued as an act exclusive to egoistic culture vultures, gatekeeping has retained a relatively negative connotation among the general populous. Leading many to argue the practice’s ethics, we’re met with a fiery argument that only seems to grow larger as interest skyrockets in the unseen and unheard.
However, before diving in, we must define ‘gatekeeping’ as controlling, or at minimum, limiting general access to something. Regardless of the topic’s genre, be it art and music, or woodworking and brick-laying, gatekeeping simply refers to consciously withholding information. But why would someone do such a thing?
At first glance, this highly controversial practice can appear as a malicious, ill-intended movement that does nothing more than inflate one’s superiority complex. Barring others from enjoying a song or piece, gatekeeping can suppress an artist’s potential for success and ultimately deter them from continuing to produce the content one hopes to keep a secret.
Yet, the double-edged sword swings as those who gatekeep argue that they protect the sub-genre's authenticity, hiding gold from big companies like H&M per se. While easily diminished, this perspective holds merit as industry giants continue to capitalize and widely distribute unique interests to the masses. Greed at the height of capitalism incentivizes die-hards to not only bark at others who embrace their shared curiosities but unintentionally limit the market’s future potential.
And, can you blame them? It’s no secret that having a specialized, distinctive pinch of knowledge is attractive, and it's upsetting when an ignorant businessman disrupts such beauty. Perhaps gatekeeping is not good nor bad, yet a reaction of corporations carelessly pillaging communities built on decades of segregation.
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