Nothing I am good at is particularly well-compensated, nor does that compensation reflect the level of expertise I hold as compared to other disciplines. At least, not without generally taking out the joy of the thing itself. Non-technical writing, performing music—there aren’t a lot of careers to be had with these skills. While I can sometimes pitch them as useful, or transferrable, very few people are offering jobs that actually pay for what I do: the academic job market is bleak, publishing is still concentrated in NYC, and making a career writing books is a moonshot. As for singing, well, I’m not a pop idol and I don’t play an instrument well enough to go it alone.
Love this! It’s nice to have all these ideas in one place. And your synthesis is so smart. I love the comment on Station Eleven--I hadn’t thought enough about the art angle when I read it. And your nuance and critique of “poor people don’t get a vocation.” Ty for this!!
Love this! It’s nice to have all these ideas in one place. And your synthesis is so smart. I love the comment on Station Eleven--I hadn’t thought enough about the art angle when I read it. And your nuance and critique of “poor people don’t get a vocation.” Ty for this!!