Titles and Truth: Writers, Models, Singers and Moguls
Monday, May 3, 2010
, Posted by JD at 8:30 PM
 |
| Adriana Lima is a model. You, on the other hand are just in a lot of pictures. Big difference! On a side note: ADRIANA IS GORGEOUS! |
Blogger Miss Jia posted this to twitter on Monday of this week:
“If I see one more “model” bio that includes model/actress/dancer/real estate agent/9-11 survivor/chemo patient, I’ma scream. Some of you chicks are allegedly doing too much. Pick some shit and focus. We don’t believe you anyway.”
Beyond being hilariously true, Jia brings up a good topic. How do we reconcile who we actually are with who we’d like to be. As social networks grow in importance, this question becomes difficult to answer as people become ever more grandiose with these self-titles.
At some point, we need to come to the collective realization that just because you call yourself something, doesn’t make it true.
For example, let's say you all yourself a dancer but have never held a job as a dancer. To me, this poses a problem. The reality is if you do not get paid to dance, you are not a dancer. You may be trained to be a dancer, you may be a GREAT dancer, you may have danced at one point. You may even be totally qualified to get paid to dance--but, if you are not currently making a living by dancing, I'm sad to report that you are not, in fact, a dancer. Now, replace dancer with any number of terms “writer, blogger, journalist, mogul, singer, etc.” and you see where I’m going with this.
Now obviously there are some titles people give themselves that have little to do with money e.g. activist, humanitarian and the like. The use of these words requires an honor system. Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure a lot of you are breaking the honor code. At some point, you have to admit that teaching alone does not qualify as activism and simply caring about people doesn’t make you a humanitarian. I think a few of you just need to invest in a good old-fashioned dictionary.
A little piece of me dies whenever I hear bloggers call themselves writers or even worse, journalists! A writer writes for a living. Yes, you can make a living off a blog, which makes you a great blogger, but lots of bloggers who make money are terrible writers. Good writing isn’t a requirement for good blogging. Successful blogging has more to do with content than writing skill. On the off chance that you are both a blogger and a great writer, I may give you a writer pass, but chile…I’m going to need to see something you’ve published in a mainstream outlet.
 |
| I blame Michael Jackson for this self-title nonsense. Remember when he proclaimed HIMSELF to be the King of Pop. Obviously, he later proved it to be true. But still he inspired an entire generation to put the cart before the horse. May he RIP! |
I call myself a writer because I have a full time writing job. I also have writing credentials. My writing has been published in the following publications:
The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Newsweek, The Nation, The Guardian (UK), Sueddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), Knack (Belgium), Chosun Ilbo (South Korea), Al-Ittihad (UAE), Le Monde (France), and L’Espresso (Italy).
I call myself a spokesperson because I have been quoted in the following publications and news outlets:
The BBC, CNN, The NYTimes, The Washington Post, Newsweek, USA Today, numerous wire services, and countless local papers, tv and radio shows. I have also done live interviews on both radio and television.
I call myself a media coach because I have coached lots of people to act as spokespersons for themselves or on behalf of their organizations.
Just so you know, I am a REALLY good singer, I’m also a great songwriter (in my opinion), or at least I used to be. However, I would never say that I am a singer or songwriter because, as of yet, no one has paid me for my singing or songwriting services (unless you count all those talent shows I won in middle and high school).
If I told someone I was a songwriter, the first thing they would ask me is “who do you write for?” Once I answer by saying “I write songs for myself on the weekends which I sang over instrumentals I download from livemixtapes.com and then record using Apple’s garage Band program” I would be immediately and accurately branded as a liar.
That’s why I limit the labels I give myself to those things for which I have CREDENTIALS--a practice to which fewer and fewer people adhere these days.
As a writer, it’s slightly offensive when any-old-body calls themselves a writer. Why you gotta insert your aspiring-but-as-yet-non-professional-self into my profession? Do you not realize how much work it took me to EARN the title of bona fide writer? Honey, the stories I could tell you. Google me.
 |
| Even Loretta Lynn doesn't believe you're a mogul. |
All in all, people need to stop lying to themselves about where they are in their lives. What happens when you finally become whatever it is you’ve been saying you are all along? Will you even be excited anymore? What’s the point in striving to be something when you can just go around and tell everyone you're already it?
Then again, maybe these people are on to something. Maybe if you claim something it will come true. In fact, you know what, fuck it, I am a 125lb neurosurgeon. There, I feel so much better about myself now that I am totally delusional. Now, quick, who needs me to perform brain surgery? Speak up, don’t be shy!
All jokes aside, this is a pet peeve of mine and I just needed to get that off my chest.
"What happens when you finally become whatever it is you’ve been saying you are all along? Will you even be excited anymore?"
----
Yes, they will be VERY excited. They just can't share that excitement with anyone, lest they reveal that they've been lying the whole time up till now.
*starts the slow clap that leads into thunderous applause*
PRRRREACH! I, too, cringe when I hear people refer to themselves as something that they are not. I guess it makes them feel good to tell lies, but those lies will most certainly catch up with them in the end. At the least I wish they would attach "aspiring" to the beginning of these self-ascribed titles. That would then give it some sort of validity. Don't they realize that while claiming what they aren't they're denigrating those professionals who actually are those things?
I call myself a "writer" because I'm good at it even though I don't get paid money to do it. Writing is my avocation, not my vocation. Some things are gifts, talents, crafts, whatever that don't need to be qualified.
I'm not an author b/c I've never written or published a book. I'm not a journalist because I don't engage in the craft of research and reportage. I would, however, call people dancers, singers, artists even when they don't make a living doing so: it's what's in your heart and your mind, not what's in your pocketbook.
Just my $0.02.
I'm inclined to agree with you but thats not really the nature of our relationship so I'll disagree for disagreement's sake.
"Oh I have a SLR camera and took a black and white photo of my dog. I'm a photographer."
"Picking out your little cousins clothes DOES NOT MAKE YOU A STYLIST. i Cannot with people these days.
Great post.
This post is needed. I think sometimes people get deluded by what they want to be and skip past the process. To gain any sort of title you have to do the work. Point blank. Great post.
Well said! I live in Los Angeles and everyone here is a rapper/singer/model/director/producer/screenwriter... simply ask them "Can I google you?" If they say yes, they might be. If they start to stammer. well, you have your answer....
Sorry. I disagree...being recognized or paid does not quantify a person's vocation. Are folks exaggerating on the internet? Yes, some people are though the saying 'fake it till you make it' is not a new saying. I think some of the criticism comes from an 'us' against 'them' form of professional class-ism. And what ever happened to 'speaking into existence' that so many folks practice nowadays?
Wrong! Wrong!! WRONG!!! You call yourself a writer yet this very post is filled with errors. Even I, a non-writer based your asinine definition of what makes a person a writer, know the power of PROOFREADING. Try proofreading sometime, OK? I am sick of people like you who love to appoint themselves as the Grand Deciders of everything. Reality check: you're not grand anything. If you cannot even proofread your own blog post, then you need to sit down and shut the fuck up! (I bet you can't even tell me what is technically wrong with my last sentence, can you?)
Lmao @ Nicey. Let me guess, you're an aspiring ____. Lol. I can't agree with those of you who say being great at something makes you that thing. It simply doesn't fly. Moreover it's disingenuosand as another poster said it "denigrates" the work of those who've actually paid their dues.In terms of speaking something into existence...that's cool...but its one thing to say "I WILL be an entrepreneur" and something entirely different to say "I AM an entrepreneur" when you don't own any businesses.I mean, that's a complete and total LIE. I hope there are no errors in this comment, I wouldn't want Nicey's frustrated heart to explode.
Believe me, Nicey..it's obvious you're a non-writer and quite bitter about your current status as a non-entity in your chosen career field.
The point of this post was clear, and made well..so well, in fact, that felonious underachievers like yourself look foolish trying to discredit it.
..NO..you're not a 'writer' if you also serve as your own editor-in-chief nor are you a 'model' if you work @ Bank of America from 8-5, while also posing seductively for club flyers on weekends.
Nope. Sorry. You're just another fame-thirsty 'grustler' with the same ambitious hobbies as 3 outta every 7 30-and-unders 'on the grind.'
But it's cool tho..I won't knock whatever your hustle is--if you even have one--and will gladly reply to your response once you've made it back to your local library to type it.Peace.
Wow, Nicey. Shouldnt you be on a ledge somewhere? I like that you went by Nicey...and that you ranted about proofreading w/o proofreading your own comment.
HARRUMPH! HARRUMPH!! HARRUMPH!!!
I am (not) happy about this!! Why Me Laawwwwwwddddddd!?!?!?
Excellently written!!!I became a Tweethead & was shocked at how so many bios read model/writer/mogul: um, just cause one is a stripper or toots their arse in an avatar doesn't make them a model?! If everyone would stay in their lane it would make networking and growing together easier... but that may be too much like right. LUVed it.
I"m dead and buried at this comment section today. A couple people pointed out that "it's different with creatives" (e.g. dancers, writers etc.) when it comes to the titles. But I would argue that creatives are CONSTANTLY being accused of misportraying themselves so that explains why it's different for them..because a lot of them just lie anyway. (see: Hollywood). I agree with Dawnavette...it poses a challenge when you're trying to network or generally get business done. Look at all the models that get swindled by "photographers" and "agents."
I love your blog!!! I think touting yourself as an "aspiring" XYZ is fine. self-proclaimed "Divas", "socialites", "fashionistas" and "social media experts" are the worst!