Technology and the Soul of Art.

by Kristine Joseph September 6, 2025

Artists all over the globe continue to shift their craft in response to the latest commercial pressures, technological influences, cultural changes, and economic realities.  Not only do record labels and movie studios now partner with steaming services for the quick and easy turn-around, but they often prioritize music or movies that are easily created, marketable, and give the audience instant gratification.  Technological advancements such as digital production tools, along with the numerous forms of artificial intelligence are removing the organic elements that allow artists to showcase their depth, creativity, soul, and raw emotion.

The economic reality is that making music and film is expensive. Making art is expensive. For example, the infrastructure that once supported musicians such as clubs, radio stations, and independent labels is dwindling, and this isn’t much different for movie studios. Movie studios are pumping out remakes and reboots as fast as the assembly line will allow it. In a difficult market why take a chance on an unknown when one can look back on a past project that practically guarantees a huge money-making success?

Cultural change is inevitable, but is the art of tomorrow losing depth due to the surface level of exposure that younger generations are growing up with?

Are we letting technology rob art of its soul meaning?

The answer is both YES and NO.  

Yes, in the sense that we are witnessing it happening right in front of our faces daily.  I mean let’s be real here, selling out has always existed through the years, however, not in this blunt unescapable form that being shoved down our throats. Every time we turn on Netflix or one of the many other streaming platforms, we are watching the industry’s latest and greatest.

We all do it.

This leads us to the NO part of the answer.

The answer is also NO because true artists will always exist. 

As long as artists exist, they will challenge the status quo and people do want to listen. True artists don’t use cookie cutter formulas.  One would argue that if an artist decides to go down the assembly line format, that they aren’t creating art anymore.  Art is about seeing the world in a different light. It challenges a person to think differently. It feeds the soul with inspiration. Nobody wants to see the world through the same looking glass repeatedly, right? Boring.

In conclusion, it is true that the soul of art is being numbed by the harshness of technological advancements, however, true artists and art will always exist and there will always be an audience to listen. True art may not be in the spotlight now, but it is always somewhere in the background waiting to break through to inspire and challenge people to view life in a different way. That is why the soul of art will always exist. People need to be inspired and will continue to listen.

Please support your local artists and musicians.