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New
Year's (Low) Resolutions
by inazone (January
1st, 1999)
By the
time the next wave of artpacks arrive, it will be 1999.
As often happens as the calendar changes, so too does the
artscene. Winter always seems to be a chaotic time for groups,
and this years doesn't seem much different. Last year, we
saw Fuel and Twilight fade away, but Avenge and Legion quickly
appeared. Ice ansi had hit a downswing, but is stronger
than ever now. CiA was en route to leaving the scene, but
now is on its way to a comeback. Legion is headed who-knows-where.
So what?
There's not necessarily any sort of cycle within the scene.
Rather, the old groups get older and the new groups...well,
it's hard to say as the scene as a whole ages. Some of the
best groups ever to exist only lasted a few months. And
most of the "legendary" ansi artists really only
drew for a year or two, or took long breaks and then came
back. Looking around, there's not as many familiar faces
as there were a year ago, but some of the relatively new
artists seem like they've always been here.
Realistically,
the ansi artform would be dead if it depended on the scene's
longevity to survive. It's ultimately up to each of us as
individuals to preserve this "novelty" medium
from month to month, year to year. There are only two ways
for the ansi medium and the "niche market" around
it to continue. First of all, there needs to be some new
artists. Start advertising on the web, or even on the few
remaining PD boards left; "lame" shouldn't be
used to describe people on public boards anymore, because
if nothing else, they're keeping another legacy alive...and
many of them at least know what ansi is (unlike many of
today's web-surfing youth who are lost without a browser
and a mouse). Tap into the remaining BBS community, or start
making some noise about ansi on your websites.
The
second way for ansi to survive is for today's artists to
keep drawing. Instead of "retiring" because someone
pisses you off on IRC, or because your group dies, keep
drawing. Even if you aren't in a group for awhile, don't
stop. And if you've been drawing with little colored blocks
for year after year and don't have the imagination left
to crank out new material, get in on joints with new artists!
Or maybe some ansi/vga joints? These things are just different
ways of staying active in the scene and preserving the annoyingly
cool artform that so many of us still enjoy.
Hopefully,
this gives you something to think about as the new year
takes off. Everyone who is still drawing, veteran or newcomer,
deserves their share of thanks for keeping ansi alive. Keep
it up!
inazone/iCE
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Discussion
Topic this month:
The art scene depends on the new blood (newbies) to continue
its existence. Inazone has touched upon one of these factors
in the fact that the public boards that are left are pretty
much the only 'public' place left to display ANSI in its
'pure' and native form.
But
what of ASCII? Surely, this medium is in the same boat?
And
let's touch another point also. What do people think of
the goading that usually happens when someone comes on IRC
to request a piece of artwork? Or the immediate dismissal
of any newbie as a lamer? Surely this is not the way to
keep the scene alive, but rather a way to kill it off..
Let's
discuss this seriously.
>> discussions
(General Art Discussion)
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