Two types of people - creators and consumers

[pentangles]

A bit philosophical this one, so might slide down the list for it's boredom factor, BUT!
I would love to hear MN's thoughts on this.
I can't recall the author (french academic sort), but read a book some time ago which suggested that the world is made up of creators (artist's/producers/business owners) and consumers (the plebs )
That the consumer class, regardless their actual 'class' background, were to a large extent manipulated by the creators, yet would never actually become too aware of it. So the idea was that the consumer blindly followed, whilst telling themselves they were subversive, original, whilst the creator class were the only one's in control.

And a lot more blah blah blah, but it led me to thinking....I have never been rich, but I did own an animation and illustration business between 1998-2016. I worked all over the world and had a huge Internet presence back in the day. I lived a very low key lifestyle, as did my DH of the time (music industry), but eventually had to get out of it as I longed for a very different kind of life - that of the everyday.
I now have that but have given up a great deal. We didn't have kids but once the house was sold (it was modest) we both ended up renting and living off savings. I have a great life regardless, and love my new work in a conservation field, although I will never again witness the adoration and pay-checks that I once earned. I have done this by choice, so appreciate that not everyone would or could.

My point is, I ultimately HAD NO CONTROL. It was an illusion. Perhaps the theory only includes extremely wealthy corporate 'creators', but all the same, it was a rat race, a hell wheel, and after a very short time, absolutely stopped being creative in the regular sense of the word.
I wonder about how we perceive success, and how it will always look desirable to those who haven't experienced it. I feel freer now that I am the 'consumer' class, although I (like most) would welcome a pile of free money ..

Do we really think that the very wealthy or successful are 'free'? The thought interests me, anyway!

I think most people have creative outlets in some form or another. Realistically it's not just creating that makes you feel free, you need to manage that creativity and harness it into a way to driving your life (and making money!)

I'm a pleb I guess, but I earn fairly well and it takes creativity to do my job well. I don't feel 'free' because I'm not financially free to do what I want forever. My boss is a CEO and owns the company but owes explanations to his shareholders and board - so even he is not entirely free.

@LittleRedRidingHoody
I must say though that I do create now for pleasure, so don't have to worry about it earning money. From my own experience, I would say that it often stuns the creative force, and this was true even before the short-life megastardom of social media.

I imagine an old lady knitting, embroidering or making clay pots. I envied that idea all through my career - whilst everyone around me considered me so extremely fortunate. I didn't feel fortunate inside.

I don't think creators in the sense of that philosophy is quite the same as "creatives" . More like controllers and consumers.

Although it reminds me a bit of Kiplings poem "sons of Martha" which is about the people who work behind the scenes to keep things running and everyone else being blissfully oblivious.
It came to mind during the "why are there no trains on Christmas day" thread and people just could not understand that there was more to the railways (maintenance etc) than the lazy drivers having a holiday.

I think what I meant to say was there is a group who influence and control, and a group who obey and consume what they are told to consume.
So, many people want to be told what pop song to listen to, what holiday to go on, what cafe to visit, etc. And why not? I ain't criticising it!
Whereas the creator class make it all up!

Chatting to current DP, we decided we were the in-between class that the philosopher didn't bother to mention, since we are 'aware' of the damn thing.

And we had this idea that both the creator class and the consumer class can both be well off (for example, the current culturally working class are often quite financially sound!), but the in-betweeners are often skint, lol.

Hence, one doesn't have to be poor to be a, ahem, 'pleb'.