The Art vs. The Algorithm

Let me set the stage…

There was a time when all a creator had to do was make something, and if it was objectivity great, people would find it. And now? Not so much. The modern creative isn’t just an artist, designer writer, or musician—they’re also a content strategist, marketer, and basically a full-blown entrepreneur. If you want your work to be seen, you have to play the game.

The reality is, the social media landscape moves fast. What worked a year ago, is old news today. Algorithms shift, platforms rise and fall, and the attention span of the average scroller keeps shrinking,. If you’re not adapting, you’re disappearing.

The Shift from Portfolio to Performance

It used to be that artists and creatives built their names through galleries, magazines, or curated portfolios. Now, your Explore page, TikTok feed, and Twitter thread is your portfolio. But, it’s not enough to just post your work anymore—you have to package it in a way that grabs people instantly.

Examples…

• A painter can’t just share their finished canvas; they have to film the process, tell the story behind it, and show how the piece fits into a larger vision.

• A photographer can’t just post a photo; they need to tie it to a trend, a mood, or a movement.

• A writer can’t just drop an article link and expect clicks; they have to break it down into short-form content that hooks people before they even realize they are reading it.

Algorithms Are the New Gatekeepers

There’s sort of a bittersweet irony in social media being marketed as a tool for “creative freedom” when, in reality, creatives are now more boxed in than ever. If your work doesn’t fit the algorithm’s priorities—short-form video, engagement-heavy content, whatever the latest push is—you’re fighting an uphill battle.

But, the successful creatives don’t fight the system; they learn how to use it to their advantage. They experiment. They repurpose their work. They study what’s working without losing what makes their work theirs.

Balancing Between Art and Engagement

But, here’s where things can get tricky. Playing the game can easily mess with the creative process. When everything is optimized for engagement—shorter videos, punchier captions, more “relatable” content—you start asking yourself: Am I making this cause I want to or because I have to?

There is a fine line between adapting to be seen and losing the essence of what made you start creating in the first place. The pressure to always be posting, always be relevant, always be performing—it can drain the magic out of the work. Suddenly, you’re making content not art. And that’s where many creatives burn out.

So, I know I’ve been ranting about the tricky spot creatives are put in. But here’s what I’m really trying to say—if you believe the art you make is good, that’s enough. And trust me, there’s someone out there who’s into exactly what you’re creating. You just have to keep putting it out there, and you’ll find them.

When I started this newsletter, it felt like one of the most natural things I’d ever done—it just made sense. I had been reading a few newsletters from creators I follow consistently, and my Notes app was already full of ideas I wanted to write about. But, for whatever reason, I hadn’t figured out where or how to put them out there(ikik I am a big cottonheaded ninnymuggins)

Then it clicked. Starting a newsletter was ridiculously easy, and from that moment, everything just flowed. I have no intention of monetizing this or boosting it through engaging videos on my social media. To me it’s just a space to write down my thoughts, get them out of my head, and actually create—without overthinking it.

The Only Way Out is Through

At the end of the day, the game is frustrating, exhausting even, but it’s also the reason so many unknown artists, writers, and designers have found an audience that never would have existed otherwise. The challenge isn’t just about adapting; it’s about adapting without losing yourself in the process. It’s about finding ways to make the system work for you, rather than letting it dictate what you create.

So, if you’re in that place where it feels like you’re shouting into the void, wondering if anyone actually cares—keep going. The algorithm doesn’t define the value of your work; it just decides how many people see it today. Your job is to make sure you’re still creating tomorrow. Because the right people—the ones who get it—will find you. They always do.