The culture surrounding the indie scene has, for as long as I can remember, been defined simply as “independent.” As in, not belonging to a major company or corporation. What does that really mean? In the magical world of the internet, how is it changing? And why should we care?
What is indie? What does it encompass?
Historically, indie and the culture surrounding it is usually described as “artsy.” Works in this genre often place emphasis more on the story or message it is trying to tell rather than, trying appealing to a broader (or mainstream) audience. Indie creators are known for exploring themes that are sometimes considered too taboo, obscure, and/or ambiguous for general audiences. This has allowed the indie scene to remain as a safe space for forward-thinking creators and progressive ideas to shine.
The indie genre can encompass an extremely wide variety of forms including indie films, music, game, comics, etc. If it is a form of expression that uses modern technology to convey an idea, impression, or feeling, it fits under the indie umbrella. Indie used to be a genre with an extremely niche target market. This meant only a small number of people enjoyed or even knew about the genre, making it unlikely for many indie creators to make a sustainable living from their work. At least, until the magic of the internet allowed for indie titles to reach larger audiences, gain more traction towards their respective themes, and inspire more people to create indie works.
How is it changing?
The internet has aided in shaping much of the world we know today. Now, in the year 2020, anyone with access to the internet can share and view information from all around the globe. This phenomenon is most recognizable with the rise of influencers in modern media, but it has also had a large impact on indie culture as well. With independent creators being able to share their work on the internet and potentially create a large following, the indie genre (both creators and consumers) has grown almost exponentially. Where there is potential for a large following, there are more opportunities for recognition. Most importantly, however, there are more opportunities to make a livable wage from your work.
For example, take one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the decade, Todd Phillips’ Joker. The movie is a character study of Arthur Fleck (the man who becomes the Joker) who struggles with his rapidly declining mental health, abuse from his mother, and many other hardships from unforgiving streets of Gotham City. All themes that were rare or non-existent in movies directed toward more mainstream audiences. If this movie would have been made a few years earlier, it would have been an indie film staple. However, Joker went on to have over forty various award nominations in addition to winning multiple Golden Globes, Oscars, and various other well-respected honors. This kind of success, though not unheard of for indie films, is incredibly rare.
Finally, why should we care?
Indie has always been a genre for thinking outside the box. It allows people to explore themes and ideas that may never have had the chance to shine through the traditional forms of their respected mediums. As it stands, the larger parent corporations who would never dare to explore such themes, are seemingly dictating their industries. Don’t get me wrong, most of the content these type of corporations put out are good in their own way and are obviously able to make a profit. However, we should never be afraid of exploring ideas that could be considered taboo, ambiguous, and/or obscure because they could potentially not make as much money. The indie community is passionate, creative, and growing. It is a genre that has proven that it can be profitable, especially in the modern age of the internet, without sacrificing its vitality. That is why we should care for the indie culture.