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An Art Christmas Carol - The Ghost of Christmas Future

Ebenezer Scrooge saved his soul, and today the challenge is to save all our souls

While Ebneezer’s mind raced with thoughts of Tiny Tim, his disease, and his amazing talent, a third spirit appeared. The third spirit was nothing but a large black canvas with a small button that read “Click here.”

Although Ebenezer was afraid, he could help admire the wonderful hook. A black canvas! Why hadn’t he thought of that? Now that’s content! Imagine a black tshirt that had a button that read “Click here.” Those would sell!

Ebenezer touched the canvas and the scene changed. They were standing in front of a website. It was his website, in the future, and they flew into the screen and it became as if they were in an actual building, walking down a hallway toward what they appeared to be in the newly constructed Ebenezer Scrooge wing. There were nothing but black canvases on the walls. And the sign above the door read “Death.”

It was cold. And Ebenezer trembled. Still he forced himself onward.

There was a large crowd at the end of the gallery, gathered around what appeared to be the centerpiece of an art exhibit, which, judging from the size of the crowd, was a huge success. Everyone was carrying a commemorative poster - each poster simply a large black piece of paper! Think of the revenue! He must come up with the ultimate hook which is nothing but a black square to represent death!

What a future for content! Ebenezer was afraid but simultaneously impressed with the idea. Whoever brainstormed this idea was a visionary indeed! Everything about the space did indeed make one feel dead.

And to think, people used to think art was important and that objective beauty mattered. They thought that humanity mattered. It’s memes all the way down now. Even in death. Bah! Humbug!

The black canvases all now had arrows, pointing to the central exhibit . . . showing Ebenezer where to go.

As Ebenezer approached, he could see that someone was lying there. Someone was mimicking death. . . .

His heart beat faster and faster and then nearly stopped. It was him! Ebenezer stood looking at his own lifeless body. He looked at the crowd of people staring at his corpse, admiring it, paying for content…and he finally understood!

“Spirit, take me from this place!” Ebenezer pleaded. “I understand now! I understand again what art truly is! I remember the joy from my childhood! Please let me change this exhibit! Let me use my site to show beauty, to show truth, to show the works of art that come from the hearts of artists who want to share their vision with the world! Let me connect with people as humans, and not treat them merely as eyeballs to be monetized! I understand that there is more to this live than side hustles and Twitter Threads. Please, spirit, I will remember to keep Christmas in my heart all year long!”

***

The exhibit disappeared and Ebenezer was back in his bed. It was morning.

He ran, picked up his iPhone and called Bob. “What day is it Bob?”

“Why is it Christmas!” Bob answered.

“Yes, yes, Christmas, a day to Celebrate!” Ebenezer shouted.

“Bob, I’ve decided that you deserve a raise! I’m putting you in charge of curating content, I’m sorry, of curating art for the site! And that Christmas exhibit that you wanted to feature? I want you to begin tomorrow and we’ll open that section of the site to the public on New Years day!” I want to keep Christmas in my heart, in my mind and in our business all the days of the year! And while we’re at it, let’s bring in the best of today’s artists and writers, and have them give demonstrations, workshops, and let’s get children interested in art! You can start by bringing your son Tim down to livestream to inspire other kids. And, we’ll get him the best art education we can afford! Let’s bring humanity back to the Internet, Bob!”

Bob was speechless, flabbergasted . . . and elated.

Over the next week, Ebenezer and Bob worked round the clock and put together a beautiful Christmas Exhibit. They looked for beauty, they looked for diversity, and they looked for artists who truly love to share their gift with the world.

So, during this Christmas season, I’d like to thank you, the artists, the writers, and all the creatives who embrace their humanity. We raise a glass to toast those who resist the grift of the modern internet. Cheers to those who listen to their soul to produce art, rather than flooding the world with cheap content while chasing the sound of a cash register.

To you, the true artists who read this, we say: Merry Christmas.

Thank you for the joy you bring to the world through your art.

And God Bless Us . . . Everyone!

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