In this article, we’re going to break down how finance and power are choking creativity, and more importantly, how we can fight back.

First of all, culture is not just entertainment. And it’s not some luxury for the elite either! On the contrary, culture is essential because it’s the foundation of human progress and the backbone of knowledge. But today, culture is anything but free. It has been hijacked and turned into a commodity by the combined forces of financial markets and political power. And that’s a massive problem, because these two predators work hand in hand to control what you see and what you hear.

The result? A sterilized, suffocating cultural landscape with no soul. Creativity is no longer about pushing boundaries or challenging ideas. Instead, it’s become an industry dedicated to producing safe, risk-free content with only one goal: profit.

When the Internet buried independent creativity

There was a time when the internet carried the promise of a cultural revolution, a decentralized explosion of underground creativity finally breaking free from corporate control. But that revolution never happened. Instead, Silicon Valley algorithms buried independent voices under an industrial-scale flood of mediocrity. The very platforms that once claimed to “democratize content” ended up becoming gatekeepers of conformity.

And here’s the clever trick: the system doesn’t even need censorship anymore, because it’s found something far more effective. Instead of banning what bothers it, the system simply smothers it by cutting off visibility and funding. It’s invisibility as a weapon. Without an audience and without income, even the most talented artist eventually runs out of breath. And sooner or later, they’re forced to give up their art. That’s not an accident. It’s a deliberate, Machiavellian strategy to make sure only the voices that serve the system can survive.

So yes, it’s time to wake up to the urgency of this crisis! Because if we don’t fight for free culture, the future of creativity will be nothing more than a carefully staged illusion of diversity, while real talent and authentic expression get drowned forever in the noise.

Distribution and promotion: the real battlefield

Luckily, the tide can still be turned. But it’s going to take a radical shift in mindset. Creators need to take back control over how their work is distributed, and audiences need to reject soulless cultural products while choosing to support real talent.

Because art isn’t just about creating. It’s about being seen, being heard, being shared. And in today’s world, distribution and promotion are the ultimate battlegrounds for any artist who wants to exist. And who controls that battleground? The same relentless system that dictates what the public should like and consume, powered by marketing tricks polished to perfection.

Traditional media and the cultural industry: a closed club

Let’s talk about traditional media. Access there is all about connections. You’d better have the right ones, because at the top they don’t just decide who gets the spotlight. They also decide who gets crushed. If you’re in the right circle, the press can make you a star overnight. But if you’re an outsider, the best you can hope for is being ignored. Push too hard, and they’ll shred your reputation before you even get started.

And when it comes to publishers, art galleries, music labels, film producers, or game studios… it’s the same exact story. They all follow one golden rule: talent is secondary. What really matters is having the right relationships and playing by the rules imposed from above.

And sure, once in a while, a lucky rebel slips through the cracks. But don’t kid yourself. It’s not meritocracy, it’s a lottery with very few winners. And when one of those rebels actually does make it into the spotlight, what happens next? What deals must they strike? What compromises must they accept? The truth is brutal. The system isn’t just designed to exclude those who don’t fit. It’s also built to tame and control those who manage to break through. Make no mistake, the machine that kills independence is running smoothly.

So if we want real culture to thrive, the first priority is to take back control of artistic distribution by any means necessary. Because as long as the elite holds the keys to visibility, we’ll be stuck in a world where mediocrity rules.

Nepotism: the cultural monarchy

And despite all this, maybe you still believe the ridiculous fairy tale that “real talent always rises to the top.” If that’s the case, wake up! For a very long time now, the artistic world has been nothing more than an exclusive private club. And if you weren’t born into it, good luck getting in.

Because let’s be clear: nepotism rules this industry. And in case you’re not familiar with the word, here’s what it means: giving power, privilege, and opportunities to family, friends, or insiders instead of the people who actually deserve them. In the cultural industry, it’s everywhere, to the point of nausea. Success starts with having the right last name and the right connections. And the worst part? The opportunists who got in this way have the nerve to look down on struggling artists and brag, “I made it thanks to my hard work and my talent!”

Oh really? Your hard work and your talent? Then explain to me why the same last names keep showing up in movies, music, publishing, and art galleries. Explain why an actor’s kid has every chance of becoming an actor. Why a writer’s daughter lands a book deal before she’s even proven she can write. Why musicians are so often the children of industry insiders. And while you’re at it, explain why genuine talent can grind for decades without ever breaking through, while some rich kid with no skills whatsoever gets the red carpet rolled out for them.

This isn’t just favoritism. It’s a full-blown monarchy where power stays locked in the hands of the same nobles, decade after decade. As if talent were hereditary. It’s pathetic.

The cultural disaster of the 21st century

But alright, let’s take a breath and do a quick tour of the so-called “art world” in the 21st century.

Music? A total betrayal. Billionaire rappers flaunting every filthy symbol of wealth, glorifying crime, treating women like trophies. Lyrics? Nothing but endless commercials for luxury brands. Auto-Tune? Barely hiding the wreckage. “Conscious” singers? All copy-pasted from the same bland template. And DJs, come on, are they musicians or just professional impostors?

Cinema? An absolute train wreck. The same actors, the same roles, the same recycled faces until you want to scream. Fresh blood? Forbidden. Why take risks when you can milk the same franchises forever? Surprise? Creativity? Not in the budget. Honestly, it saves me money on popcorn, because paying for that garbage on a big screen? No thanks.

Literature? A tragedy. And I’ve got a message for big publishers: stop wasting paper on the garbage you dare to call books. Insipid novels, syrupy biographies, texts so shallow they insult the word “writing.” What a disgrace! We’re no longer in the world of true book lovers. These people’s job description is basically “paper peddler.”

Visual arts? Sure, art is subjective. But let’s be honest, doesn’t it reek of a scam most of the time? That’s just a question… and I’d rather stop here before I get too nasty.

The star system: manufacturing hollow idols

And now, for a little comic relief, let’s talk about the star system. So, what is a “star”? At its core, just someone who’s very well known. Nothing more, nothing less.

But in this rigged system, it’s way more than that. Fame comes bundled with power and money. Which means the cult of celebrity has created a tiny elite of hollow idols, worshiped by crowds of fools who treat them like demigods. And while these empty shells bask in the spotlight, the real heroes of everyday life are ignored. Or worse, dragged through the mud.

NovaFuture: a space for real, free culture

All of this is grim, no doubt. But at NovaFuture, we don’t do despair. We build. We imagine something better. Something fair and honest, showcasing only real art and real creators, free from the chokehold of the cultural industry. And we’re not doing it alone.

Right now, what we can do is open up a space of true visibility for those who refuse to be puppets of the industry. Whether you’re a writer, musician, filmmaker, game developer, sculptor, or painter, if you refuse to bow down to conformity, NovaFuture is here for you.

And don’t let the giants of the cultural industry fool you into thinking we’re too small to matter. Appearances deceive. Our network already reaches a wide international audience that genuinely values free culture. So if your music, your writing, your art, or your creations catch our eye, we’ll give you visibility without charging you a single cent. Simply because we believe in it. And that way, everyone wins 🙂

Conclusion: liberating creativity

So here we are, ending on a note of optimism and solidarity. This isn’t the last time we’ll be talking about culture on NovaFuture. Far from it. And if you want to support what we’re building, take twenty seconds to buy us a coffee on Buy Me a Coffee.

Thanks for reading, and see you soon for the next chapter in this fight for creativity and freedom.