The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast – 382. Oliver Anthony with Jordan Peterson: Art, Commerce, and the Religious

Intro

In this episode of “The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast,” Jordan Peterson sits down with Oliver Anthony to discuss the intersection of art, commerce, and the religious. They delve into topics such as the balance between vision and efficiency in artistic and commercial endeavors, the power of honest expression through music, and the confusion between politics and the sacred.

Main Takeaways

The Power of Music and Art

• How honest expression through music can combat demoralization
• Authenticity and genuineness are hallmarks of musical genius
• Simple music can be just as brilliant as complex music
• The relationship between the black blues tradition and Western country tradition
• Carpathian folk music and its interplay between different musical forms

The Fear of Selling Out

• Many talented artists are afraid of commercial success due to lifestyle and ideological issues
• The fear of selling out is foolish as artists want people to have access to their work and bring it to the attention of as many people as possible
• People who complain about selling out are usually those who have not had the opportunity to be commercially successful
• Communication and marketing oneself is also a creative challenge for artists
• The speaker turned down an eight million dollar contract offer and has alternative plans to continue pursuing music while remaining successful

The Impact of Music and Art on People’s Lives

• The speaker’s music has inadvertently helped many people struggling with addiction and mental health issues
• The speaker values restoring humanity and impacting people’s lives over commercial success
• The speaker wants to pursue music in a way that is meaningful and impactful, potentially as a nonprofit or ministry
• The speaker has met many music industry heroes who are not happy with their current situation
• The speaker and his wife have been touring for four years and consider it a privilege and adventure

Building Relationships and Negotiating Partnerships

• Partnering with companies can be risky, but if done carefully, it can open up new opportunities for artists without compromising their values
• Negotiating partnerships can be intense, but it’s important to find people who share your vision and won’t interfere with your work
• Discernment is important when choosing partnerships
• Set terms at the beginning of a partnership to align with principles
• Imagine where you want to be in 5 years and bring together commercial options and a private life in an optimal way

The Importance of Personal Vision and Reflection

• Developing a personal vision can help prevent aimlessness and wasted potential
• Reflection is important to align yourself with what you really want to be
• Having no vision leads to being lost, anxious, and lacking hope
• Education system was designed to produce obedient workers who couldn’t think for themselves
• Time is precious and taking chances is important to avoid regret in the future

Summary

The Power of Music and Art

Oliver Anthony and Jordan Peterson explore the transformative power of music and art. They discuss how honest expression through music can combat demoralization and how authenticity and genuineness are hallmarks of musical genius. They also explore the interplay between different musical forms, such as the relationship between the black blues tradition and Western country tradition.

The Fear of Selling Out

They delve into the fear of selling out that many talented artists experience due to lifestyle and ideological issues. They debunk the notion that commercial success equates to selling out and emphasize the importance of artists wanting people to have access to their work. The speaker shares his personal experience of turning down a lucrative contract offer and his alternative plans to continue pursuing music while remaining true to his values.

The Impact of Music and Art on People’s Lives

The speaker’s music has inadvertently helped many people struggling with addiction and mental health issues. They discuss the speaker’s focus on restoring humanity and impacting people’s lives over commercial success. The speaker shares his aspirations of pursuing music in a meaningful and impactful way, potentially as a nonprofit or ministry. They also touch on the dissatisfaction of many music industry heroes with their current situations and the speaker’s adventurous touring experiences with his wife.

Building Relationships and Negotiating Partnerships

They explore the risks and opportunities of partnering with companies in the music industry. They emphasize the importance of finding partners who share your vision and won’t interfere with your work. The speaker shares insights on negotiating partnerships and the importance of discernment. They discuss the need to set terms at the beginning of a partnership that align with one’s principles and the importance of envisioning the desired balance between commercial success and a fulfilling private life.

The Importance of Personal Vision and Reflection

Oliver Anthony and Jordan Peterson emphasize the significance of developing a personal vision to prevent aimlessness and wasted potential. They stress the importance of reflection to align oneself with what they truly want to be. They discuss the negative consequences of lacking a vision, such as feeling lost, anxious, and lacking hope. They also touch on the impact of the education system on producing obedient workers and the importance of taking chances to avoid future regrets.

Conclusion

Through their conversation, Oliver Anthony and Jordan Peterson shed light on the power of music and art, the fear of selling out, the impact of music on people’s lives, the importance of building relationships and negotiating partnerships, and the significance of personal vision and reflection. They inspire artists to pursue their passions authentically, navigate the music industry with discernment, and prioritize their personal well-being and impact on others. Ultimately, they encourage individuals to find their own unique path and create a fulfilling life through their creative endeavors.