How Come Artists Lose their Skills?

Question

Musicians, Writers, etc... How come so many artists lose their skills when they get older? For example, I used to like Stephen King books, but for the last 15 years he has just been putting out c**p. I like many music groups, but in case after case, I prefer their older stuff (when they were just starting out) compared to their newer music! So many of them were considered "geniuses" in their day, putting out great stuff, and then they stop. Stevie Wonder is a good example. I liked U2 up until 1992, since then the music just doesn't have the "spark" for me. The same with The Cure. Does age kill the creative genius?

Answer 1

It might be that when they were younger, they just did their thing for fun and to express themselves...but when you turn a hobby into a job, sometimes you get tired and just don't care anymore.  Also they have time lines to make the producers and label happy and such, so maybe sometimes their work gets rushed so it's not as good as it could be.  And there's also the marketing side, the label wants them to 'sell' to a particular age range so they wind up changing their sound... there are many things that can effect the creativity level

Answer 2

Sometimes it hard to keep the spark going.  It also possible some just peak at a certain time.  It is difficult to keep staying on top and find a new audience for ones work.  Then there are some that just keep coming up with good stuff later in their careers.  I noticed that you only talk of books and music, if one were to look at actors or actresses, some have kept going and others have relied on their star power to make a movie.  I feel that Meryl Streep has lost a little of her magic, but someone like Humphrey Bogart kept going.  I feel that some of Bogart's best work came in the 1950s rather than some of his classics in the 1930s.  The Japanese director Akira Kurosawa had an up and down career, but came on strong late in life with movies like "Rhapsody in August" and "Ran."  So, maybe if someone can keep the spark going or find a new direction, then they can regain that magic they had a long time ago.

Answer 3

My thoughts exactly. That's how I feel about Kid Rock and Big and Rich!