INTRODUCTION BY JULES WINNFIELD (SAMUEL L. JACKSON IN “PULP FICTION”)
This is Jules Winnfield, driving through Los Angeles on one of those errands for Marsellus Wallace. I was on my way to pick up some money and make a drop at a laundromat in Englewood. On the radio was “Bullwinkle Part II” from the album “Surfers Pajama Party U.S. Release”, when I got a call from Saturno. He asked if I had stopped by Joe’s record store to pick up his Jimmy Castor Bunch LP, that single “Just Begun”. I said not yet, and then I asked him how he was doing. Well, that was all it took for him to unload this whole rant about Instagram and the problems independent artists are facing.
So, while I get ready to settle some scores with a bunch of traitorous bastards, let me tell you what’s going on in the art world today.
Imagine the 90s when I made “Pulp Fiction”. Making a movie was authentic art, motherfucker. It was all about the story, the characters, and pure passion for cinema. People appreciated a good film because it was fresh, original, and fucking great. But what do we have today? The market is saturated with Marvel superhero movies, reboots, and repetitive bullshit. Authenticity has been crushed by algorithms designed to squeeze every damn penny, creating content meant to capture the attention of half-brained idiots looking for their next dopamine hit.
Can you imagine if they released a new “Pulp Fiction” today, and in the middle of a conversation about burgers in Holland, a goddamn superhero with his underwear on the outside showed up saying he’s called “Le Big Mac”? That shit would be absolutely ridiculous. It has nothing to do with real art. And I can picture Jules looking at Vince like he’s lost his damn mind.
Now let’s leave the movies and get to the art world. Here’s Saturno to tell you how everything has changed and how he’s navigating this new fucked-up landscape.
THE EARLY DAYS: A GOLDEN ERA FOR ARTISTS
In 2012, I embarked on my adventure with Instagram. Despite having spent years on Facebook, Instagram was a game-changer, allowing me to reach an audience that would eventually become my loyal buyers and followers. Over the years, I’ve received commissions from various countries and established a strong community around my art. Back then, promoting my work and trying to gain followers was easier. I had no clear intention, I just wanted to show my art and gain some international fame, since at that time, most people only knew me in Spain.
I worked hard, constantly posting and improving the quality of my posts. Reaching between 20,000 and 40,000 followers was relatively easy, though it also required effort and dedication. You had to be attentive, interact with the community, and let other artists know you existed.
THE CHANGE: ALGORITHMS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY
Over time, that ease disappeared. Instagram changed its algorithms, and the organic visibility of my posts dropped drastically. Before, reaching your audience was fair and proportional. If you had 10 followers, you reached 8 of them. Now, if you want to promote something, you have to pay. This transformation has made many independent artists, including myself, seek alternatives to promote their work.
THE REALITY: INSTAGRAM’S LIMITATIONS
Imagine being an independent artist in a digital jungle with no help. You try to show your art to the world, but your hands are tied by social media algorithms. Every post becomes a struggle to be seen, and you have to worry more about the algorithm’s reaction than your followers’.
EXPLORING ALTERNATIVES: THE BIRTH OF A NEW STRATEGY
Faced with these challenges, I began exploring other ways to promote my art. One risky idea was to divert my Instagram audience to my website and blog. Instagram doesn’t make this easy because its algorithm discourages users from leaving the platform. However, I believed it was essential to have my own space where I could freely express myself and showcase my work without the threat of censorship or bans.
I created a blog where I share my ideas, tips, and detailed insights into my work. This blog serves as a space for my followers to engage more deeply with my art, away from the distractions of social media. By inviting my Instagram followers to visit my website, I aim to build a more loyal and engaged community.
THE CHALLENGES: OVERCOMING THE ADDICTIVE NATURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
One significant obstacle in this transition is the addictive nature of social media. The quick dopamine hits from scrolling through endless posts and reels make it hard for people to shift to more in-depth content like blog posts. Despite this, I believe in the importance of teaching the value of time and effort, especially in the art world. Good art takes time to create and appreciate.
THE FUTURE: BUILDING A NEW COMMUNITY
My current goal is to cultivate a community on my website, using Instagram as a support tool. This involves a lot of trial and error, learning how to navigate Instagram’s rules without getting banned. The key takeaway is that while social media can still play a role, it’s crucial to have a space where you can control how you present your work and interact with your audience.
ADAPTING AND THRIVING
The transition from relying on Instagram to establishing my online presence has been challenging but necessary. As artists, we need to adapt to changing environments and find new ways to connect with our audience. By focusing on my website and blog, I’m creating a sustainable model for promoting my art without the constraints of social media algorithms. This approach not only gives me more freedom but also provides my followers with a more authentic and engaging experience.
SIGN-OFF BY JULES WINNFIELD
Alright, motherfuckers, you’ve heard the story. Saturno is here adapting and finding new ways to showcase his badass art without relying on Instagram. If you truly care about authentic art and want to support a real artist, stop scrolling through those stupid reels and visit his fucking blog. And you better subscribe to his newsletter on his website. It’s easy; at the end of each post, there’s a box to sign up. Every time he posts something new or releases anything, Saturno sends an email to all his subscribers. And if at any point you get tired, you can easily unsubscribe with a button at the end of each email. Because real art deserves your attention and time. And if anyone tries to stop this flow of creativity, they better be ready for my fucking vengeance.