So Kottke has set up in an garret in Brooklyn to become the first full-time Blogger with Left-Bank style freedom – which is great news, good luck Jason.
What is irrational is that people somehow think that having patrons, as opposed to a day job or corporate sponsors is selling out.
Er… patronage is what traditionally separates artists from employees. Van Gogh had a patron, he was not a ‘for-profit’ enterprise.
Take this nonsense in the Guardian:
“For me, a more serious concern is that, like the rapper who runs out of things to write songs about when he becomes a celebrity, Kottke.org’s “voice” will become lose something from becoming a for-profit enterprise.”
Give me a break!