You may not know much about Wells Fargo and what they do, but I'm sure that you've at least seen their name appear online recently. If, like me, you're unfamiliar with their work, Wells Fargo is an American international banking and financial services holding company headquartered in San Francisco, California.
In these past few days they've been under fire, especially from the Broadway community, for their teen campaign that is part of marketing for Teen Day coming up on September 17.
The ads seem to suggest that being a ballerina or an actor, is simply a preparation for an actual career in science. Well, as someone who is in college to get a BFA in Dance, I have plenty to say about this.
Growing up people always had plenty to say about my dedication to my art form. "It's just a hobby," "School comes first," "It's such a hard career, you might want to give sooner rather than later." Despite everything, I never gave up on my dream, because it is what I love more than anything, and it is what I'm meant to do. Luckily, my parents understood that, but many others didn't. Even now that I'm in college, with people who share similar dreams and goals, I am surrounded by judgement and prejudice because of what I want to do with my life. Many think that Dance is an easy major, that I chose it because I'm lazy, that my 4.0 GPA doesn't mean much because all I do is take dance classes. They have no idea about what we go through everyday, and how hectic our schedules are.
Not only are these things us aspiring artists have to deal with in our personal lives, now it's part of an ad campaign? It's like they're publicly trying to diminish who we are and what we do. That is insulting, frustrating and just wrong. Wells Fargo's message can be interpreted in different ways, but to me it's saying that the arts are just hobbies, that are part of childhood memories. Something that has to be given up once it's time to "get serious" about the future. They're saying that a career in fields like engineering or botany are more valid and rewarding than a career in dance or acting. What a bunch of crap. And what a great way to discourage kids from making their dreams come true.
I'm not, in any way, trying to tear down other careers, but I am tired of feeling like what I'm doing isn't as valuable as math and science. The arts are a beautiful thing and without it there would be no entertainment for those in other fields. Wells Fargo, should be ashamed for making artists feel as they don't have "real careers."
We deserve as much recognition as anyone else because what we are trying to do is, in no way, shape or form, easy. I am proud to say that I was a ballerina yesterday, I am a ballerina today and I'll be a ballerina tomorrow.
