by David Bernabo
[This article was written by scrolling Instagram for a total of two-hours and writing a description of nearly every ad I saw, excluding a few local arts organization ads that somehow made it through the smokescreen. The order of the ads has been lightly rearranged to create a better flow. Thanks, Instagram.]
Social media is a big topic these days, especially in the arts. Artists and arts organizations have depended on sites and apps like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and others to increase awareness of their work, events, and programming. But things have changed in the past few weeks.
Nowadays, Instagram, for example, is just a place to watch ads about generative artificial intelligence, Lord-praising white rap artists, workout routines for first responders, workout routines for frustrated white men, workout routines for sad white men, Ron Paul complaining about taxes, advice for Christian chiropractors who lack confidence and want to enter a ponzi scheme, crypto meme coins, artwork depicting cops, artwork depicting firefighters, Jesuits being Jesuits in fields, investment advice for those awaiting societal collapse, life coaches that advise against helping “the poor,” life coaches that rep Amazon Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), life coaches that think phones are distractions, life coaches that point out your struggle in an attempt to entice you into joining a ponzi scheme, life coaches repping Christianity in an attempt to entice you into joining a ponzi scheme, Samsung phones, Dominican friars with podcasts, podcasters that think Trump is doing a good job, Christian hypnobirths, artificial intelligence touting the AI takeover, sci-fi thrillers now on Kindle, life coaches that advise that there is room, financially-speaking, for more life coaches in the field of life coaching, life coaching for tactical dudes “or [begrudging sigh] ladies,” CPAC, life coaches that advise delusion as a way to release toxic chemicals from your system, Apple iPhone 16s, life coaches that promote equality between men and women but also think feminism is bad, Dunkin’, life coaches that advise playing piano when things get rough, plastic surgeons, Microsoft 365, Carnival cruises, a Lexus crossbrand with The Atlantic, LED therapy lights, seafood snacks, neo-Nazi life coaches, neo-Nazi podcasters, DiGiorno, life coaches that promise money will arrive through the practice of Islam, homeowner’s insurance, online casinos, real-life casinos, life coaches who made a lot of mistakes along the way but recently bought $20M of real estate, Jewish organizations that support Elon Musk, Jewish organizations that condemn Elon Musk and specifically his two Nazi salutes, BMWs, relationship coaches advocating for men’s rights, e-commerce consultants that offer advice for creating Meta ads, career coaches that can “unlock your executive potential,” anti-aging treatments, rehab coaches that offer entry into get rich quick scams, life coaches that jog, MLMs, B2Bs, advice for struggling chiropractors, advice for men with cool hobbies looking for a long term relationship that can materialize from the use of their natural attraction, advice for underperforming brands, advice for insecure music teachers that want to make $80K/year, advice for farm boys that want to be men with a six-figure salary, and advice for dadpreneurs.
David Bernabo is an oral historian, musician, artist, and independent filmmaker. His film work has documented western Pennsylvania food systems, climate change, the studio practices of composers and artists, and the histories of iconic arts institutions like the Mattress Factory. He is most noted for Moundsville, a documentary co-directed with former Wall Street Journal writer John W. Miller, which screened on PBS for three years.
PETRICHOR 
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