In the olden days, we all were farmers.
Then the Industrial Revolution happened and we all were (more or less) interchangeable parts on an assembly line.
In the future – and to some extent this is already happening – we’re all going to be artisans.
Not “artists,” but artisans – independent practitioners of a creative craft. Like carpenters, or jewelry makers, or potters – but instead of physical objects we will be crafting ideas and information and knowledge.
(I think “artists” get a bad rap, by the way – if you tell people you’re an “artist,” it has kind of a flaky, whiny, self-indulgent connotation to it. Being an “artisan” sounds more dignified – like you produce something of tangible value. I don’t like telling people I’m a “writer” because it sounds irresponsible – it’s like I need to justify myself in advance by saying, “No, don’t worry – I’m not trying to do anything artistic – I’m just trying to ply my trade.”)
