This past weekend was the first weekend of Coachella in California. With artists such as Megan Thee Stallion and Lady Gaga performing, many people bought tickets or tuned in on YouTube for the livestreams. Given the pricing of tickets and spectacle around the festival, social media has made it seem less about the music and art and more about what you are wearing and how much content you can get out of it.
When Coachella first started in 1999, it was for alternative music lovers. Although there are still a lot of people who go to the festival for the music, some people say it is more about the experience. Being able to say you went to Coachella is a big deal for a lot of people.
It can be argued that it is a sign of wealth, too. Prices for weekend one start at $649 for general admission. The prices for camping or a hotel, transportation, food and miscellaneous purchases are not included in this. Not to mention, people are buying tickets before they even know the lineup. The cost of food at the festival can range from $15-$30 for one person. These prices are making it almost impossible for average people to be able to attend the once affordable festival.
Coachella is seen as the “influencer Olympics.” People say its only focus is influencers, fashion and brands. People often go onto Instagram to see if their favorite content creators are going and what they are wearing for the event. The fashion at Coachella sets the tone for what people will be wearing in the summer and the rest of the festival season. Not only that, some influencers do not even go to the festival. Attending the once-beloved music event is now a status symbol.
With social media prioritizing what celebrities are there and what everyone is wearing, the general public does not see the other side of the festival. The music may be what is shown to everyone, but the art installations deserve some recognition. The full name for the festival is “Coachella Music and Arts Festival.” Coachella has a bohemian aesthetic to it that is only achieved through the art. Social media often shows people running to get barricades for their favorite artist rather than taking the time to go out and explore these pieces that take months to design and install. However, how could people know about the art when it isn’t even listed as a header on the website?
This isn’t to say that all people who go to Coachella only care about the content. There are many dedicated fans who go to discover new artists and view the art in the desert. The build-up to the festival arguably made artists curate their performances to be bigger and make statements. When Beyoncé headlined in 2018, she used it to showcase HBCU bands and traditions.
On Saturday, Bernie Sanders introduced Clairo, saying “This country faces some very difficult challenges, and the future of what happens to America is dependent upon your generation.” Although not all Coachella goers are focused on the content, social media does seem like it is.
Cassie is a junior studying communications at Ohio University. Please note the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassie? Email her at cb086021@ohio.edu.
