The era of isolated brilliance is over

We are all coming to understand that modern identity is no longer a static thing, but a constructed narrative shaped by what people present to the world. To be recognised, one must offer data. Observable, interpretable inputs that allow others to acknowledge, validate, engage, and so on. This concept sounds new, but it hardly is - it aligns with several renowned theories in sociology and systems theory.

In historical contexts, genius was considered innate, requiring no marketing to be recognised. Now genius is crafted in public - it is contextual, performative and exists not just in the work produced, but in the narratives crafted around it. The marketing of genius is an exercise in data sharing. Visible achievements, public persona, all within relevant cultural and social frameworks.

Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital says that recognition is determined by access to and control over cultural resources. To be recognised as a genius, one must provide data that perfectly aligns with the cultural values of the time.

Genius now operates as a system. The shift from individual genius to systemic genius is supported by frameworks like systems theory (as mentioned before) and complexity science which argue that innovation emerges from networks of interconnected individuals, not lone actors. Modern breakthroughs are inherently collective. Recognition is now tied to one’s ability to function within and contribute to a system. Nobel Prizes in recent years have increasingly gone to teams.

The modern genius must invest immense emotional labour into their public personas - this aligns with Arlie Hochschild’s concept of emotional labour where individuals perform emotions for public consumption.

Genius is no longer the domain of the isolated thinker, but a networked phenomenon. Recognition in modern culture is not about innate brilliance, but about what you share, how you share it, and who helps you amplify it. And while collaboration amplifies recognition, it also dilutes individual credit. One must learn to navigative the tension between collective and individual visibility. No more one man shows.

The world is too interconnected to recognise individuals - it will recognise systems.