Arts and Politics of the Situationist International 1957-1972: Situating the Situationists

Arts and Politics of the Situationist International provides a comprehensive aesthetic and theoretical framework that integrates the SI's concepts and practical activities with previous critical thinkers, political activists, artists, and poets. It sees the SI as a critical interdisciplinary endeavor in the history of consciousness, particularly as a moment in an ongoing western-European trajectory of aesthetic negation dating back to the early nineteenth century. The chapters explore the origins of the SI in French Symbolist poetry, Dada and Surrealism, Hegelian-Marxism, and Lefebvrian social theory.

Format: Hardback
Length: 276 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2021
Publisher: Lexington Books

Arts and Politics of the Situationist International provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the Situationist International (SI) within an aesthetic and theoretical context. By integrating its concepts and practical activities with previous critical thinkers, political activists, artists, and poets, the SI is situated within a rich historical lineage of radical gestures and cultural practices aimed at re-imagining everyday life and confronting alienation. This book views the SI as a critical interdisciplinary endeavor, particularly as a significant moment in the ongoing western-European trajectory of aesthetic negation, dating back to the early nineteenth century.

The chapters of this book explore the origins of the SI in various influences, including French Symbolist poetry, Dada and Surrealism, Hegelian-Marxism, and Lefebvrian social theory. Through this exploration, the book seeks to establish a clear and defined "something out of which the SI developed as an increasingly radical collective of artists, writers, and theorists."

The SI's artistic and political interventions were characterized by a rejection of traditional artistic forms and a commitment to subverting capitalist society. The group's members used a range of strategies, including graffiti, pamphlets, performances, and interventions in public spaces, to challenge the dominant narratives and power structures of their time. They sought to create a sense of urgency and immediacy in their work, emphasizing the importance of the present moment and the potential for radical change.

One of the key themes of Arts and Politics of the Situationist International is the relationship between art and politics. The SI believed that art had the power to transform society and challenge the dominant ideologies of the time. They saw art as a means of creating alternative spaces and experiences that could challenge the status quo and encourage a sense of collective identity and resistance.

However, the SI also recognized the limitations of art as a purely political tool. They argued that art needed to be integrated with other forms of activism and social change to be truly effective. The group's emphasis on the importance of everyday life and the everyday experience was a key component of this approach, as they believed that the ordinary moments and experiences of people could be used to create a sense of collective consciousness and resistance.

Another important theme of Arts and Politics of the Situationist International is the concept of the "spectacle." The SI defined the spectacle as the dominant form of social relations in capitalist society, in which people are reduced to passive consumers of mass-produced goods and entertainment. They saw the spectacle as a mechanism of control and repression, in which people are encouraged to consume and reproduce the existing social order rather than challenge it.

The SI's approach to the spectacle was characterized by a critique of consumer culture and a call for a more active and engaged form of spectatorship. They believed that spectators could become active participants in the creation of new social relations and experiences by challenging the dominant narratives and power structures of the spectacle.

In conclusion, Arts and Politics of the Situationist International provides a valuable insight into the SI's artistic and political interventions and their place within the broader history of radical gestures and cultural practices. By integrating its concepts and activities with previous critical thinkers, political activists, artists, and poets, the book offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the SI's contributions to the history of consciousness and the ongoing struggle against alienation and domination.

Weight: 617g
Dimension: 229 x 159 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793647085