Double-Tracking: Studies in Duplicity

Double-tracking is a state of mind born of an ambivalent relationship to privilege, allowing those with financial resources the economic benefits of leaning right and the cultural benefits of leaning left. It is a cornerstone of the middle classes and a commonplace of contemporary life, found in essays, fiction, and art criticism. Tom Wolfe's 1970s work located the apex of double-tracking in the art world, but today it is a cornerstone of the middle classes and a commonplace of contemporary life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2019
Publisher: Carcanet Press Ltd

Double-tracking is a state of mind that combines counter-cultural and establishment elements, encompassing both wealth and poverty, and blurring the boundaries between different social groups. It was first identified by Tom Wolfe in the 1970s as a prominent feature of the art world, but has since become a cornerstone of the middle classes and a ubiquitous aspect of contemporary life. At its core, double-tracking is a mindset shaped by an ambivalent relationship to privilege, allowing individuals with financial resources to reap the economic benefits of leaning right while also embracing the cultural benefits of leaning left. It permeates various aspects of society, from the speech patterns of private school alumni to the spray-painting of legally sanctioned graffiti on pop-up container shopping malls, and even the fitness routines of sweaty executives attending weekly parkour classes. This collection, comprising essays, fiction, and art criticism, is a biting and witty satire of the middle classes, offering a penetrating exploration of our duplicitous lives.

Weight: 162g
Dimension: 134 x 323 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780995705227