Working Aesthetics: Labour, Art and Capitalism

Working Aesthetics explores the relationship between art and work under contemporary capitalism, examining how artistic practice is affected by the proximity of work to everyday life. It critically examines the moments in which labor and art intersect, asking why labor has become a valid subject for contemporary art and what this means for aesthetic culture today.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 240 pages
\n Publication date: 10 January 2019
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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Working Aesthetics delves into the intricate relationship between art and work in the context of contemporary capitalism. Traditionally, labor has been viewed as an unappealing subject for artistic expression, but the increasing proximity of work to everyday life has bridged the gap between these two realms. The artist, once considered separate from the economic sphere, is now celebrated as a model of effective work practices in neoliberal management textbooks. As work and life merge in the modern era, this book explores the profound impact of this shift on artistic practice, encompassing both artists and those who labor for them. Through a series of compelling case studies, Working Aesthetics critically examines the moments when labor and art intersect under capitalism. It questions the disappearance of labor from art production and the historical accounts of art that fail to acknowledge its significance. It also explores the connection between the dematerialization of art in the 1960s and the deskilling of work. Moreover, it investigates how neoliberal management theory's adoption of the artist as a model worker has influenced artistic practices in the 21st century. By examining the evolving relationship between art and labor, Working Aesthetics offers a thought-provoking exploration of the changing landscape of aesthetic culture. It sheds light on why labor has become a valid and compelling subject for contemporary art, and what this means for the future of artistic expression and appreciation.

\n Weight: 318g\n
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781350022393\n \n