Art as Critique Under Neoliberalism: Negativity Undoing Economic Naturalism
Is contemporary art still a viable medium for socio-political critique within a cultural terrain almost wholly naturalised by neoliberalism? Historically, negativity is central to the project of critical theory. Today, art’s critical acuity is revivified by negatively divesting from art contexts saturated with neoliberal economism. Criticality is then negatively practiced as an ‘un-’ or ‘not-doing’, defining modes of exodus while crucially not abandoning art’s institutional definition altogether.
Measuring the Immeasurable: Social Media and the Dictatorship of Visibility
Institutionally today’s world is dominated by a slavish adherence to metrics. Every action and every choice is viewed as a strategic and competitive means of rising above others and ‘getting ahead’. Under neoliberalism, endless competition is purveyed not only as necessary but as ‘only natural’. This mindset is met with constant clamouring for numerical validation at every level.
Here and Nowhere: Artistic Identity on Social Media
Social media is a dominant force in contemporary art and culture. Social media attempts to incorporate everything into it. Its underlying consensus is of sharing all with all at all times. The unprecedented popularity of social media among artists suggests they have finally escaped their traditional identity as alienated individuals. Or have they?
Something in the Air: Internet Art as Archive and Strategy Beyond the Gates of the Museum
Internet art’s seeming peripherality to the greater art world is uncanny when the internet has so radically altered the ways in which anyone with access to such technology, views both art and the world generally. Meanwhile, the virtualisation of Capital, labour, art and culture, is far more pervasive, far less obvious and far more insidious than simple ‘VR’ technology would suggest.
Art/Social/Capital
The massive mediation of our contemporary cultural terrain obviously has a notable impact on the activities of contemporary art, particularly in a globalised context. In fact, what is especially noteworthy about much contemporary art impacted by this communication imperative, is its heightened emphasis on the value of communicability itself.
To produce value under Capital is a misfortune because it means producing value for somebody else.