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.
To produce value under Capital is a misfortune because it means producing value for somebody else.