How the Culture Industry Exerts Power
When we encounter a cultural element–perhaps in a museum, a theater, or restaurant–we are confronted with an existential experience and immediate impact. While part of this experience may involve understanding biographical or broader cultural context, only recently have creators and presenters asked consumers to consider how such practices are actively involved in shaping the world beyond the work. This marks a shift from a viewpoint where the art reflects the world through representation to a stance where the art transforms the world through activism. Art, in this sense, is no longer a tool of power, but becomes a powerful tool in itself. This shift can be seen in practices focused on climate activism, indigenous rights, gender and sexual orientation equality, racial equality, and prison reform. At the same time, philanthropic organizations are investing in programs and research that are altering public opinion and exerting pressure on political power structures to take action. These efforts are accompanied by cultural corporations–particularly in fashion and entertainment–that are also playing a major role in shaping public opinion, defining a lifestyle, and generating the images and narratives of a present and future that shape how people see the world and what they demand of leaders across a range of public and private, secular and religious institutions. As these trends continue, it becomes important to both formalize an understanding of how they are operating while also beginning to consider how such agency can both be extended and brought into greater balance with political forces across institutions. Ideally, doing so will help to create a world that is more supportive of a wider range of cultural products through policies that are conducive to cultural production.
Research and White Papers
-
This line of research will highlight and unpack a few exemplary activist cultural practices across visual art, architecture, urban planning and development, music, product design, farming and dining, and restorative ecology. In each case, we will look at how these practices go beyond producing the things that are expected within their chosen discipline to make things and take actions that aim to transform the world around them. In doing so, we will look for common trends across these practices as well as tools and tactics that are being used that could be codified, invested in, and made available to a wider range of cultural producers so as to extend their power beyond those who may have originated their use.
-
A number of extremely high profile philanthropic organizations funded by some of the wealthiest families who have played a foundational role in the formation of the United States are playing an active role in advocating for policies that extend the influence of cultural producers within structures of power. This could involve advocating for arts education, directly supporting the activist cultural practices that we are researching, building new physical spaces for cultural gathering, investing in the maintenance of existing spaces, creating a platform for a wide range of cultural voices to be heard, promoting diversity of viewpoints, and advocating for public funding for cultural production. While these philanthropic efforts have largely occurred in the United States, such institutions are beginning to play a larger role around the world. On one hand, this is due to a declining ability of governments to fund the arts in Europe and, on the other, growing private fortunes in developing countries whose patrons are interested in creating a monument to their work and collections. As this occurs, it is important to question the effects of privatising culture on the public while also questioning what the best long term funding path might be.
-
While some corporations have chosen to retreat from any topics that may be considered controversial and might disrupt customers and political power structures alike, some have decided to use their brand recognition, purchasing power, supply and distribution networks, and product design to actively pursue goals that improve the culture and world in which we live. On one hand, this might be creating monumental venues for culture associated with the brand while also extending a sense of cultural excellence across products. On the other, it might be funding cultural products such as movies that take a critical stance. Still others might support ecological justice and indigenous rights. While the political influence that these organizations exert may not be overt, it is becoming increasingly substantial. This research aims to both codify the trends and to explore how this agency can be extended further.
Call to Action
As we pursue these lines of research, we would love to connect with individuals working for such exemplary practices with the hopes of gaining access to colleagues, initiatives, and broader goals. We ideally would like to include as broad a sample as possible in order to gain a comprehensive view of what is taking place at the moment.
