Cultural production as we know it has been undergoing significant restructuring. In an effort to compensate for the global decline in economic growth; governments and corporations have begun to seriously consider the creative fields as markets that can be stimulated through venture capital and regional development initiatives. Along with the neoliberalization of cultural institutions; a conservative agenda that is buttressed by a war economy confronts critics and activists with the repressive forms of state censorship and police control.From art collectives to the US-led war on terror; from cultural contestation to neoliberal governmentality and from alter-global anti-capitalism to the creative industries; this collection of essays examines the issues and politics that have marked cultural production in the first decade of the twenty-first century. In the context of a proliferation of socially engaged art practices and the interventions of autonomous art collectives; Culture and Contestation in the New Century presents the viewpoints of leading international artists and intellectuals working in the fields of critical and cultural theory. After the impasse of a postmodern post-politics lsquo;beyond left and rightrsquo;; what are the possibilities for a radical politicization of cultural discourse? How has oppositionality shifted away from identity and difference; as well as social constructionism; to consider the universal determinations of contemporary neoliberal capitalism? These essays present a number of untimely reflections on the conditions of contemporary cultural practice; subjectivity and political dissidence; making new connections between cultural production; politics; economics and social theory. Simply stated; the book provides an account of the current interface between art and politics.
#4083362 in eBooks 2008-01-01 2008-01-01File Name: B01A27TJMK
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A wonderful read. Recommended.By DavidRRimler accomplishes what many biographers aim for but seldom achieve: a chronicle of facts and milestones that is both moving and compelling. Meticulously researched but with an engaging style that kept me turning the pages. Who knew that Harold Arlen; the composer of "Over the Rainbow;" had written so many other famous songs? All the players of the times are here: Irving Berlin; Jerome Kern; Cole Porter; Rodgers and Hart and of course the Gershwins. Both Irving Berlin and George Gershwin thought Arlen was better than they were. Rimler also beautifully captures the general tenor of the times in which Arlen developed his craft: the twenties with its jazz and speakeasies; the thirties with its depression and the movies; the war years (Second World of course) and the fifties with its prosperity and its rock and roll. I guess its obvious; I loved this book.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. " Of the great composers of the Golden Age of American SongBy Thomas L. HarrisThe book is well titled. Harold Arlen is "The Man That Got Away." Of the great composers of the Golden Age of American Song; Harold Arlen is probably the least remembered and possibly the greatest of them all except for the towering genius of his good pal George Gershwin. Maybe his near obscurity can be explained by the fact that he worked with so many different talented lyricists. His greatest compositions for the movies "Over the Rainbow" was written with Yip Harburg and "The Man That Got Away" with Ira Gershwin. The string of classics with Johnny Mercer that everybody of a certain age remember and can sing include "One for My Baby;" "Blues in the Night" and "Accentuate the Positive." What a partnership!! A wealthy aristocrat from Savannah and the son of a cantor from Buffalo; both lovers of black jazz; made beautiful jazzy music together. Rimlers book is a lovely account of the life of a man that everyone of his contemporaries and the great performers from Judy Garland to Barbra Streisand to Tony Bennett loved.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Great readBy Jean E. GeorgakopoulosA fascinating read. Rimler catches the vibrancy of the man and the times. By simply reporting detail; he brings Arlen into the living room for a warm and cozy get-together. His style is easy to read; crisp and tight but fluent (a considerable achievement). The book reads like a novel. When I reached the end of it; I was reluctant to let Arlen and his fellow songwriters go.
