|
March 4, 2011
In Meanjin vol 69 no 3 2010 there is an article Hilary Glow and Stella Minahan entitled ‘Richard Florida and the Arts: A Rescue Fantasy’.
This is relevant to me as I live in the inner city and photography is part of the creative industries. Australia has accepted Florida's argument that the distinction between ‘arts and industry’ and ‘arts and economy’ as a false dichotomy that needs to be put to bed and that the creative industries lead to vibrant communities.
Gary Sauer-Thompson, Slow, Adelaide, 2011
Glow and Minahan look at the contradiction between arts policies and working conditions, and Florida's argument that creativity is critical to the success of the global capitalist economy.
They say that:
Florida has dazzled politicians, businessmen and CEOs with the argument that creativity is critical to the success of the global capitalist economy. The arts, on the other hand, have been persuaded to comply with business thinking, strategic planning and management know-how—to internalise the idea that the business model is part of a progressive and modernising agenda that will rescue the arts from obscurity and poverty.
Like many others who advocate the advantages of a creative industries approach, Florida links creativity to innovation, and innovation to increased commercial profit. Commerce and culture are happy bedfellows, but ‘creative industry’; is a haven for the so-called creative classes. In Florida’s vision, the creative worker is free and reflexive, working in an environment that fosters tolerance, liberalism, diversity and non-hierarchical management.
The reality of course is otherwise. The realities of working in the arts for most, means low wages and long hours combined with managerial activities designed around compliance to policy and procedure.
|
