HOLMES-Artistic Autonomy & the Communication Society

8/2/2019 HOLMES-Artistic Autonomy & the Communication Society

1/8

ARTISTISAUT9N9MY E THE- ggrETY


2/8

t()rtr.rkr,r l l rslr, .rrr( l(Lrl l rrr 'r l)rr\ iklrorr lr '( l r rrrr ') rrr 'r !( 'rr( l(r lr 'r ( rl )r l l l v. l()nz.l1()n,.rn(lnlr) irn nri)t t trrr l rrrernst ' l i ) | I I ILI| | t | | I I |( I{ | | | Inclurg ht rsl irrt iorrs rl PrJfrr lrr( i(nrs,t 'rr r l ly rtpl rerrtghe lr r rplrrr ' t tyi . .r ,re*ork" of the t ,r.s_froducti(x oci l j ly |l r hi s t(nr(exl ' hf lr r\ rrr(\ li {)r th()dd nd intensc, ' lebalcrbout lr c mr:: lns,esults r l( l !rr(15t rtIr\ri c prrctrrr, lDdelcndcnt ronl th c catugori ls strrbl ishcdy th c mjrketrrrJ th c state.This w,rs )!1c)i hc l l lot ivatiorrs )r ' rn nrt i :r l 'er) l l : l l )( 'r ' ll rvc publicl l t ior l D French, oordinrttd by l l l rrr 'u d't lu( les tnd nlysel l 'urd.ir th c ti t le ArrtrratDnfu rl)st i4trt :-ct \ot: i t lc dt t ontnlr l t) i t t l ' t tH(rrc wil l Iursuc tonresfccihc rspects i I 'r :rrsr lnrelebrl tc'__ Wf y ,r l f "t uu t iuton;)my whtl) th t rr laior hrust

o1 xpcrirrcntl l:rrt in th e l9(t0s an d 70 s wils to utrdert lr i rrehc autoDolr lol lswolKrThrs is th c Llr. lcslrolrtral . twi lys 'rrsls whcn you sPeal rvi lh thos!io r whorrt he rrc:tdcmic iscolrrses l the l95tJs ti l l scc'11o lrrNttcrIn! i , jcd, hc univcrsity crrccrs to bc lDi ld! by lelLrt ingCrccnburS' )ydcc()nstrueting ht h.r lnrxl i t)us tot ' l i ly {) i thc whit( j malc K'nti :rr),ut, i . . , , try.r i i rqutrtg tb e closurt of the:rrt ist ic lr 'r)rc': l re stenl inglyint iDite. Ar! l thu srme ho)ds or th e tlcscript i(rt1i the P'radoxes hir(ru"".r, tLt l t * i . . whcn mech:lnic:r l ly eproduccclworks or recordr( lsl iccs of evcryd.y l i ic, l lc prcserrtct l rr the 'Lrr: l t ic ' slDgulafrzmFspaces i thc tnrrseurn lu t onc sometimcs w(n,dcrs i th c lncnrbers


3/8

My brl rr l rs thrl you ciur ,nly h, 'v. x re.r l l rr t(x r.r( wl '.r ' .r vt r 1ct:t l conccrrlwrth t lrc prol i l retr()n l lhc scrtsrblt s rrr.rrnlrr lntd.r(hclcvel of a iorcvcr unrcsolved but corst i lnt ly olrun lr( l iu(!nsely (l t-bated qucstion.This is why I l ike to work wit l , Frrnqors )cck, be -clruse he has r. level(,rpcclmethod, a kind oi .r t ist lu tr ick the"questi(nrbanks" and associatcd rocedLraes-that l lows hir) lo cx-pl ici t ly bring hc sensibleworld into coi lcct ive qucstionins.Wh:lt wereal iy ncc(l s to spcn(la ot nlore urne ,sking c.ch othcr whcthcr ou rcultural f ict ions-our architccturc alrd mages,our hier:trchics rrdambit ionsand rlels antlnarratives arcan y g{ x lor us,whether heycan hc used n an rnterestingwa , what kind oi subjcctivi ty they pr{)-ducc, what kind o{ society thcy el ici t . I ' lut o do thlt ei iectivcly, wealsonced o invcnt ncw l ict i(n1s,o sh:lkcup thc insti tutcd inaginrrywith what Castoriadis i l l ls th e "radical" or "in\t i tul inS" inagi l lary.5()nly by rcrivcly irn.giniDg dif lerent possrblc e.l i t ics can we cnSagein the oper:rr ions f desymbolzation .ncl rcsyDrb{)l i : . t ion, r in whrtl lureaucl 'Etudcs al ls "the deconstruction nd rec()nstructiol 'rl ct l ln_flex rnachines"--taking he r lot ion ol machincs n t l ' !cstrong sctls,whcreby i t dcnotes lre symbolic, tcchnological and humarr asscm'blagcs hat conl igurc oursc]vcs and otrr socict ics, nd make thcmwork in thc spccif icways they do.. '

Art can ofler a chance or society o col lectively ci lec! nr he rrrag-iniry ftgures t dcpendsupor for i ts very corsistcncy, ts sclf-Llndcr'stdnLl inA.lur this is exactlywhcre r)urs(Jereties.rcai l ing,and fai l ingrr iscrlbly, as a rcsult oi thc way art ist ic nvcntron nd displxyhrs bceni l ]st i tLl tcdas a ccntral cconomic uncti(nr ovcr Ihc last twcrrty ycars.Wc arc Lrokingat ar,cxtrclnc ir)r i t . t ioD on thc vrr ict ics .nd qu.l i t iesof self rcf lecrion. ) iDrl ici l tc hc cxtcnt of this cl isaster,nd thc degreet{) which i t cal ls or a rci ivcnl i()n oi ixt ist ic : lu(nrorny, wi l l takc tw()exJrnples. )ne is a prograDrnraaic enicnec trt)lrl thc forrner Fre'rch cul-turc nri|ister, J:lckLang. And thc othcr is t[e concr!tc rcdlity oflr nl.jorl l r i t ish lruscun. Thcsc cxarnplcswil lgivc a fair ly prccise tleaol whatl lncan l)y t l rc communicati{)nsocicty/and why it 's neccsstry o con-ccivc artisric au()llorl)y agaiDst he background of rhe rcally exisringrnachincs f oorDmLuTcrt ior.

t:lck L.ng is one ol thc grc|t s()cia:ist Drarragers f people's minds,(nrr oi t l ,c m.jor .rchi lects of art ist ic crc.tknl- hnaginc hi ln as he tp-

10 2

t , , , , ", I' r \ ' !, r lr r r \ '1r".r

I t ,rrs rr r 'h,'r , ,* lr r:h .rnbe ountlol) rhe Llrcr|lcr,randiDSn frontr, l hcM(rrr l. t \ :rwrthon col his ew ivirg pcers, tdclC|srro-/ n 1983,the yeilr rrcnchsoci.lisn rbandoncd ts collectivist utopia that is to\.ry, ts rc:r lpolit icalpr{)gram,he one t wasdemocrntically lr:credtor in the facc of the so-erlledeconomicc{isis, Langcanreout withrhisslogan: Culturc is thepocts, lus electficrty." Ltrcrlhlne, c esI esl,oales,pltls elrticili. Extraordinary nn, ro saysucha thingl "Thiskrnd of mcsmcrism s a constant n his conccptionol art," rc arks aI renehobservet.F()rLang, culture is aDeconolnicweaponbecausetijanchdrgemeDtalitics, ndbecausehe crisis snot iust ccononric, Lrtrtlsoa crisisof the rnind. Thc powerof creativity is to elicir :tgit:rtion,rrovencnt, to transformcncrgy nto labor.'/8A lot of intcrcsting deas avebecndevclopcdn thc wakcof thc ltalitlr Autonomia flovcncnt ab()u! he liberating potcntial of creativcwork,or what is (alled mnlatcrial abot.,Bu t JackLdng, ike Chdssnrith in Britain, s the state/s tc.r visionaryof irnnraterial abor.Andthe statseeksonly one hing: to functionalizccrcativework, to man-.ge it, to give t a productivdisciplirle. n the micl-1980s, ang's uflurc rninistry crcatcdan claboratc erics [ strt-run nstiiutions whichrrrnrcclo Drodcrnizc hc anistic genrcs, o make thcn]. flourishing,Ir)ductivc and prcstigiouspart of a mixed ecoiorny widT d "cultura:cxccption-"For Chris Srnith,who canrca decadeater, dre deawas rt,erally o nrapout our sensnti()nsrom above, o csrablish "Crcativc n-rlustriesMappingDocurrrcnt" hat would productively hannelpeoplc!rspirat ions r1rc tholrsand ariat ions n thc tdvert ising ndustry. l( ll-hcultural cxccprionbccourcs hc productivc ule-ThLNNew LabollrrrrCrcrt B trin, nlorc than any othcr EutopeangoverDrnent, 1:ldcconcertedttempt n rhc .te 1990s c codi[yan dproiessionalizehcnT riddof new behaviorswhich harlernergcdrom llre netingol alien-lLedurbanyouth ancl hc ncw tcchnologies or the creation:lnd trrn\-Inission f signs, ounLls nd nragcs. hc irony s that t l is kird t) lsocialist cntralplanning l the spir it cachcs ack o alotherwoLtldbc architect f hurnanity: enin,at thc Congress f Sovicts n l9!0,!vho aid: CoDrmunisrnssovit owcr, lus heelectr if icat iul 'l hcrnt irecountry."But whichproved tronger:he workcrs'councilssoviets) r the prograD,sl lorced ndtLstr ializat ionlnd which &r yo urhink will provcstrongcr oday:poctry or clcctricityi


4/8

l l rr l rr te Vlrt lern sr lrvlntr l lel t)rt ol l l r(s.hr\rorr.\ l t t . , t l t t t trclectr i ! })rvur pLlr l t , porc l)(xiuct (t lht r l lCelrrrs)( l$rrrr l l )( l ,r lre.Llcrlr! ict:r1e rd (irLl i tr l ist ndustry. I his wu\:r I l :rre l()r hsrrI lrrrr,i rrr he trtel contnrl of a l.rbor rrcr. f yo u eonsidcr t .rrrhrttctr)rrrr ir l lv,lrom the viewF)iDt {) 1$e volrrmes rud he rrrrnuDrent:r l rr l tr oi t l resFces, t looks ikc nr)thrng o much as:l nrausdeurrl ,r v(n cr 's orl lh,which thc party cadresol Ncw Labourhrvc turncd into r tourist i r li rrct ion,. cryst. l palaccoi Flobrl lz.t ion. l ! crn hc i l luntinrrcd, Llctoreted wit l , bluc neon l ight, clccrr i l icr l n i ts turn: so thc t()rnbol th(working chss is nrrdc in!{ i a gl i t trr ing irtw{,rk. l )oetrynrec!selccrr ic'i ty. And thc'I . tc Modcrn slsohrs a constructjvisl ,T:rt l i rrcsque ridgrthat e{)nncctst dircctly m the hcirt ol lh e ()ty, ls r l t lbl ic scrvicc t)rthc harkcrs aDd rrdcrsoi thc f inancialdisl ict. t 's lnport irnt o tdnl i trvhat his kind oi rT ol lbcral nsti tLrt ions blLi l ton. Thc corpor:rte ponsorsof t l re f: i te lnuserl lns both odcrn t] ! l cl issioxl).rc l l t lhc hc.r l ,n()r us t ot l tr i t ish, but of lnrperial crpi l t l l : .rror)g thcnr.rre Bilrclny'splc, Eur{D!'s :rr l testnsti lut i(nal i |1vcstor; loyds,dre wrt ld's largestirsurancccornprny, Jri t ishTclcc(nn, nc ot thc brrckbolres)l hc com'nrunicrt i{rr socrrty, top.dvcrt i \cr and now the grc.t l}r l t ish art farron,:rnd l l ' , t l rr t ish 'ctrolcunr, ebranl lcd l lcyond I'clrolculn," usinF:rrt r l rng rvith al l drc othcr furlrs oi advcrt isr l1go pl:rnt he sunflowcrsecels i an .rcrL[rul tutr.rrc n your oi l-guzzl ing tnrgit l i t t i (J]t . or cor-porarioDs ik thcse,cre.t ins bel iei , manipul i l rng desirc, rnd :rain.t. ini i rg the poli t ical lnrsthcsr. of publ ie l i fe is th o rrost i trP(rrtantproduction.l And thcsc companics row actLvcly tsc hc world ot trrt ,they nr:rkc nLlscurls r l t()prrv.tc universrt ies,ik c l l loornbcrl l 's olding scnl inirs lor i ts cxeclrt ivcs n Lcvrl 7, rs a way 1() tnnulalc thcirencrLy, hcir expcrrrrenl. l i : lcult ies, hcir virtLx)sity r tbe lDsnipui l l_r ion ol rbstract igurrs. l : l )f courscdris is el l perr oi wb.rt s uow thuvcry well-kDownsl{)ryoi thc privatiztt ion oi cr.r l tureronr thc Reagan.nd Thatchcr craonw.rdl J-but i t is cqual ly cohercnlwiih thc Thirdw.y st l . tcgics o! workiarc,wl, ich includc ho uscol cductt ion .nd culturc h)r thc ()tal rDobil iz:rt i (nrl dl l the val!uLrlc, roductivc ! lcnentsoi thc poful.t ion.1.1 nd in rhis sensr, .r mort:so hr n in thr drys olthe situ.t i ()nrsts,ar t is th c Lrhimate ornurodity, hc on e that sel ls r l ltbc rcst. lccause t rnobi l izesy()u, l plugs yo u into a transnation.leorrrnrunications oop, t gcts yolr to ildhcrc, to conmlt, to do your p:rrt,

ro pl.ryv,rrrr ' l r , rL, ){r n Lhc nrir lnightoi l , i t nrakes ou prrt of a dy-r:r lrr s{i( cl ! A si ir- icrywhose mrgirury ol consumption/accumula-tron catls ircct ly to thc currcnt wars n t lre Middle East.

What kind of att i tudc to take,when yo u know how t iShtly an insti-r rtio lr like tlre Tate rs ntegrated to what Burear.r 'Etr.rdes as rlentifiedrs tbe f inancir l core of transnational tatecapital isnrl 5 On e thinS ssrrrci hc olcistratcgyof forrning a col lcct ivc as a wry to gc t into thcrnuseunr has bccorle absurd, Ihat Ducl: lus been proved hy thc stlb:rrssrvc posturil'rg of a Sroup likc Eto y, which end lcssly rcitcr.tcs thcl( 'r lnsof corl)or.tcorg:u]12.t ion,rorlr h| j3dhunting r i tu. ls i l l the w.yLkrwn o the display r) l sclI iof: l l l t i l iz.r ior]-16 he col lab(,ratrvc.rt ofLtoy orly rcsirtr is the lr l i r l t l l ly (Jbvious: l ]at the valrcs of trrnsnr-t ional statec:rpitr l l ism av cpcmrertcd !e rr t world, rrororr ly hroughrhc con,modity orm, but also,anclevcrr r i l r l : l r l ly, hrough hc rrt ists'.r t loprion f nanagerial cchniques ndbrandcd ubicl ivi l ics. hc cur-rcnt explosion of oleverly conceived "irrt ists' col iectivcs" rhrustlngthemsclves nto the r lst i tut i()nal rarket s sorry cstirro,ry o t lr isprc)lound:rnd Lnrqucstiolring rirnesis of the valucs projccted frorr thc consulung firn, s and human resourccsclcplrtrncnts. lt is in ihis scnsc hatconrcDrporarycapitalisn has succcssiullyabs orbcd thc :rrtistic critiqucof thc 1960s, rensforming t into rhc nctworkcd discipl ineoi what Luclk)lt:ll1ski rnd Eve Chiapello call "neo'm:lnlgcnent"-or inlo tl, e sLLb-rccrivcopportunisn ol whrt I cr i l "thc tlexiblepersoi:r l ty. r7()ne rcsponse o al l of this is rx:t. ()vcr th c last lc n ycars l hashecn ncreasi lglypossiblc o shi i t art ist ic work arv: ly rom salcablc biccts,ar 'td rrtside lT c 1orLiativc rrrDework, nt{) |nrrginal rcxhDsolopposit ionwhose consistcncyan d sustainlbi lr ly ove: t iDre beeorre\rhc key issLle- clear cxArnfle can be folrnd l l the role of arr lsrs nsprrking the countcr globahzati(xrprotests,such .s the "Calniv:r lAgrinst C:rpit. l" held n the City oi Londor on lune l i i , 1999, nd al lrh c 'Clobal L),rys f Action" thrt prcccdld.nrl fol lowcrl.Suchcxpen-Lrlcl,Ital rncticcs havc bcncfitcd enormously fror'naccess o a chcap:rn,Jrclat ively uucorrtrol led oDrnlunioarion nr. l istr ibutron systenr, h!lrrrernet.Which is st i l l a natter ol p()etryand eleclr ici t , but at ths\i lnrc ime, quite anothercup of tea.A deepcning olrsciousnessi pe rronal s:akes n tlTccol terrporary ecolrrrny hrs nore rccently lcd y()ungrnd not-s.r-your8 rt ists lnd heorists ()parriciparc n thc scl lrn Fxni.

!


5/8

:xuor ol l le\ rb r $,, 'r (crs, rv nS r\( l o ir r)L v ( r( loi U l), r ( vcr)r. l r(M.ydly t)rrr.dcs, rgrnrzri l l i rsl rr Milan, then l l r l l :r(r lorrr. ls lrrfrr lnce, drrcct rt l rcks lr{,rD hc riSht wlng g('vcrorDe rIr( l thc enrpl()yr,fs')rsaDizrt ion ave csulted n thc str-ugslc t thr prrt,r nrc h(alcr xnd rudir)visui l workcrs o defcntl sprclt l unc ploynlcrl l et l l l leth.t hclped shield thenr fronr the condit ionsot t lexi lr le :rtmr, nclsr r. lbwrd rhcm to practice hcir rrt outsidc thc ronditrms dietatcl l byth! rrrrkr: l . This stnr,Iglc rs dircctly identi f ied hr: olc (r 1 hc dominnnt cornDrunicitn)ns ncdu in iDlt losing nlr iori ty culturc. () n Sa turdxy ()c1()l)crt i , 200:1, groul)oi perl-1rme erformersbroke nto xpri lnc-l i rnebroadcrrsrrr l lcr. lSt.r AcrdeDry. ' 'Thcy seized he lnier()phon o:lr lnoLnlcehc r lcnunds oi thc nxrveDtel)t n! l uDfurle(l ben,r ler re.ding: "Shul (t i your'IVs." l t w.s nor xn isoiAtcd evcnt:jDnrirrer: lblcbrordcasrs, l inistcrixl sfccchesand 1t] l l rsctshJvc Mcni1)tcrruprcd.Lrst wcek belorc hc S!.r Aci ldctry :tct ion,a l lcrworkcdl) l( 'v( jr ] leDl arl rr iscn o r lefacc hc adverrrsententshr l f() l lu!e th epubli t space i the mctro. Thousands t r ldswere drst lryed over a pe -riod of , l scvcri l lnonths. Thesc rnsurgcncics orlst i tUtc l ivc:eflcc-lrorl or1olrr c{) l lcct ive ict i()ns, on the rnsti tutcd im.rginaryof thccurrcrl tncol ihcfal ystcm.ItAnd suchsynlbol icviolcncr,practiccdcolhctively in th c oper rir and r. isct l rr a lcvcl ol cnSlged ci lecti( 'nonwhat we wrnt our so!iety to bcc(nnc, s r Dn)re ntcresains ol l .Lror.-! ioD lbin: lnythiDg I sce n rhc rnuselrms. i we w:l lrr ro regtin.nych:rncc rt iving irr:r derlocri lcy,wc nlust l tr : lkcdl e Foducti(D ol th ccol lc( lrvc irr lrsin.rry nto an issue,by dcr:rr l i rrg r t leconstruc!ing crl . !n commurl icir l i (ms nacbincr, vhi lc burldingotbers nd idrptinS th cexlst l l lg ) l lcs {)nr( jclDcw nccds.

Shall we then rhendoD hc rruseurl lsi My |]{ lsi t ion s that thcy canbc oecupied ike;ny othcr t lsrr ibutior rrcrhanism withln thc comrrrLrDie;rt i t}nociety lrd should be occupicrl , o grDerrtcdecisive onl l ict ovcf the krnd oi socicry hry hclp produce. lut thcrc 1s:lr lothcr,morc chal lcnging uestion: hrl l wr irband()nhc historicr l pr.cricc olexpcl lr l ]cr] l :r lart, rs i t cmergecl r(nt) ts last mctarnorphosis n th cl)criod lround 96l. l l s lh c l{}st 'sturl io11rt f r t t i tu( l( j : lnd beh.rvior r-txl ly involved wilh th e rrol ivation!l str. teglrs () l neo-r1rrn:rgement,crxrrplcrcly errreatedwidr the L'pportunisrr rnd ndividual ismof thci lcxiblc person.l l i tyi ()nc coulLldraw sulJh onclusionsby oL)scrvinA

rlr. l |s(\ r i .r . l ( ol rhr "xrtrst ic crrt iquc" t) 1 hc 1960s Dd 70s,: lsIn' lrrrskr : 'n( l ( lhr.pcl lo do in 7/rc Nzr.r,spi l i l o/ cdpit.r l isxr. ' I 'hcor:rginrry ol rcbcl l ic-rn:rnd bcration, the quest for individual 3Lrrhentisi ty, the ideal () f sclt 'mcn.genrent, he anti i icrarshic:t l soci. llorrn of dre network/rhizome, al l have been appropriatcd s rhcrcri-cal and orSanizlt i (nlal dcvices hat respord to [rro;rd spirt l t lol ' ls fern.ncipatioD,but . lcl ibcratcly channcl t lTosc spirrt ions so as to re'lnstatc exploitrt ion and:l l icnatiorl LrlrClcrnothcr gutse.Wo call sccrhc fornlul. r t work iD c{)mmLrnicrt ion nrchincs : ikc the Tatc Mod-rrn, whlr the aesdrcric populisDi oi spcctrcu:3r drl f t ing oD thegroun(l loor combincs with high-powercdcl i tc ini t i r t ion oD "Level7," rn e mln11!r rnriniscent of the dr.rublculgo/culto rcadingofferedrn thc l laroqLre pect.clcs.s clcscribcd y JosaAnt()nio Mar.val l . loLikc th c IJaroquc, hc "guidcd oulture" (] f Iwcnty't i rst century hypcnncdia lcvclops evish rnd hrghly cu)rdinatcclarcbitcclurt l cnvir(Jnn]ents.nd urban deuorsns nrlnipuldtive dcvicesoffcrinl i v.rr i{)uslcvels of par: icipation, rn the ,t t ! tupt to bind society into the np-pcardncc f. cohercnt a!rdplci lsurrblcwholc, whi le at the same imcrrasscrt ing thc prerogativesof a rul ir lg cl i tc whosc posit ions irrcrhrcatcrrcd y thc trcmcndous n()hi l i ty and dynatr isrr of thc prcl:cd'in g pcrrod.Thc social nsti tut ion oI thc inaginrry opcr.tes sirrrLrl taneously as ir scdrctivc c:rpture devicc lo r popular dcsirc, rnd:rs al)roductive discipl inc lor the nrid-ranking "synlhol ic rn.lysts" lo r"cr:l t ive cl|ss"lwhose ir)b t is to st inrulatc our inlcrcst, attention,p:lssiorls tbat is, to cxerciso ha contenporary function of cortr(Jl ,rhrough thc modulal ion ot subicc vc cncrgrcs.l l Li ! ! lc wondcr lh.tmusculns ikc thc Tate havc rttradtcd such rttcnl lon frun lhe hiSh-es t rranrgeri. l slr. t i r of what Fl ix Guat!ari uscd to cal l " integralcdworld caprtal isln."

Castoriadis eesr jent:al ole or thc i tr :rginafy n the poli t ical nrolect oi i rutc,noDy, hercbya socioty ttcrnpts to givc tscl i i ts own hws,rnd ult imatcly soncthing l ikc its own labitrrs, i ts own way of rnh.rbr! in!( he nsti tut ional strLrcturcs. r) l lvcrscly, e sccs l icnatron as hercsult oi rn imnginrry th.t c.nnr)t be re[leuted r rcelaborated y thr)s!whoscart i tudes nd bchrvior i t condit ions: Thc esscncc l hete()rr, lny at the individui l lcvel or of al ienation, n the generalscrlse )lrhc tcrm is donrinatioD by al l inrrgin.ry which has bccomc rr u

107


6/8

tr)r lonr)trs.rrr( l. rs rkun (^,(r l l r t lurr( lr{,rr )l ( l ( l rnrrrS,{rr l r . \LLl) l(1,both lc;r l i ty and lcrs(n1rl dcsirc.":: l lcre wt rct lrseriverlrr t l tel t ,rnreaningoi thc cri t iquc (r i thr ru(nromous artwork i lcvcL,pctl n t l t tsixt icsand hc seveDties. u1 od:ry hrt eri t i ( luenrus!be ur rr( l () l t . jful l rrnge of aesthetic nsti lul ior ls olcri trns within sl)ect.rcLrlxro( rcty- How t o destrcy or slrrplss the ccrltr.l valuc pLaccd n tht tcorronlrewithnl thc imrgjnary insti turions Jf hc glob.l izlng socict icsr ' o sLrS-gcst hc powcr oi ra(l ioalarr ist ic practicc o dissolvcccrtain insl i !Lr 't ionrl i {)rns, drld o encourirgchc erclt i r) l l of othcrs, t l l lkc to closcwith a relercncc t) a groLrp f art is!s1rrnn:rnolher p(,ch, losc o theprescnr nd yc t iundxrnerrtal lyditfercDt,wh(J wcrc not nccess{ri lyseeking {)exit lhe mLrseutr1,lor cvcn the crnrn]urr ical(tnsocict, butwho crc.tccla thcatr icaland conccptual ict ion irr a bit l to rci lexivclyrransfr)rm hc authorit .r ian statc which in their virw had .pproprixtcd and dlstorlcd the rvant-gardc.r l ist ic tradit ion. I refcr to thcSlovcne rrtsro!p NSK, or Ncue sloweDischc unst,au d art icularly tr rtheir pro'ect, lJrcJl lr l .r r Ttrrc. Il s pr c iscsurc describedikc this:

In herrrr l tel NSKhrsl)c.D.ele{rncdircnr. i()rr iniz. l i , !r,rStrtc.Astnten ,m!,x st.r. wirbr{rt crnt,)rt tnd rt,(rulb,nrl .rs, s,trr)i sprr ituxl, !rrulstrt(. l t hri r tsucd ,r!8in.r l sKFrssp(tr irr devcryb, c.rnheeo e tsholLlcrnd h.rci(trc. ruzen,, l heNs Ks1.'t( hel)rssNrrc.nbeusrd rLruvely,ls oxs n olh( l rrrv. lJ(,Lumcnt,rrur. l ly$rth x etlr .rnh.:.( l t l ) i ts N!ncr. thcNSXstrrc(l .nres..r lree.r.! ,( trrcs, ' l Ixcdtcr 'lR"y, thc t 'r trcrph (n nrr(rrr l bor\ lcrs, n! l rdvorrl .s thr hw oftrJnsnxrrDrlrty.tsr rs NSKurcurl)clsh( brDeir.r.rnes' I hcnlhr to rtrzenshr|r. rh,,usrn\lsl l ,^ .r th. $(r ld, c( 'f lc, ' l I l tcrenr . l ,s,,n1s,iccs,Moon.lrres, .xcs n hrlrcis he nsht , ' crt izrnships c,tuircdhn,ushowncrshrpi hc p:rssl,, 'r t

why did NSK crcate his strangc or,ccptual )r.chinc, ?Jrir ldlr rrr1i l c; ()nc rcasonw:rs o assert hc subiectiveconsistclrcy:rrrclustr inlLri l i ty of l i gf l)Lrl)t pcoplr tvho t[ .ct ivcly ehoose heir own laws,who shrrpc henrsclves nd their socicty.Thls r l t tel l ]pt o imagirrc hclorns oi errtonorrywrs decisivcly mporunt l()r NSK, as he Yugoshvfecleral tart col l lpsed, and a new, bur also r Tsrtt lsfying an d poccn!ial ly lrscisl-nrt ion.l stutcwa sborn. But thcrr is xnother cvcl to thisrcf lcxivc rct, lo this art ist ir trrnsiorrn.t ion oi thc pol i t ical r,raginaryIlecrlrsc it 1s 'rot io clsy () crealc onc's owtl hws- ()nc (mly does so in

t l r r shrr t l , rv (' l l. r la lgcr ()rgr l l l iz t t1{n1s, cal ly cxisrrng inst i rut iL 'ns,rvhrch crr) . l ien.1e yr)ur idcas :rDdscnsat ions, which cai1prcy parasj t ,rcr t l ly upon yrrur t lccpcst aspi r : t t ions. Atd so the socia l (ornrs oi Nl icni r t r { rn rrus! be exorcized, n) .de to give back what they have capturcd,to relcesc what they lrave approprirlied anrl rliscorted. In the casc o[NSK, th is al icnat ing forcc w.s nothing less than the bureaucrat ic, d iserplirury statc, whicl, in Yugoslavra borc the double heritagc of Nazisnl lnd Sul iDisnl . Both o i thcsc, in thci r v iew, had cndur i l rg conscqucnccslo r art ist ic autonomy. As they wr i lc:

Modt rnrr ! hrsDot yc t ,v c comc he oni lcr bnrSht rbol i l), thefupid.ndei l icrcnt .ss 'mi lxrnr of hrsior ic. l v.mt-grrdc r1)vuureDrs. thc sysre s ofn)trlitiirinn strtes.... NsKl ..!rvcs rh. rrtrmr oi ,r .r n .g.rrdcnrovcmerrs byidrnr i fyrnAwrt i r t . . . ?h. ! r )st i r 'n l )or t t rntnd: rr r j le s.mr r iDc t rrunr l cdi inensron l .v. r1t 6. rdenr) lcnrc. ts rs hnt they rpcratc ndcrcarcwrthrrx cr) l lcct ivr . . .Th e qlest i , lnoi col lcct rv ism,.e. hc qucsr i0n f how to o.ganrze oDrDUnicl l l (nr d erahlc he eoexrstencci vrn l rs ,urrDoDr(t rrsindrvrdu: t lsn r eonuunrty, c. ! br $) lve in two di l icrcnt w.ys. Modcr!statcs ontnrue ) br prcoccut red i rh thc aucst 'onoI how i ( ) col lecnvizc!nd socitrbzc he rndrvr,-tnal, hcrcrs avnrr A.|ldenn)vcorcnts rcd n) sdlvcth r qucstonof how to indi !rdu. l tzc hocol ledlve.Avantg:ndcnovcDcrtst r lc i l to devcl , )putdr)nrous socral rg.nrsnrs n which rhc ch. r .ctcr isr ics,nccds nd v. lucs of ndrvkl ln l rsn, which ct rnn(n u comfrrs.d ! rhc sys,tctrls oi, f(,rrn.l st.tc, coll{l L,c rt.ly dcvel,\rcd rnd rlctir)cd. Thc collccrvrsD oi rvrnt 'Fade m,vcnrcnts had u ext . r iDrcD l vJluc.Wirh rhceol l . tpsei the rvut ga( lc urrvcuents,sre l . ] l , r rst ruenve icws'D !n icl liDnJ is l j r rcc, hrchcrused hc socia l sci t rsnr ' f ( t r rh, \Lrx nodcrnjstnndcr)ns.qDcnt lycd i ) a cr js is n b.srcvi r lucs ! thc t )ct ro l l f rsrmodcmjsnrNSK dcf iDes cxper inrent : r l , vangu. rd: rr t xs r t le lnpt ro indiv idul l izrLb e col lect ive, to dcvelop t l )c char.ctcr ist ics, nueds dt rd valL les of inr l iv iduals wi th in thc f ramowork o l i rutoDonroLrs oci l r l o tganizl r ( rns-wh. t thcy cal l const r l rct ivc {)rSanizat ions, r ) r 'whr l t I might c. r l l thc(xpcr incnt : l l cxprcssive rnachines of the rnul l l rL( les. Fron thc view-point of explodingYugoslavi, n l99l,. t rr rrrrr when i t wa s fol ir ical ly necessary o ref lect on the iorm ther sLrch ocial organizrl t i ()nscould take, NSK attemfted to exorcize hr r,)rr l i rrr i : l l l sr lre, iru(l {,rcplay hc traunutic history of vanguards, o ir \ r l ) r !r()ver lhclr t) otential autor)omy.This led to the thcatr ic. l :rnt l yurboIrgrcrr l rrnr,si sof Str l inism .nd aboveal l Nazisrn, n thc pL ioul:rnces lrr wlrr, rlh e groun s prinrari ly iamous It wor.r lcl c Llr lorlun.tc, howcv.. ' , r , ,


7/8

IT

rt l ) f r t Ihis pseLrJortLr. ls(.rg! ' l 'c.si ing1)rr l he denl0n\," rn(i yc twl)rse, () ct ishi:c i ts s|ccrl ic hlstoI icrI c()111enls.SK's drnlr lrc.t iol lwi lh vrnguxrl ls r l thr tur)r l1en1l thcir .L)\orl)t ionbv the lol l l i i t rr i t l r)rrrto only t.kes on i ts Iul l r tr t . tr ing whtn corrplct l vr lh lhe torhl lrr llookingpl4rosal ol ; socicrybLrrl tLng roetssol iD(l ivrdtrrr lon, nrergrr lU Irccist ly lronl a c l l tcr ivc c()rrt .xt ()trc\t iorrrrr l l hc veryconsit l !ncy ol rhr i t i rre irs sprrtrrr lni l tempolrt l nrorlcsof h! ingwls, f(t NSK, r strrrt lgyol lr(udr)rn.

A( |rcs.nt, 1bclrcvc h:rr tn nrbi l ion ir)rsr)|hisrictr lcl l]n(lcon!rrrtr 'rrrei lrt is 1oexorcr:c ho rnsti(ul ionrl Ior ls oi (. .rnsl l i l t i r)nal t; t trcrrpital ism,whrehh.rsapprupr.rtei l rncl lrstr;r leLlhc cxpcrrnrcnt.rLsrtr{n rhc pcriod.rroun(l 9a)s.-Ihis hcitr icr l , st l l islr l ; tnd .vchic exorrisur i thc worcl s nrrt L(n) lr()nglsut)|orcs LorrtsponcLrrgr:rtc| ir l e.r l i ly: thr c(rnslrLrctron i rxprts: ive nrachrncs het r.rn l)r( ' je( lcxchrrrgeend el lborrrtu he iDrxj{ in.r ietol i st)ert l ,v vhcrecol lcr:t ivrinirrsrrrrcturcaetLul ly rvor's ndivrr iuxtrol l , r(hcr tbrrr rc( l l reing l l( lth e \crvi lc c.r leirture!ol pLr:trnr cr n indivrcltr;r l isnrIrrt l ndcccl, c,r llccrivrty"l r lrnrrDtlcd (n inlrgrtt ion t() hc current m:rnrgtf ir l strLr{tu:,rs. n l ict, this kind ol worl i hrrs:rhe.rr lyrpperrrc(1,l orrr e{msid.r\lhr l lLrreruol Irrverrc fr-ehnolrgy n tht Unilc( i Sl.rres, o l \ l .ngo Lr rSprrn {rrn(l hc "Mrrf.s" grl)uP'r l ,0l(X)l0l l l0l01l l) l orx ir1 tr l} i l }r lrc.rLr 'EtLrdcsn tr.rnce, rnt l hosr ol () lh' j r \ , t whrlh !0 ' ' :rrk nd l l r ,Yes Mr'n iro r1o l()ubt h. rr lost xrml) lrry Prrlrcul:rr lybtc.LLsch( \show no clcpcnclenccn th t contr{} l tr rctLrrcsl r l le rca}ly :r istrng,t, 'rhrLlr ur\t l tu! i()rrs. l te sfmholre virr l tnec xtrcrsetl by thtse gr'otr1"r l issolves, t btrt, i r l to . c(rnt.rgiotrstrrr l()r nrl l r l rrr:rgin.rr)) l lctr! .crrnrr l crruDrifrtr(nl, eLrnvcyedty s() l)hi\ l i t l l tc( l trrt lgies rrrd 1..11niqucs oi ( l istr ibtr l i (nrwhrch lrclrgule lhe lorr l l :r l r()r l i: r "non sl rr(fLrblrc fhcrc," ls crl icd tor by : 'rolo Vrrno 'An i jxPerrnrcntl l ' t l ' l r ,sphcrt rvhosc rLrl t iplc n(lsl tu.rred .rrtrcip.ntt l l ry ht.bl. l (r rrrr.r lrrrr ' , ,rn. l r lunrrttelyvtn lr l t l r l t l l ! , : l l t .r l lnl lvcs r{) hc Llarl lcl() l l \ 'drrrLion ,1u]ry (irnctrD l()r oLrrcolLectrvc lcstrnirs r l rht wotl , l trerlLrrrron orv bcing nrposctl ty hu s|tet.crt l , tr c rr ILhrn15 )l eonltDrtrrrrrycl ir i lxlrsrrr

I I . / ' r

NotcsCornclrusCrst( lr dis, "l . i t ct a [. i re," rn f,r l r LI i ) I tni l( : L.t. : , ] l

t t l ()ut\ r lu lul \ ,rht l)e V l| trr is: Scui l , 19971, . 7(r.Cl. I t t . t l r ic Ian)tsoD, )t, tLr))oJ(tni\1))., t l ) . Oulluttt l Loltt . )l l l t t l( l l r l i l , , / i5nr i I)urh n: t lLrkeUl', I9911, s|. rhis p.rssrrgt:Th c cntl oithr bourgcois go, )f rnorud,no (louhthrlngswilh i t thc crld ot th!

I)sychoprthologrcsi thet cgo n'het I Lavt bcer crl l ing thr rvrrniDg ol i l l rct. l lut i t m..rns thc rnd (n nruch morc... . hc l ib.Lrtron,in contcmporrrysocicty, ronr hc o cr:rnomic oi thc ccnrercd rrhicrt rrry al*r nrrarrnot r lcrt ly .r rbcnl ion lro .rnxictybrrra l ib-eri tr i ( 'n fonr evcry orhcr krnd o[ ieelrngas we]l, sincc thclc is nolorger a scl l prtsent ro Jo the tet l lng." l lur Ixnicsr)rr 'sjrr i l hrs becl)to ncveresk rbout h. U)ssiL)lenvcntj(nl (* other kir ldr oi iecl inS,or ol. pr{)cess l in(11vidu.rtrurletaehetlrolr thc "borrrgeoisgo."(1. ( lxslon.rdi\ , " l lnrvr) ir , fol i trquc, :ruronorrre// ' 11 LL nntLl(luoi(. l l : : L.ts 1ftturtmr\ lu ldbytjnl l) t : l l ( l ' rrrs: Scui l , 19901, p.ta l7l , si l1l i l .r ornrul.rt ions in be ound in, lor rx.rDrple, l ihu-\ is.rnd Auron()nry," t t Wrtl t l iD frdrrn|rts: Writ i rr.q\ ), f i r i t j r \ ,St).rt .v, l 's).1r) lnlvsi: . anl tht Inniuation, rr. I) . A. Curt istStanford: tanlorr lUniv! 'rsi !y l tcss, 19971, p .l . l l ":11.(l i C (l :r \1ori l ldis,. 'r) \ ! t t t i tk)n iDin\tnt rt . t r ,rr !r)r 'r , i l r ;l ) :rr i \rScui l ,1975), sp .pp . l . l i i 157 hrsl ish translation: h( ln)tr i t) t ' ,v Ir: I itulkr) t) l S.)t ( lr , tr . K.thleen l l l i rney l( l .nrbrdge, Mass: Mj l)19981,f l l ) l - l l : t .

( :rsrorirdrslescribrshow socirr l nvcnti , rr isfs lr)nr psychicol rsins: l t is only insofxr s the r.r([c:r] nrrgrnrr i(nr ) l hc psyche uc .(( 'ed\ in trrnspirrng rhrough thc successive trrtr oi the socidl.r nror hrt is thc jndivrdurl , \ \ 'hirh covcrs t up rn!l fcnctrutes t :r l lr l rr r!ry (1). unf.th{nnlrhle irnit l rnrrt, th.t thc singulrrr unrrnl,r 'r I t rer s rn rctroDn rr lLun up(n 5ori i ! ty-" l \ruvoif, pr) l l t ique,rLl |ol i) l l ] | r ,",4) r i l . . | 1.1{).l iLLr.,rLrl ' l -(u(!es, AL|lrnrorrxrus(nov|lerlge|rrd l iwrr rrr Socreris r1 )| |r Al i(r r\ " .rv.r lrrblt r t f \ f \ ! u l i IrSr'nrI i | t ]

' , ( t i ,)r t iLLr\ .rr \ \ \r \ | l ( j r ,rr ,11L' Lrl l , i rr( .r t \ ! , | lL.) r | |


8/8

ti l ' l rr l rppcLJrl ir l rr)o,./rrr! '1rr1olrL lt pt ' l r t t ' I t t (rr l l rrr{/ l r /?rrr ' ! '1r ' t il l ' rr is: L. ( locr| l l r ' jntr l ion rrnqrisc, l"t ,61'9.S(rrrcpinlrrysoLrrtcsorrrnrnrrrttr i l l bor:A'Cttsrnr, l \1 Lr?zrr 'r t ') 'A. Ntgrr, 1.. l ,r 'rrrr, lu trt | ' t t i l i tnttt t t t t ' t i ' l l l l l )(Ltt)\1t tt t ' t t tPt t :/r ,r i \ /( rr l)rr l is: lhrr l l r ! l .rD, 19961' . L:| ' izirrtr) l 'dIo t) l rLlt t)atrr ir lL: l . ntr i t vtrLtL roluztont Llt l l i r r 's8' lryrrr i Vcr() l la:)nlbr!C(,f lc Idrzr{nri ,1997]; l Mrrtrz:r, 1 '()\ l () / ' ' r rr l :rrrr T{)r 'no: n' l 'latr ' lkrrrnghieri , 999); l | l ldn Inglrsh, the'r lrciesby M [:r:z'rr] lo'" lr l rnrrteri :r l , .bor," rD l,rt l ,( i rr l ' l l r( 'rr l l l rr) l rr l ) r /l 1\)1rnti 1 \i t f t \ iMinntrP(' l is: Univ,:r 'si ty i Mrnn!5otr 1'rtss, 96fi) NDilMIlrr i l l , "Al lccu\ 'o Lrr l tor," rorrn,/rrrv '): l l l l rrurrv, l999l Also se!th! ! l istus\iol l oi in )r l trr irr l l .r{rorn A Ntgri ND(lM ll 'rdl ' Irr lt) i r l ( l inlbri( lsc: l :rr\r.rdUniv!rsi ty l)rcss,0(X)l 'I t) . lJr irr\h (lov!rnr) lcn(, l)ePllrtr l rcnI rr Culture, Nlcrl i r land Sport 'rv; i lahlc at : ww w cLrl l trrc ov trk/!L)b'r l i 'puhl icarions/ 'rrchivt1998/t)-c;rtrveD(ltrstr iesMiP|rng l)oculnent l998 br mI l. Ci. Mttrr izio Lrzzrr.!r), "( lr ier dc s nr(nrdcs,"'t tLrl l r i l r i l ' \ l5lWrrlre r lot j : lJ, ivr i l rrble el : http:7/l l lul tr tLrt les' l l r izl l .} t n't /drt ir l 'pbp.l i id .r l trcle= 2s 5

Ll,. F()r cvcnl s|ol lsors se c w!vw tale'org lk/sl lpl)()rt Irs/rorlol ltim e 1r crrrrcnrhrrnl. l . Cl ( lhrrr f.roWu , /! ' i1r l i \ , ,r .11't l tuIL: (: 'nl ' I)ratt:1\r l l t l t(rvt i t t t l tnl\rr.rr r/r . 1981).\London Vers(',0{J' l l

l '1. ()r the deirni l ion ol lh e "scbulnPcteri n Worktrrrr: 'oslDr(r" r 'r lI lcgir ie" scckin1] o optl l l r izc th c toi]nit iv! pcrtormt| ce r rrr 'nr(,stc!p.rblecit izelr\ or1 hc lrrnsnrrt l(nl l l knon'let lgcnlrr l i ' t 'sc e l loh lessop,ThLt uLIt ' t ' ol t l t ! t l tpi t t l i t t !1rr lr {( l trrrrhrr ' l r i 'l t l i ty l)re\s, (x)-2.1.

l5 Fortht ' ' i inlncir l ctrre"str: lurtau tl 'Eruelcs, lh c W'rr l ' l t :"t ' t t tment: l lJst nrt ionNi srat.s, inl lucncc nc1$'1)r l(s' )r ir r 'r 'b()thttre, ( l01 Av:l ihblc at wwu'r t irnAcr\t( fg

16 .Scc, or cxrrTrple, ttp:/7'history.cttrvorni tori tsi 'rnrlr(\ i l'17. Luc l lol f i rnskr, Ev t ( lhir l)cl1o, t tr)t t \ ' l t \ l t t t t11t 't l )1t ' t t t tr

l l rrr is:( l . l l i r11.r!1,9991,m t 'nrlrsh rs i /r" Nr'\1 /) irr l "/ ' ' r l"/"1' rr llL,rr i l t 'n: Vcrn), 1o{)sl l l rr lo l l{r l r ", " I l r( l l ' \rhl( l\ r i 'r1'rrrvtrrrrr Ncrr ( tr lrLrr,r l r1rr( lrr( rr i I ' t ' " 1 1 ' ' t t l t ' l t t t t t t ' II AWli\ \ rl tr r \\ $ Lr rrrr 'rrr ' L 1

/ l I r\ , r .1r,r, , \ , / rr nr I . , l ( . ,1r1 i r \ r r , r , \ r ,a,

i l i . For rh r logic oa hcsccvrnts, sc e hc hl i .n s11ct,rvw19 . Fo r furrhcr jr l i ()rnl!r i(nr,ser AIul/ i txr lr \eitJ ssucon ,, lntcrmittcrcc ditns orrs cstrclc oD,,St(4rub,, i l | Mult u(L:, tohttp://rrul t i tudcs.srrnrizclatcr .

ch r n vorkl7 iSumrner2{X){) , pcetr ts , " , s wr l l i rs he; l llS|r iDr 20{),1), (rLh rr :", 11..1, '1" ' l l t t t , t t , .r ,1, {, , / , , , / , / ,M' ' r(Jn,,rr\ .nrvrr, .),rrv nl)(\ul.r t i r( \ \ loo.l l . .r l \ , , ,cr. , . l r ,rnr rh,. R, rrar..rrrr.e r, rh tIJtrr(xluc: he l) i fhrsic Schcnrr oi I Socir l C-risis,,,D Litt : t l tuttA,tDt ry tlr( I)i.:((rt,tt\: lh. Sptnti,il)Ctldct Af" iUiu""rprti, iir.University ol MiDncso(n t,,rss, l98ar, ecls.W. C;odz;c'h nd N.Sp:tdaccior.)L lror "syn)bol ic.Dalysts,,, ec tobert {cirh, .t fu tVo* ol Nutt(, l )s:t , tLpdtinX )ut\L, lvts tt , 21\t (:(ntutI C4t)ttd7rv,lNew york: Vin,: ; l ' t . l . r , l l ' r , , r tr

Documents

HOLMES-Artistic Autonomy & the Communication Society