Art, Technology and Policy in the Twenty‐First Century

Cubitt, Sean. 2009. Art, Technology and Policy in the Twenty‐First Century. Third Text, 23(5), pp. 571-578. ISSN 0952-8822 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

Twenty‐first century media are integral to the making, dissemination and business of art. They are also the infrastructure of neoliberal globalisation. Artists and cultural activists can no longer ignore the technical workings of network media, nor how they are constructed politically in global and national policy forums. This article analyses the loss of integral governance as a result of the rise of neoliberalism, the increased exclusion of the developing world from decision‐making processes and the emergence of technical norms which threaten to constrain creative and social activity aimed at anything other than profit. It argues that we already have models for intervening in these processes at local and global levels, proposing that these are no longer tactical but strategic options for artistic practice. It concludes with a brief consideration of the largest remaining challenge: the social and environmental impact of new media technologies, and recommends artists temper their concern for content with attention to the vehicles of their art.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1080/09528820903184799

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Media, Communications and Cultural Studies

Dates:

DateEvent
2009Published

Item ID:

14173

Date Deposited:

19 Oct 2015 09:14

Last Modified:

27 Jun 2017 13:53

Peer Reviewed:

Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.

URI:

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/14173

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