[iDC] The Future of the Humanities

[Geert Lovink]

Hi all,

I would say that the future of culture and arts in not lying in  
academia (understood as a place for research and not for vocational  
training). This would artifically overvalue the importance of academic  
work. Cuture and the arts have to be alive in society and can be  
supported with research from  the university level but should never  
depend on them in any way. Let alone that they should depend on the  
'science system' (STEM). It always struck as a particular weak  
proposition to argue for 'arts and science' collaborations in order to  
save artists etc. This makes the arts subsidient and puts it in a weak  
position. Just look at for the submissive STEAM ideas, which in the  
end downgrade writers, artists, musicians, designers etc. to servants,  
obedient to Science (because they have to support these programs, they  
are not invited to come up with a radical critique, let alone work on  
their own projects). Instead of creating a temporary solution for a  
handful of subservient artists that have to pretend they are  
scientists (write papers etc.) imho it would be much work together on  
alternatives for the entire sector. You can think of alternative  
revenue models outside of the intellectual property right regimes. It  
would be foolish to somehow suggest that in some countries artists can  
still become lifelong civil servants of the state. It is nice to  
accuse Europeans of such 'socialism' but such solutions (and  
illusions) have not existed anymore for decades and maybe everyone has  
already heard enough by now about the radical cuts in the arts and  
culture budgets in the Netherlands. The neo-liberal regime is now in  
place across the board. It is time to develop common visions that  
benefit all!

Greetings, Geert