[iDC] Art, Lifestyle & Globalisation Questions

[Dmytri Kleiner]

Cynthia Beth Rubin wrote:
> I find the use of capitalist terms to describe what we do as artists 
> intriguing.

We have started a new group based here in Berlin called the Art & 
Economics Group. Let me know if you want more info.

>  If we go this route, we have to recognize that everything 
> that we do as artists and intellectuals is the result of surplus 
> capital- otherwise we would be in the fields growing corn.

Surplus _value_. You can not eat capital.

> In North America, we not only have surplus monetary capital, we have 
> surplus intellectual and educational capital.  We know things and think 
> about things that are far removed from our own lives.

Education and Technical Skill that result from education are sometimes 
called Human Capital, however the main impact of surplus human capital 
within a capitalist mode of production is lower professional wages. 
However, this surplus human capital could also be applied toward mutual 
capitalizion and mutual rent capture, IMO, this is a potential basis for 
the method of worker's struggle I call venture communism.

> How do we use our surplus educational capital?  And how does this play 
> out for activist artists? Do we get to indulge in making the art that we 
> want to make, get it recognized in galleries and through sales, and then 
> call ourselves activists because the subject matter echoes harsh 
> realities that are written about elsewhere?

The Art & Economics group is investigating another way, the art bond. We 
believe that this captures the marginal value of art production untapped 
by mercantile or patronage based systems.

The basic idea is that we will issue bonds to fund our project, and the 
value of our artistic production will be measurable by comparing the 
demand growth, redemption rates  and interest rates of our bonds to 
market rates.

We had our first issue in Berlin last Thursday, starting with a modest 
20 2€ bonds, that earn 10% interest. We will issue more quarterly.

> Or are there other ways to be activists. Like volunteering to teach 
> computer skills to adults in desperate need of a new career.  Or doing 
> page lay-outs for non-profits?

Both the above are good so long as the activist has some other means of 
support, which obviously is not the case for most.

>  It may not be an either or situation, 
> but can we reap the benefits of the system without getting into the 
> trenches?  What really is the best way for artists to make the world a 
> better place?

Make revolution irresistible. But most importantly, avoid making 
capitalists richer by selling them your labour (selling them your 
product is ok).

(and I do mean revolution, not insurrection)

-- 
Dmytri Kleiner <dk at telekommunisten.net>
robotnik, epicurean socialist, aspiring crank

Telekommunisten, Berlin
http://www.telekommunisten.net    freenode/#telnik

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