Symposium: Art, Labour, and the Future of Work
2018, Future of Work, Summit Brave New Work, Arts + Culture
One of the key distinguishing features of Western modernity is the image of the human being as animal laborans. That is to say that the distinctive activity of labour has always been at the heart of Western humanity’s self-understanding. Work defines who we are.
Now, in the midst of catastrophic climate change and on the verge of massive automation of work that, some sociologists tell us, will lead to the elimination of 80% of the jobs that currently exist, it is necessary to imagine a post-work future. Will such a future afford the possibility of a utopic transition toward labour that resembles play? Or, does a more dystopian future await, in which ever larger portions of the population are reduced to a condition of animality, deemed surplus and, therefore, disposable?
During a two-day symposium presented by ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV’s Institute for the Humanities, artists and philosophers will attempt to understand these questions and more:
- What role does art and aesthetics play in thinking about the future of labour?
- What is the relationship between labour and the aesthetic forces of production?
- How does the artwork exemplify the collapse of people and things in the social replication of work while simultaneously posing an excess and even a form of interruption and autonomy?
- Will automation in the realm of production further diminish, or will it bolster the dignity accorded to the sensuous realm of social reproduction and emotional labour?
This is a free event, and no registration is required. All are welcome.
9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (PT)
12:00 - 4:00 p.m. (PT)
580 West Hastings St., Vancouver
Room 470
About Brave New Work
On this Page
Saturday, March 3
Producer as Author
Chair: Jeff Derksen, ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV. Talks by Mark Nowak (the Worker Writers School), Alessandra Capperdoni (¶¡ÏãÔ°AV).
Free Associations
Chair: Samir Gandesha, ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV. Talks by Johan Hartle (University of Amsterdam), Duane Fontaine (¶¡ÏãÔ°AV), Philip Wohlstetter (Invisible Seattle).
The Aesthetic Politics of Hegemony
Chair: Am Johal, ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV's Vancity Office of Community Engagement. Talk by Samir Gandesha (¶¡ÏãÔ°AV).
Social Reproduction and Autonomy in Art
Chair: Sanem Guvenc-Salgirli, Emily Carr University. Talk by Jaleh Mansoor (UBC).
Sunday, March 4
Aesthetics, Politics and Materialization
Chair: Jaleh Mansoor, UBC. Talk by Anita Chari (University of Oregon).
Brave New Work | Trailer
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