In Praise of Commercial Culture

· Harvard University Press
Libër elektronik
288
Faqe
Veglat

Rreth këtij libri elektronik

Does a market economy encourage or discourage music, literature, and the visual arts? Do economic forces of supply and demand help or harm the pursuit of creativity? This book seeks to redress the current intellectual and popular balance and to encourage a more favorable attitude toward the commercialization of culture that we associate with modernity. Economist Tyler Cowen argues that the capitalist market economy is a vital but underappreciated institutional framework for supporting a plurality of coexisting artistic visions, providing a steady stream of new and satisfying creations, supporting both high and low culture, helping consumers and artists refine their tastes, and paying homage to the past by capturing, reproducing, and disseminating it. Contemporary culture, Cowen argues, is flourishing in its various manifestations, including the visual arts, literature, music, architecture, and the cinema.

Successful high culture usually comes out of a healthy and prosperous popular culture. Shakespeare and Mozart were highly popular in their own time. Beethoven’s later, less accessible music was made possible in part by his early popularity. Today, consumer demand ensures that archival blues recordings, a wide array of past and current symphonies, and this week’s Top 40 hit sit side by side in the music megastore. High and low culture indeed complement each other.

Cowen’s philosophy of cultural optimism stands in opposition to the many varieties of cultural pessimism found among conservatives, neoconservatives, the Frankfurt School, and some versions of the political correctness and multiculturalist movements, as well as historical figures, including Rousseau and Plato. He shows that even when contemporary culture is thriving, it appears degenerate, as evidenced by the widespread acceptance of pessimism. He ends by considering the reasons why cultural pessimism has such a powerful hold on intellectuals and opinion-makers.
Does a market economy encourage or discourage music, literature, and the visual arts? Do economic forces of supply and demand help or harm the pursuit of creativity? This book seeks to redress the current intellectual and popular balance and to encourage a more favorable attitude toward the comme...

Zbulo më shumë

Rreth autorit

Tyler Cowen is Professor of Economics at George Mason University.

Tyler Cowen is Professor of Economics at George Mason University.

Vlerëso këtë libër elektronik

Na trego se çfarë mendon.

Informacione për leximin

Telefona inteligjentë dhe tabletë
Instalo aplikacionin "Librat e Google Play" për Android dhe iPad/iPhone. Ai sinkronizohet automatikisht me llogarinë tënde dhe të lejon të lexosh online dhe offline kudo që të ndodhesh.
Laptopë dhe kompjuterë
Mund të dëgjosh librat me audio të blerë në Google Play duke përdorur shfletuesin e uebit të kompjuterit.
Lexuesit elektronikë dhe pajisjet e tjera
Për të lexuar në pajisjet me bojë elektronike si p.sh. lexuesit e librave elektronikë Kobo, do të të duhet të shkarkosh një skedar dhe ta transferosh atë te pajisja jote. Ndiq udhëzimet e detajuara në Qendrën e ndihmës për të transferuar skedarët te lexuesit e mbështetur të librave elektronikë.