In Praise of Commercial Culture

Book Description

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 co-existing 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, neo-conservatives, 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.

Customer Reviews:

If you appreciate creativity.......2005-02-11

I absolutely love this book, because it's so rare for a book written by an economist to be readable, understandable, convincing, and uplifiting (Cowen just might destroy economics' reputation as "the dismal science"). However I assigned this in a class on Art and Politics at the University of Oregon some years ago, and my students hated it. Why? Because Cowen is harshly critical of some of their ideals--that government has a responsibility to support the arts, that such support is crucial for a thriving cultural world, and that free markets are a soulless, dehumanizing, anti-creative force.

In a nutshell, here is Cowen's argument. Free markets increase wealth, which increases purchasing power. As people's wealth increases to the point where their basic needs are satisfied, they begin to seek out aesthetic goods. The larger number of potential customers present in a market society creates "niche markets," thus expanding the variety of artistic styles and expressions that are sought out, hence the more (and more diverse) artists that can achieve success. Even radical non-conformists can find support. In contrast, in a non-market system where government (or some other patron, such as the church or the very limited number of elite) is the primary purchaser of art, artists must conform to the tastes of that limited number of purchasers, creating an incentive to not be too creative.

As examples, he points out that the Dutch Masters worked during the Netherlands' rapid economic growth (indeed, their art is astoundingly "businesslike" in its focus), the official Academy in France opposed new styles, and its annual Salon excluded such now-recognized geniuses as Gauguin, Monet, Renoir and Pissarro, and how independent record labels in the U.S. have been the primary outlet for new musical styles.

He also tackles the more philosophical issue of cultural pessimism. He notes that cultural pessimism is an elitist concept, leading those very people who desire creativity in the arts to disdain creativity that satisfies the aesthetics of non-elites. This elitism also provides intellectual support for censorship.

The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is that my students found it a little repetitive (I don't, but I respect their collective voice).

Excellent Account of How Markets Promote Diversity In Art.......2001-07-28

"In Praise of Commercial Culture" is Cowen's attempt to demonstrate that capitalism and economic growth promote, rather than squelch, individual creativity through artistic expression. In it, he provides a detailed history of the origin and development of markets for literature, painting, sculpture, and music. Throughout the book, he focuses on both pecuniary and non-pecuniary incentives that markets create for individuals to challenge prevailing artistic sentiments and express their creative energies in new and unique ways.

He begins his economic analysis of art markets by stating that the creation of wealth enables people to address their aesthetic interests. Specifically, markets enable artists to free themselves from both the desires of wealthy patrons and the need to satisfy mainstream tastes. This enables outsiders who stand to gain little by appealing to mainstream conventions to take risks and establish new cultural ideas. He gives a number of examples of how members of ethnic minorities managed to break color barriers by creating new genres of music.

In the area of books and literature, he asserts that the decentralization of editorial and financial decision-making enabled the number of publishers to skyrocket. He points out that small independent and university publishers can flourish in a commercial society by gathering capital for little-known authors who operate outside of popular spheres. He states that it has become more and more difficult for a small group of authors to dominate the attention of readers. He responds to the accusation that literary diversity diminishes fame-based incentives for authors by explaining that markets tend to increase the quantity of fame available to everyone over time. As a result, the quantity and quality of literature available to the public also increases over time.

Cowen responds to critics from across the political spectrum. He deconstructs arguments brought against capitalistic art by neo-conservatives, religious leaders, neo-Marxists, feminists, multiculturalists, artists, and surprisingly, some libertarians. He explains that members of each group fear culture because it can produce rapid changes in people's worldviews. As unregulated culture cannot be controlled, people who have a vested interest in preserving certain ideas tend to oppose it. Thus, people who work in politics must limit human creativity to stay in power.

Although his defense of government as a limited entrepreneur in the cultural market will rankle some readers, Cowen's account is a lively historical view of how markets reward individual creativity. Like Samuel Johnson, he praises the ability of markets to enable artists to turn their passions into livelihoods. He presents an effective critique of arguments that favor heavy government involvement in the artistic realm. Most importantly, he demonstrates why individuals should look forward to enjoying high quality artwork for years to come.

Culturally optimistic, and hortatory........2001-06-07

In deftly describing the organic connection between economic well-being and the production of culture, Cowen essentially affirms the need and the justification for being optimistic about our present state of culture, at least as far as creative output is concerned. He argues against and explains the origin of cultural pessimists and their rhetoric, which the author sees as understandable but not necesssarily correct. That is, not as correct as these pessimists would have you believe. The section on the visual arts is particularly rich with historical vignettes of artists and their way of doing business to get the work out and at the same time try to make some money. This book would be particulary good reading for artists -- in whatever medium -- who are often, too often, trained to see their work and that of others as critics would, rather than as artists and creators, who have bills to pay, not just inspiration to concretize. Cowen does a great job of condensing amusing anecdotes culled from dozens of art history books (most of which, let's face it, can be pretty tedious for the most part). Cowen makes a convincing argument that today, as an artist, one can be as esoteric as s/he likes and still find an audience, BECAUSE the economic structure of commercialism is in place to the extent that it is. In citing examples of artists who managed to become millionaires in their time (Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Mozart, Monet, etc), the author argues that being successful does not have to mean "selling out". Of course, in the process, he also implicitly argues against the ingrained prejudice people have against the idea of "selling out". Let the market and humanity's better judgement do their job of sorting it all out in the end : Only the excellent survives, and what is excellent in an artwork operates independently of the magnitude of popularity. Thus, the author lays out his reasons for the need to be more embracing of new genres of art by accepting the possibility that new stuff may one day be "classics", just as much of what we call "classics" today acquired their present status although they did not start out that way when they were born. By profession, the author is an economist, who apparently takes a great interest in the arts, and is concerned enough about seeing them flourish in diversity to say: Thanks to the market driven economy we have in an economic structure (for better or worse) that goes by the name of capitalism, more than ever before, artists can be as good as they wanna be doing their "thang", and still have a shot at being handsomely remunerated. Art is about pleasure, Cowen says. The pleasure of perception, sensation, feeling, provocation, inspiration, ideas, regardless of the kind. Even cultural whiners whine, with learned diction, because it gives them pleasure, much pleasure, to complain about how things are nowadays.

A stylish, intellectual tour de force.......1999-05-29

What is quite extraordinary about Tyler Cowen's book is not his sohphisticated understanding of economics (one expects that), or even his ability to put across difficult problems clearly, but the breadth of his knowledge about art and music. The book is indispensable to anyone who claims an interest in arts policies.

An outstanding and original work........1998-11-26

In this original and scholarly -- though never stuffy -- work, Tyler Cowen reveals not only a deep understanding of economics, but also a breathtaking knowledge of visual art, music (both classical and pop), and literature. His opening chapters show clearly how economics usefully sheds light on cultural issues. Subsequent chapters test his economics in various fields of art. Both Cowen and economics pass these tests impressively.

Cowen's voice is a welcome addition to those of scholars (including that of Virginia Postrel) who praise cultural dynamism and who appreciate the enormous creative powers of a people free of political and bureaucratic burdens.

Book Description

A huge amount of legal information is contained within this compact and orderly book. All legal terms are easy-to-find and up-to-date, and the book includes definitions, pronunciation, and easily understood explanations. Structured into short, easily digested chapters, Legal Terminology presents the fundamentals of the principal areas of the law, including: terms used in criminal law, tort law, contract law, personal property and agency law, practice and procedure law, will and estate law, trust law, family law, law of negotiable instruments, and business organization law. An excellent reference work for lawyers, legal secretaries, paralegals, legal assistants, and court personnel.

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Strengthen your legal vocabulary in seriousness and fun.......2003-07-08

This is an excellent resource for law students, paralegals, legal secretaries and law clerks. Each chapter shows the words in use and gives real-world explanations of the terms. At the end of each chapter there are true/false, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and crossword puzzle exercises to test your knowledge. This book covers just about all the major areas of law: criminal, civil, torts, bankruptcy, property, wills/estate... you name it. I swear by this book - it really helped me in pre-law. At many colleges, this book is standard.

LEGAL STUDIES: TERMINOLOGY AND TRANSCRIPTION FOURTH EDITION MANUAL

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LEGAL STUDIES: TERMINOLOGY AND TRANSCRIPTION FOURTH EDITION MANUAL
Wanda Roderick-Bolton
Manufacturer: South-Western Educational
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IOP30A

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LEGAL STUDIES: TERMINOLOGY AND TRANSCRIPTION FOURTH EDITION MANUEL

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LEGAL STUDIES: TERMINOLOGY AND TRANSCRIPTION FOURTH EDITION MANUEL
Wanda Roderick-Bolton
Manufacturer: South-Western Educational
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IOQSDQ

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A resource for stating your own business. Inlcudes current state and federal start-up information, contacts, statistics, and legislation.

Starting and Operating a Business in Indiana: A Step-By-Step Guide (Smartstart Your Business in)

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Starting and Operating a Business in Indiana: A Step-By-Step Guide (Smartstart Your Business in)
Michael D. Jenkins
Manufacturer: Oasis Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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An investigation of the underlying issues in world development and the world-wide implications:

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The Yankee Group Europe's 2000 Consumer Survey was conducted in August 2000 across five European countries and three regions. This Report is part one, which will be followed by survey results on consumer access. This Report focuses on consumer usage and behavior, and the results and analysis have enriched our understanding of Europe's position in Internet services, primarily shopping services and online purchasing. The data obtained has allowed us to make firm conclusions about general usage patterns, and it has also allowed us to make important country-to-country and regional comparisons. Consumer behavior and Internet usage are becoming increasingly more varied and complex, both in Europe and globally. User behavior and interest as illustrated in Exhibit 1 shows that e-mail is by far the most popular Internet service, followed by news and information. As the market matures, we are sure to see other services increasing in popularity. Online purchasing in Europe at this stage is still rather underdeveloped since confidence in the e-commerce marketplace remains somewhat shaky. It is not the cost factor that is prohibiting online purchasing; rather it is the practical issues like fulfillment, confidence in security, and consumers' need for the physical shopping experience. (Note: All monetary figures in this Report are in U.S. dollars.)

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Customer Reviews:

Finally, Someone Who Understands.......2003-04-08

Reading This book has been the most helpful thing I have done in my 30 year search for help with compulsive spending. It has understanding, advice and I recc'md it to everyone who has or loves someone with this condition. I only wish my husband and I had it 15 years ago. Thanks to Karen O'Connor.

Customer Reviews:

a review on the editor's introduction only.......2000-03-10

The editor's introduction reads like a propaganda commissioned by the KMT on Taiwan. I am deeply disturbed at highly biased "beautification" of the KMT rule in Taiwan and the "demonization" of the PLC regime on Mainland China. I also think that the introduction is too much a hodge-podge of KMT orthodoxies and seriously lacking in critical thinking. While I applaud the long- overdu effort to translate Sun Yat-Sen' collective works into English and making available such an important canon of modern Chinese political thought to Western audience, I sincerely hope that the introduction will be revised for future editions to render more objective verdicts (and with more intellecutal depth), of the two regimes on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Prescriptions for Saving China: Selected Writings of Sun Yat-Sen.: An article from: Pacific Affairs

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Prescriptions for Saving China: Selected Writings of Sun Yat-Sen.: An article from: Pacific Affairs
Harold Z. Schiffrin
Manufacturer: University of British Columbia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00096MIPU
Release Date: 2005-07-28

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This digital document is an article from Pacific Affairs, published by University of British Columbia on March 22, 1996. The length of the article is 469 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Prescriptions for Saving China: Selected Writings of Sun Yat-Sen.
Author: Harold Z. Schiffrin
Publication: Pacific Affairs (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 1996
Publisher: University of British Columbia
Volume: v69 Issue: n1 Page: p108(2)

Article Type: Book Review

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Major investment, export-import and other Strategic business opportunities and contacts, basic info for conducting business in the country

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Major investment, export-import and other strategic business opportunities and contacts, basic information for conducting business in the country

United Arab Emirates Business & Investment Opportunities Yearbook

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United Arab Emirates Business & Investment Opportunities Yearbook
USA International Business Publications
Manufacturer: Intl Business Pubns USA
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0739748874

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This yearbook contains basic information on export-import, investment and business opportunities in the respected country. Provides information on government structure, economy, business climate, regulations, and more... Includes basic statistics, information on the most important business contacts and business travel. Updated annually.

United Arab Emirates Investment & Business Opportunities Yearbook (World Investment & Business Opportunities Library)

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United Arab Emirates Investment & Business Opportunities Yearbook (World Investment & Business Opportunities Library)
USA International Business Publications
Manufacturer: International Business Publications, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0739713779

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This yearbook contains information on investment business opportunities, international economic projects, tenders, government projects, marketing and export-import opportunities information.

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