Creative Labour

Centre for Modern Studies events

On the afternoon of Wednesday 1st June 2016 the Centre for Modern Studies will host two linked events addressing Creative Labour.

These events will appeal to those interested in neoliberalism, creativity, contemporary politics, cultural studies and issues including gender, equality, and the theorization of work, or labour.

Both events are free and open to all.

2pm Bowland Auditorium, Berrick Saul Building

Title: Some Apostate Theses on the Creative Economy.

Speaker: Dr Sarah Brouillette

Sarah Brouillette is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Carleton University, where she teaches contemporary literature and culture, and social and cultural theory. She is the author of Postcolonial Writers in the Global Literary Marketplace (2007) and Literature and the Creative Economy (2014).

Dr Brouillette will appear via Skype, from Canada, but will offer a full paper and take questions, in the usual way.

3.30pm Creative Labour Reading and Discussion Group, D/L/036 (Derwent)

Following Sarah Brouillette’s paper there will be a related reading and discussion group, held in Derwent, taking “creative labour” as a topic for debate.

The group will discuss excerpts from Brouillette’s recent book Literature and the Creative Economy, plus an online article which summarises many of her key points. In addition, we will consider exerts from a related 2015 work by Angela McRobbie entitled, Be Creative: Making a Living in the New Culture Industries (Polity).

This reading group is open to all, including members of the public, students (undergraduates and postgraduates) and staff. It is organised by the Centre for Modern Studies and will be offered as part of the Freedom After Neoliberalism series of events organised by Dr Adam Kelly (York) and Dr Alex Beaumont (York St John).

We ask that participants in the reading group try to read the preparatory material provided here, but should this not be possible do not feel that you cannot attend.

1) We will consider sections from Literature and the Creative Economy (Stanford UP 2014) by Sarah Brouillette. Plus, Brouillette’s NonSite article entitled 'Academic Labor, the Aesthetics of Management, and the Promise of Autonomous Work' which summarises many of her key ideas.

2) We will also discuss sections from Be Creative: Making a Living in the New Culture Industries (Polity 2015).

English Department staff at the events will include: Adam Kelly, Emilie Morin, and Claire Westall.

For information about the readings, and for any additional information please contact: Claire.Westall@york.ac.uk