selected tag: collectivity

The typical use of “collectivity” in the 60’s and 70’s, was as a “tool” used by “special interest” groups to articulate political protest. A “collective” in this context was often organised around common struggles of class, race, sexual preference and gender to attract public attention to their needs and demands. Today, “collectivity” and the “collective” has a very different context: rather than assume the massing together of individuals based on being the same, collectivity as a contemporary form seems to point to more diverse, heterogenous, multiple forms, assembled by more loose relations. It’s important to be aware that collectivity is not automatically horizontal and non-hierarchical, it’s a practice. Rather than engage in the constant struggle to include “the other”, the focus could be to be constantly aware of the hierarchical tendencies and always changing power relations that emerge in collective work. Another thing to keep in mind is that collectivity is also often a tool used today to support neo-liberal work forms that exploit labour in diffuse and decentralised ways. Let’s use this web platform to also examine critically the way “collectivity” might be supporting such forms and imagine alternatives.

References:
J.K. Gibson-Graham, ‘A postcapitalist politics’, University of Minnesota Press, 2006.

Katharina Schlieben, “Polyphonous Language and Construction of Identity: It’s Dynamic and its Crux”, in ‘Taking the Matter into Common Hands: On Contemporary Art and Collaborative Practices’, eds. Johanna Billing, Maria Lind and Lars Nilsson, London: black dog publishing, 2007.

John Curl, “The Cooperative Movement in Century 21”, reprinted in ‘The Grand Domestic Revolution Goes On – MIDTERM MANUAL’, eds. Binna Choi and Maiko Tanaka, Utrecht: Casco and Bedford Press, 2010.

ASk!

Posted on November 10, 2012 by marc

name: Realizza / age: 25 / profession: domestic worker & visual artist / location: london / weekday: sunday / reference: justice for domestic workers with Ask! (actie schone kunsten) creating aliances at the showroom.

washing place in 1974

Posted on January 9, 2012 by marc

name: pilar / age: 51 / profession: architect / location: Castellón / weekday: monday / reference: photo taken in Villafamés, 1974.

At night

Posted on November 2, 2011 by rogier

name: Ina / age: 25 / profession: graphic designer / location: weimar / weekday: saturday / reference: cleaning at night with christina in portimao

La cité des dames

Posted on October 6, 2012 by marc

name: ariella / profession: philosopher / location: tel aviv / weekday: monday / reference: the french philosopher Christine de Pizan constructing a house

to share the cake

Posted on March 17, 2012 by marc

name: alice / age: 23 / profession: journalist / location: toulouse / weekday: saturday

Boarding life

Posted on January 4, 2012 by marc

name: jort / age: 25 / profession: visual artist / location: amsterdam / weekday: thursday / reference: Dartington Hall School (1926-1987) offered progressive education and a coeducational boarding life. As a first to do so it was notorious for mixed sleeping.

Making Music

Posted on November 2, 2011 by rogier

name: Torkel / age: 30 / profession: cultural analyst and writer / location: Stockholm / weekday: Thursday / reference: photograph from the house where i grew up, taken by my mother in 1982 or 1983.

the precious 5th sunday of the month

Posted on November 14, 2012 by marc

name: Marissa / age: 41 / profession: domestic worker & coordinator / location: london / weekday: sunday / reference: domestic workers have no social life. we work very long hours from 16-24 hours a day. with the busy schedules of justice 4 domestic workers (j4DW) we make sure that in a year calendar, the four months with 5 Sundays, J4dw members are out for some fresh air to relax and enjoy. sometimes in the beach, farm, museums and other historic place. we use this as one way to raise fund and encourage other fellow domestic workers to join us in upholding the rights, values and contribution of migrant domestic workers and making domestic work visible in british society.

the showroom