‘Trading Places’: Art, Commerce and Social Transformation in the Writings of William Morris
What does Morris’ article tell us about the relationship between art and commerce in modern capitalist societies?
In a lecture delivered in 1884 entitled “Art and Socialism”. William Morris, an English socialist and prolific writer, focused on the relationship between Art, Commerce, and Social Transformation. The aim was not only to illuminate the effects of commerce and capitalism on social structure and labor, but also the influence commerce has on shedding art from its purpose. He discusses this relation by emphasizing on how commerce lead labor into becoming the center of life and being, and the need for humanity to restore its spiritual and creative …show more content…
The binary is understood as derived from the supremacy of Commerce, or competitive market, and the oppressive state it enforced on modern civilization through its “inequitably divided material prosperity” (Morris, 1884, p. 1). This system has completely starved popular Art. Meaning that not only was art of very little importance in a capitalist system, but that the majority of the people, especially the laborious workers, are unable to indulge in art, “the greater part of the people have no share in Art —which as things now are must be kept in the hands of a few rich or well-to-do people” (Morris, 1884, p. …show more content…
1). The solace of finding comfort, rest, and pleasure in work. Labor that involves creating goods that are of real value and not “luxury” value. Which in capitalism, the underlying conditions consist of enslaving not only the poor who are forced to produce these goods through oppressive labor, but also the “foolish and not over happy people who buy to harass themselves with its encumbrance”. (Morris, 1884, p .3) Morris (1884) defines art through creative craftsmanship, quality and the pleasure in labor, and claims that for art to revive and be a part of the everyday lives of all people and not remain a source of entertainment that satisfies the needs of the Bourgeoisie, the world must exuviate itself from these “luxuries”, and pave way for the “rebirth of Art”. Thus, for art to truly become the “Art of the People” and for this shift to occur, society must free itself from class division and the slavery of capitalism and allow art to transcend the sordid details of
What does Morris’ article tell us about the relationship between art and commerce in modern capitalist societies?
In a lecture delivered in 1884 entitled “Art and Socialism”. William Morris, an English socialist and prolific writer, focused on the relationship between Art, Commerce, and Social Transformation. The aim was not only to illuminate the effects of commerce and capitalism on social structure and labor, but also the influence commerce has on shedding art from its purpose. He discusses this relation by emphasizing on how commerce lead labor into becoming the center of life and being, and the need for humanity to restore its spiritual and creative …show more content…
The binary is understood as derived from the supremacy of Commerce, or competitive market, and the oppressive state it enforced on modern civilization through its “inequitably divided material prosperity” (Morris, 1884, p. 1). This system has completely starved popular Art. Meaning that not only was art of very little importance in a capitalist system, but that the majority of the people, especially the laborious workers, are unable to indulge in art, “the greater part of the people have no share in Art —which as things now are must be kept in the hands of a few rich or well-to-do people” (Morris, 1884, p. …show more content…
1). The solace of finding comfort, rest, and pleasure in work. Labor that involves creating goods that are of real value and not “luxury” value. Which in capitalism, the underlying conditions consist of enslaving not only the poor who are forced to produce these goods through oppressive labor, but also the “foolish and not over happy people who buy to harass themselves with its encumbrance”. (Morris, 1884, p .3) Morris (1884) defines art through creative craftsmanship, quality and the pleasure in labor, and claims that for art to revive and be a part of the everyday lives of all people and not remain a source of entertainment that satisfies the needs of the Bourgeoisie, the world must exuviate itself from these “luxuries”, and pave way for the “rebirth of Art”. Thus, for art to truly become the “Art of the People” and for this shift to occur, society must free itself from class division and the slavery of capitalism and allow art to transcend the sordid details of