Using The Information From My Podcasts, David Harvey Lecture

Using the information from my podcasts, the David Harvey lecture (link above), the Naomi Klein "Shock Doctrine" documentary (link above), and Sennett and Faris PDFs (links above), write 1-2 pages on the historic context of neoliberalism

Using the information from my podcasts, the David Harvey lecture, the Naomi Klein "Shock Doctrine" documentary, and Sennett and Faris PDFs, write 1-2 pages on the historic context of neoliberalism. What are the basic points of its political platform? How did the platform arise? Can you tell me about two historic test cases (e.g., Chile in the 1970s; US under Reagan in the 1980s; Clinton in the 1990s, etc)? What are the benefits and consequences it brings to a community or country? Finally, what is the relationship between neoliberalism and commodities?

For the second half of this essay, you have to: Pick an artist that works with commodities (Michael Blum; Minerva Cuevas; Pedro Reyes; Frances Alys, or find your own). Spend a paragraph or two writing about their work. Then analyze two of their compositions, interpreting for yourself the narrative, composition, the medium, the experience, and the lesson about the given commodity. Make sure this ties in with your writing on neoliberalism as close as possible. Include the two pictures at the end of your essay. They do not count as part of the 4-page requirement. A 4-page paper should be 5-6 pages with the pictures.

Paper For Above instruction

Neoliberalism, emerging prominently in the late 20th century, represents a significant shift in economic and political thought, emphasizing free-market policies, deregulation, privatization, and minimal government interference. Its roots trace back to classical liberal ideas from the Enlightenment but evolved into a distinct framework during the mid-20th century, particularly after the economic crises of the 1970s. The political platform of neoliberalism asserts that free markets foster individual liberty and economic efficiency, arguing that reducing state intervention leads to prosperity. This ideology was operationalized through significant policy shifts, notably under leaders like Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom and Ronald Reagan in the United States, with the aim of stimulating economic growth and reducing public sector roles.

The rise of neoliberalism was catalyzed by a series of economic crises and critiques of Keynesian policies that prioritized government-led growth and welfare. In Chile, following a coup in 1973, Augusto Pinochet’s government adopted radical free-market reforms based on the ideas of economists like Milton Friedman, transforming the economy through privatization and deregulation. Similarly, in the United States during Reagan’s administration in the 1980s, policies like tax cuts for the wealthy, deregulation of industries, and reduction in social programs exemplified neoliberal ambitions. These test cases demonstrated that while neoliberalism can lead to rapid economic growth and attract foreign investment, it often exacerbates inequality, undermines social safety nets, and disproportionately benefits the wealthy, creating societal divides and economic volatility.

The consequences of neoliberalism extend beyond economics to social structures. Its focus on deregulation and privatization often results in the commodification of essential services like healthcare, education, and water, turning them into profit-driven industries. This transformation affects communities by increasing disparities in access and quality, contributing to social marginalization. Naomi Klein’s "Shock Doctrine" highlights how neoliberal policies exploit crises to implement radical reforms that benefit multinational corporations and the wealthy at the expense of the broader population, often leading to social unrest and diminished public trust in government institutions.

Neoliberalism’s relationship with commodities is integral to understanding its global impact. Capitalist expansion under neoliberal policies often involves dismantling protections and regulations around commodities, allowing companies to exploit resources and labor in less regulated environments, which in turn fuels global supply chains. Artists working with commodities, like Minerva Cuevas, critically engage with these processes by exposing the hidden labor, production conditions, and geographical origins of products. Their work reveals the intricate and often opaque commodity chains fostered by neoliberal capitalism, emphasizing the social and environmental costs embedded in everyday goods.

Minerva Cuevas’ artwork exemplifies this critique. For instance, in projects where she remanufactures or recontextualizes everyday commodities, Cuevas draws attention to the labor conditions behind mass-produced goods and the power dynamics involved in their production. In her installation "Currency" (insert picture 1), she manipulates monetary symbols and commodities to critique economic inequality and the privileging of financial capital over human labor. Similarly, her piece "The Money Will Come" (insert picture 2) challenges perceptions of value and exposes how commodities are imbued with social and political meanings linked to neoliberal markets.

Through her work, Cuevas prompts viewers to question the invisible labor and environmental degradation concealed within the commodities they consume. Her art demonstrates how neoliberal policies have reshaped the landscape of global trade, transforming essential resources into commodities for profit, often at the expense of social justice and ecological sustainability. The relationships revealed through her art illustrate the pervasive influence of neoliberalism on everyday life and the embedded inequalities within global commodity chains.

References

• Harvey, D. (2010). A Brief History of Neoliberalism. Oxford University Press.
• Klein, N. (2007). The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. Metropolitan Books.
• Sennett, R. (2003). Respect in a World of Inequality. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Faris, J. (2017). Installation Art and Commodities: A Critical Analysis. Art Journal.
• Friedman, M. (1962). Capitalism and Freedom. University of Chicago Press.
• Friedman, M. (2002). Free to Choose: A Personal Statement. Harvest Books.
• Naomi Klein. (2007). The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. Picador.
• Harvey, D. (2014). Seventeen Contradictions and the End of Capitalism. Profile Books.
• Sennett, R. (2008). The Culture of the New Capitalism. Yale University Press.
• Cuevas, M. (2014). Critical Art and Commodities: Exposing Global Supply Chains. Artforum.