Culture Is Bad for You: Inequality and the Creative Class

by Orian Brook, Dave O'Brien, Mark Taylor

Culture will keep you fit and healthy. Culture will bring communities together. Culture will improve your education. This is the message from governments and arts organisations across the country; however, this book explains why we need to be cautious about culture. Offering a powerful call to transform the cultural and creative industries, Culture is bad for you examines the link between social inequality and who produces, consumes and participates in culture. Exclusion from culture begins at an early age, the authors argue, and despite claims by cultural institutions and businesses to hire talented and hardworking individuals, women, people of colour, and those from working class backgrounds are systematically disbarred. While the inequalities that characterise both workforce and audience remain unaddressed, the positive contribution culture makes to society can never be fully realised.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cultural, Sociology, Music

296 pages, Hardcover

Published August 18, 2020

Reviews

[Romie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is definitely a must-read if you're working or want to work in the culture/creative industry. I read it for my dissertation and found it so helpful! although I knew about pretty much everything this book discussed, I'd never read something that went this much into detail when it comes to inequalities in the industry. it's definitely very academic, but definitely not boring! (4.5)

[Kirsty]

An incredibly dull and repetitive book on a very important subject

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dry (as in, very academic), so not for a relaxing read, but an essential resource for those interested in or working on access and equality in the creative sectors.

[stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Citando el título: la cultura es mala y no es algo de lo que podamos abanderarnos. Dentro de esta encontramos una gran cantidad de desigualdad con respecto a muchas áreas, sobre todo cómo se sostiene en base a los discursos elaborados por los individuos que la componen y los altos cargos que no son capaces de ver (o no les importa) cómo se mantiene.

Este ensayo hace un recorrido sobre experiencias, estudios y datos brutos de las formas en que la cultura segmenta la sociedad. Una lectura que, a fin de cuentas, es súper necesaria para comprender cómo funciona en la interna y lo necesario que es un cambio de visión para que todos sus individuos puedan integrarla de forma equitativa.

[Rob Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads more like a government report than a book for the casual reader. Perhaps more suited to those in the industry rather than an interested civilian.

Unsurprisingly, it finds that’s middle class white people have more success in “creative industries”/the arts. I enjoyed the parts which explored the critiques of social mobility and how class is often the defining factor here. The opportunities afforded to young people in the post-war social democratic era are celebrated and then not followed up. Despite continually bemoaning structural issues, it never quite makes the jump to the role neoliberal policies have had on the sector over the last half century.

[Pudsey Recommends · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important read and resource or everyone working in the creative sector, particularly those working on access and equality.

It was only published at last year, and it is a good contribution to public debate, not just academic discussion. It is written in very clear manner, and they take the trouble to explain very basic concepts of cultural sociology.

It took me a while to read, you need to give yourself time to absorb every chapter. It is one of those books to keep in you shelf and revisit every now and then.

[Zoe Megz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A manifesto for programme over product, for the dismantling of precarious work conditions and barriers to entry in the British creative sector. Academic in nature, but still remarkably digestible. A reality check for the priviledged and a guidebook for a more sustainable, fair and ultimately interesting artistic future

[Liz Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative on the issues in the cultural sector, though feels a bit like just a list of problems without any ideas on how to improve. Still, a useful thing to point to in future I'm sure

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strongly approve of the research and convinced by the importance of these findings, but the way it is presented is very dry and repetitive, even for an academic book.

[Maisy Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

had to read for uni, super interesting but super repetitive
also ignores disability and sexuality which would be interesting to read