On Political

What is Right and Normal?

Brain Vomit.

Lately, having been exposed to a few art critics, theorists, activists and discussions. It seems that the hegemonic attitude within the A/art world is an anti-capitalist one. I've seen more of Marxism - a note here: I certainly don't  tar all left-leaning/socialists with the Marxist brush - lately than I thought I might on an art course, and thought a fair bit more about political theory.

The problem is: I would, reasonably, call myself a capitalist. A liberal one, yes, but financially 'right'.

And I like having stuff.

I never considered myself a particularly peer-pressurisable person, but I'm starting to feel the heat a little.

John Berger (since he recently came back to me) is a man I respect academically,

As is Chantal Mouffe -  even if I disagree with her

As are the people I study with

But I find myself unable to whole-heartedly commit to the anti-capitalist, "we're heading to a corporate wasteland" business. 

-> Corporatism is bad, but so is anything taken to an extreme

And that's it.

I presume that the suggested alternative is socialism since, to make a massively broad stroke, most other systems are fairly unpopular/unknown

But it seems to me that if (rhetorically) we're going to straw man capitalism as extreme, we might as well do the same for socialism, ie. consider it communism. Realistically, which system has the better track record? (And while I doubt anyone alive would support the mostrosity of, say the Soviet Union, North Korea, China and it's One Hundred Flowers, it is hard to take someone saying "I'm a Marxist" out of the context of communism)

 There is a problem with our world - Our System - but I don't think the answer is as simple as "Let's try a new one!"

Anything can be corrupted and abused - That is what we need to deal with

Apple are good for giving us iPods, terrible for what they do to people. That isn't about capitalism or socialism

How many protests have been organised over Facebook? With Smartphones?

We're too used to having Stuff, we forget how we got it

In short: Many people in my 'sphere' are anti-capitalist, I'm not. Boo hoo ):