Rules for Cultural Radicals

:  This article explores the various forms of “social skill”, what we call “rules for cultural radicals”, that the Amber Film and Photography Collective (and primarily its founder and leading visionary, Murray Martin) used to create and sustain an egalitarian arts organization and oppositional cultu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antipode 2013-06, Vol.45 (3), p.541-564
Main Authors: Vail, John, Hollands, Robert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activism
Amber collective
arts
Bgi / Prodig
cultural radical
Culture
Decision-making
England
Human geography
Leadership
oppositional
Photography
Population geography and social geography
Regulation
Risk
Social geography
social skill
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Summary::  This article explores the various forms of “social skill”, what we call “rules for cultural radicals”, that the Amber Film and Photography Collective (and primarily its founder and leading visionary, Murray Martin) used to create and sustain an egalitarian arts organization and oppositional cultural movement in the Northeast of England. The collective represented a radical challenge to the world of British filmmaking, featuring innovative practices of cultural work, non‐commodified forms of cultural economy and a commitment to a democratic culture. These “rules” constituted innovative forms of strategic action—visionary leadership, improvisation, risk taking, brokerage—that helped create a durable collective identity and networks of solidarity. We explore the extent to which Amber's “rules” are prefigurative of contemporary forms of cultural activism and radical artistic practice.
ISSN:0066-4812
1467-8330
DOI:10.1111/j.1467-8330.2012.01055.x