Gender, Subjectivity, and Cultural Work: The Classical Music Profession

Book Details

• Author: Scharff, Christina

• Brand: Routledge

• Edition: 1

• Binding: Paperback

• Number Of Pages: 210

• Release Date: 23-05-2019

• ISBN: 9780367351267

• Package Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches

• Languages: English

About the Book

Gender, Subjectivity, and Cultural Work by Christina Scharff offers a compelling examination of the contemporary experiences of classical musicians, particularly in Germany and the UK. Through innovative, empirical research, Scharff addresses critical questions regarding gender, racial, and class inequalities within the classical music profession, exploring how these disparities persist and shape the working lives of musicians today.

This book delves into the complexities of entrepreneurialism in the arts, asking how musicians view themselves as both artists and marketable products. Scharff examines the evolving entrepreneurial ethos—where musicians must constantly work on and sell themselves—and how this mentality intersects with issues of precarity and neoliberalism that define much of creative work today. The book presents the subjective experiences of musicians working within the volatile world of cultural industries, particularly in the context of ‘creative cities’ that are marked by a highly competitive and often precarious job market.

By providing valuable insights into the ways inequality shapes the creative industries, Gender, Subjectivity, and Cultural Work contributes significantly to our understanding of cultural work in the modern age. It also offers broader reflections on the impact of neoliberalism on the personal and professional lives of artists.

This book will be a valuable resource for scholars and students in Sociology, Gender Studies, and Cultural Studies, as well as those interested in the contemporary realities of working within the arts and cultural sectors.