SPQ faculty member Greg Sholette has shared with us excerpts of his just-published compilation of essays, co-edited with Oliver Ressler, It’s the Political Economy, Stupid: The Global Financial Crisis in Art and Theory. 

The publication is accompanied by an exhibition at the Pori Art Museum in Finland, opening February 1.

The title of the book and the exhibition is a rephrasing by Slavoj Žižek of the phrase “It’s the economy, stupid”, a widely circulated phrase used during Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 presidential campaign against incumbent President George Bush Senior.

As Pluto Press, publishers of this and other books by Greg, put it:

“It’s the Political Economy, Stupid brings together internationally acclaimed artists and thinkers, including Slavoj Žižek, David Graeber, Judith Butler and Brian Holmes, to focus on the current economic crisis in a sustained and critical manner. Following a unique format, images and text are integrated in a visually stunning bespoke production by activist designer Noel Douglas. What emerges is a powerful critique of the current capitalist crisis through an analytical and theoretical response and an aesthetic-cultural rejoinder. By combining artistic responses with the analysis of leading radical theorists, the book expands the boundaries of critique beyond the usual discourse.”

Greg has generously shared excerpts from Its The Political Economy Stupid.  You can also buy it with money, or as one of the writers in this book calls it, the queen of all commodities.   Go to www.plutobooks.com