McGuigan - Creative labour: Working in the creative industries
McGuigan, J. (2011). Creative labour: Working in the creative industries. Cultural Trends, 20(2), 213–214.
The text discusses an edited volume entitled Creative Labour: Working in the Creative Industries (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009), which addresses issues related to work in the creative industries. The book takes a critical perspective on the labour process paradigm and explores the challenges and complexities of work in the creative economy.
The author states that academic interest in work has shifted towards consumption and culture, but that there is still a need to address the relations of production in the creative industries. Namely, the ‘creative economy’ has been lauded as a driving force in the knowledge society, attracting young people seeking glamorous occupations that combine conception and execution. However, the reality of creative work can often be gruelling and poorly rewarded.
An overview of the theoretical introduction and case studies included in the book is provided. In addition to informing the reader about the contents of the collection, the text emphasises the increasing importance of creative labour in contemporary circumstances, marked by rapid advancements in science and technology. In such a context, it is crucial to understand creative labour and how it differs from other kinds of work.
Jim McGuigan “Creative labour: Working in the creative industries”