Creative cities, creative classes and the global modern

O'Connor, J., Gu, X. and Lim, M. K. (2020) Creative cities, creative classes and the global modern. City, Culture and Society, 21, 100344. (doi: 10.1016/j.ccs.2020.100344)

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Abstract

This article charts the development of the ‘creative cities’ discourse as one increasingly organised around 'aa transnational hegemonicic block’. It traces the tendency towards homogenisation during the adoption, translation and improvisation of creative cities' policies around the world, to that of an aspiration to be 'Modern'. Rejecting claims of a ‘creative class’, the article focuses on cultural intermediaries and how they function as a global epistemic community under the notion of modernisation. In addition, such a ‘creative imaginary shaped by a US centric neo-liberal financialization model has replicated existing global hierarchies, undermining public services and exacerbating the commodification of the creative commons. The article argues that it may be possible for cities to transform the Creative City discourse in their own image only after a radical rethinking of a modernising imaginary, and basing themselves on a new conception of the possibilities of the local.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This chapter draws in part on research funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP180102074): UNESCO and the Making of Global Cultural Policy.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Lim, Dr Michael Kho
Authors: O'Connor, J., Gu, X., and Lim, M. K.
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > Theatre Film and TV Studies
Journal Name:City, Culture and Society
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:1877-9166
ISSN (Online):1877-9174
Published Online:25 July 2020

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