BLF: Art Under Capitalism

Birmingham Literature Festival: Art Under Capitalism with Nathalie Olah and Jess Shannon

Since the economic crash of 2008, socioeconomic factors have led to the widespread and increased disenfranchisement of poorer people from the mainstream media and the creative industries. Nathalie Olah’s book, Steal as Much as You Can, investigates the generations of people from low-income backgrounds growing up in its aftermath, who are more educated than ever before and yet have fewer opportunities. Her book advocates for challenging the establishment and stealing what you can from it.

Jess Shannon’s debut novel, Cleaner, follows a young artist whose lack of job prospects in the arts industry force her to move back home with her parents. Overqualified and underemployed, she starts a job as a cleaner in an art gallery, where she meets aspiring artist Isabella and becomes entangled in a messy affair involving Isabella and her rich boyfriend Paul.

Join us for a conversation that explores what is required to make art a viable career choice under capitalism with two of Birmingham’s own writers.

Chaired by Anna Metcalfe

Running time approx. one hour