Professing Contradictions: Knowledge Work and the Neoliberal Condition of Academic Workers
In this paper, we will provide an interpretation of the condition of academic labor, which is understood as a particular kind of knowledge work and labor. Our objective is to explore the contradictory condition of academics in terms of class position, production of value and subjectivity, showing bo...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Paderborn University: Media Systems and Media Organisation Research Group
2018-01-01
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| Series: | tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/872 |
| _version_ | 1797708144565026816 |
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| author | Marco Briziarelli Joseph L. Flores |
| author_facet | Marco Briziarelli Joseph L. Flores |
| author_sort | Marco Briziarelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this paper, we will provide an interpretation of the condition of academic labor, which is understood as a particular kind of knowledge work and labor. Our objective is to explore the contradictory condition of academics in terms of class position, production of value and subjectivity, showing both its idiosyncrasies as well as its alignment with the broader experience of working in current post-Fordist capitalism. First, paying particular attention to the US media and communication departments that develop critical cultural scholarship, we reflect on the unresolved impasse deriving from the distinction of mental and manual labor. Second, we describe this profession as being characterized by a contradictory class location and a valorization that relies on a continuous negotiation for better exchange rate between intellectual and financial capital. Third, we consider how such a context subjectively translates in an ever-resolved condition of ‘employability,’ which comprises vocational aspects and the necessity dictated by the hope to reach stability and recognition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:18:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-be658803d1c14d4b9ff337bffd00e30e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1726-670X 1726-670X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:18:00Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Paderborn University: Media Systems and Media Organisation Research Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique |
| spelling | doaj.art-be658803d1c14d4b9ff337bffd00e30e2023-09-03T02:28:15ZengPaderborn University: Media Systems and Media Organisation Research GrouptripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique1726-670X1726-670X2018-01-0116111412810.31269/triplec.v16i1.872872Professing Contradictions: Knowledge Work and the Neoliberal Condition of Academic WorkersMarco Briziarelli0Joseph L. Flores1University of New MexicoUniversity of New MexicoIn this paper, we will provide an interpretation of the condition of academic labor, which is understood as a particular kind of knowledge work and labor. Our objective is to explore the contradictory condition of academics in terms of class position, production of value and subjectivity, showing both its idiosyncrasies as well as its alignment with the broader experience of working in current post-Fordist capitalism. First, paying particular attention to the US media and communication departments that develop critical cultural scholarship, we reflect on the unresolved impasse deriving from the distinction of mental and manual labor. Second, we describe this profession as being characterized by a contradictory class location and a valorization that relies on a continuous negotiation for better exchange rate between intellectual and financial capital. Third, we consider how such a context subjectively translates in an ever-resolved condition of ‘employability,’ which comprises vocational aspects and the necessity dictated by the hope to reach stability and recognition.https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/872Knowledge WorkKnowledge LaborMental and Manual LaborGramsciBourdieuTerranovaFree LaborEmployability |
| spellingShingle | Marco Briziarelli Joseph L. Flores Professing Contradictions: Knowledge Work and the Neoliberal Condition of Academic Workers tripleC: Communication, Capitalism & Critique Knowledge Work Knowledge Labor Mental and Manual Labor Gramsci Bourdieu Terranova Free Labor Employability |
| title | Professing Contradictions: Knowledge Work and the Neoliberal Condition of Academic Workers |
| title_full | Professing Contradictions: Knowledge Work and the Neoliberal Condition of Academic Workers |
| title_fullStr | Professing Contradictions: Knowledge Work and the Neoliberal Condition of Academic Workers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Professing Contradictions: Knowledge Work and the Neoliberal Condition of Academic Workers |
| title_short | Professing Contradictions: Knowledge Work and the Neoliberal Condition of Academic Workers |
| title_sort | professing contradictions knowledge work and the neoliberal condition of academic workers |
| topic | Knowledge Work Knowledge Labor Mental and Manual Labor Gramsci Bourdieu Terranova Free Labor Employability |
| url | https://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/view/872 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marcobriziarelli professingcontradictionsknowledgeworkandtheneoliberalconditionofacademicworkers AT josephlflores professingcontradictionsknowledgeworkandtheneoliberalconditionofacademicworkers |