Creative Industries and the Future of Work (by Luke)
In 2021, we are in the midst of
what many in the technology sector call the Fourth Industrial Revolution or (Industry
4.0). As Moors Law continues to thrive, microscopic transistors and lighting
fast 5G data connections enable even the dumbest of objects to become smart.
The fridge can track your consumption when you’re low on milk and the new car
in your driveway can cruise through traffic on its own. As the world races
toward 6G connectivity and more robust AI, many jobs in traditional industries
will become obsolete.
Most vulnerable are industries that
rely on repetitive tasks. These industries include transportation with 13.3
million workers, manufacturing, and even repetitive analysis industries like
finance. (Transportation Economic Trends, 2019) These industries will be the
first to fall by the wayside with technological advancement. What is most
difficult for technology to replace, rather unsurprisingly, is human creativity.
The Creative Industry, or as the US
classifies as the “Copyright” Industry, largely deals in the production of
intellectual property. In 2001, the Creative Industry earned an estimated $791.2bn
and employed nearly 8 million workers. (Hartley, p.2) Hartley posits that the
Creative Industry is the main driver for the knowledge economy and provides the
ability for non-creative industries to flourish. Today, the previous figure has grown
exponentially as technology has developed and the Internet has become
mainstream.
As the Creative Industry has
developed over time, it has disrupted the way many of us work. The Creative
Industry has widened the influence of those in the Creative Class—those who set
their own hours and come to work dressed as they please. (Hartley, p. 2) In terms
that modern Americans may understand better, the Silicone Valley way of work is
spreading throughout many industries in the economy.
This proliferation of creative jobs
throughout many industries has created a new demand for individuals that possess
soft skills like creativity, good communication, and out-of-the-box thinking. As
we move forward in the 21st century, social institutions like schools
and universities must adapt. The traditional model of education with strict
hierarchies and disciplines must evolve with the new job market. One of the
best ways to achieve this is “Instead of providing disciplinary knowledge in a
controlled environment, Charles Leadbeater argues that education should inspire
a yearning for learning.” (Hartley, p.4) Through a passion for self-teaching, we
may just be able to stay ahead of automation.
Hartley, J.
(2005). Creative Industries (pp. 1-6). N.p.: Blackwood Publishing Ltd..
Retrieved from https://blackboard.slu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-4820287-dt-content-rid-20641708_1/courses/202120-24576/Hartley_Creative%20Industries.pdf
Transportation
Economic Trends (2019). In Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Retrieved from
https://www.bts.dot.gov/sites/bts.dot.gov/files/u796/TET%202018%20Chapter%204.pdf
This is very interesting Luke. It is true that one of the greatest distinctions between creative work and the culture industry is a completely different way of approaching work and creation: while the culture industry involved hierarchical distribution of work and fragmentation (just like in traditional manufacturing industries and heavy industries), the current ecosystem promotes the so-called agile working methodologies: peer-review and collaboration, horizontal assessment, etc. It is debatable, however, how creative your work can be when you work in the creative economies, as we will discuss in this module...
ReplyDeleteHey Luke!
ReplyDeleteWhile I am in favour of the creative industry, I do think it has made it more difficult for people to “get the job”. I hadn’t thought about repetitive jobs, as you mentioned, and how they are the ones at most risk. It’s true... how are these sectors supposed to incorporate the Creative Industry qualities when the people themselves cannot embody, on the job, their “creativeness”? Well, as you said, these types of jobs need to adapt to the times, as well as the stricter hierarchal models of education. We will always need doctors, for instance, but is it possible for these types of jobs to join the Creative Industry?
Best,
Jen