Pragmatism and the Political Economy of Cultural Revolution, 1850–1940 (Cultural Studies of the United States)

The rise of corporate capitalism was a cultural revolution as well as an economic event, according to James Livingston. That revolution resides, he argues, in the fundamental reconstruction of selfhood, or subjectivity, that attends the advent of an 'age of surplus' under corporate auspices. From this standpoint, consumer culture represents a transition to a society in which identities as well as incomes are not necessarily derived from the possession of productive labor or property. From the same standpoint, pragmatism and literary naturalism become ways of accommodating the new forms of solidarity and subjectivity enabled by the emergence of corporate capitalism. So conceived, they become ways of articulating alternatives to modern, possessive individualism. Livingston argues accordingly that the flight from pragmatism led by Lewis Mumford was an attempt to refurbish a romantic version of modern, possessive individualism. This attempt still shapes our reading of pragmatism, Livingston claims, and will continue to do so until we understand that William James was not merely a well-meaning middleman between Charles Peirce and John Dewey and that James's pragmatism was both a working model of postmodern subjectivity and a novel critique of capitalism. The Rise Of Corporate Capitalism Was A Cultural Revolution As Well As An Economic Event, According To James Livingston. That Revolution Resides, He Argues, In The Fundamental Reconstruction Of Selfhood, Or Subjectivity, That Attends The Advent Of An Age Of Surplus Under Corporate Auspices. From This Standpoint, Consumer Culture Represents A Transition To A Society In Which Identities As Well As Incomes Are Not Necessarily Derived From The Possession Of Productive Labor Or Property. From The Same Perspective, Pragmatism And Literary Naturalism Become Ways Of Accommodating The New Forms Of Solidarity And Subjectivity Enabled By The Emergence Of Corporate Capitalism. So Conceived, Demonstrates Livingston, They Become Ways Of Articulating Alternatives To Modern, Possessive Individualism. Livingston Argues Accordingly That The Flight From Pragmatism Led By Lewis Mumford Was An Attempt To Refurbish A Romantic Version Of Modern, Possessive Individualism. This Attempt Still Shapes Our Reading Of Pragmatism, Livingston Claims, And Will Continue To Do So Until We Understand That William James Was Not Merely A Well-meaning Middleman Between Charles Peirce And John Dewey And That James's Pragmatism Was Both A Working Model Of Postmodern Subjectivity And A Novel Critique Of Capitalism.--book Jacket. Foreword / Alan Trachtenberg -- Pt. 1. The Political Economy Of Consumer Culture, 1850-1940. Ch. 1. Making Use Of Marx. Marx's Model And Its Echoes. Social Origins Of Economic Growth. Composition Of Capital, Decomposition Of Capitalism. Ch. 2. Consumer Goods And Continental Industrialization, 1850-1900. Households Into Markets. The Politics Of Continental Industrialization. Production And Consumption As Political Culture. Mass Consumption And Marginalist Economics. Ch. 3. Between Consumers And Corporations. Economists And Cultural Critics. Advent Of The Age Of Surplus The Priority Of Class And The Production Of Irony. Ch. 4. Corporate Capitalism And Consumer Culture, 1890-1940. From Cultural To Economic History. The Human Element. The Limits Of Consumer Culture. James Livingston. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgments Part 1. The Political Economy of Consumer Culture, 1850-1940 1 Making Use of Marx 2 Consumer Goods and Continental Industrialization, 1850-1900 3 Between Consumers and Corporations 4 Corporate Capitalism and Consumer Culture, 1890-1940 Part 2. Naturalism, Pragmatism, and the Reconstruction of Subjectivity, 1890-1930 5 Ghosts in the Narrative Machine 6 The Subject of Naturalism 7 Transition Questions: William James at the Origin of Our Own Time 8 Money Questions and Moral Equivalents in the Future Tense 9 The Romantic Acquiescence: Pragmatism and the Young Intellectuals 10 The Past and the Presence of the Postmodern in Pragmatism Notes Index In this study of the rise of corporate capitalism, the author contends it was a cultural revolution as well as an economic event. He places this revolution in the reconstruction of selfhood, or subjectivity, which attends the ""age of surplus"" under corporate auspices.