Publication Sat May 03 2008

The Renaissance Will Not Be Advertised

Have you always wanted to be part of a Renaissance that doesn't end in the word "Faire?" Well, congratulations, because you may already be! According to the book RenGen: The Renaissance Generation, today's cultural consumers are paving the way for a transformation in American culture. The author posits that phenomenon like the rise of the DIY ethic, anti-consumerist movements, and the reinvention of canonical arts institutions (like that collaboration between Chicago Sinfonietta and Poi Dog Pondering?) are evidence that knowledge and creativity are becoming the new social currency.

She goes on to claim that this cultural (and commercial) revolution will change everything from the economy to love and marriage in America. If you're skeptical that the popularity of American Idol isn't a sign of the coming apocalypse but rather an indication that we're ready for a re-birth, then you might consider seeing the author, Patricia Martin, when she comes to Chicago on May 29th to speak to the local Arts & Business Council.

- Jamie Smith