Internalization and Resistance of the Business Self in Activist Performing Artists: A Critical Arts-Informed Research Project

Neoliberalism has been tied to the creation of the "business self" and other flattening subjectivities that inhibit critical thought. Art has the potential to challenge this cultural disimagination through radical imaginaries and societal critique. However, explorations of neoliberal subjectivity among artists raises doubts about its potential for resistance. There is little subjectivity research, though, with those from whom artistic resistance is most likely to emerge: activist artists. The present study uses a critical, arts-informed approach to explore how the neoliberal self is internalized and/or resisted by activist performing artists in Ontario. Interviews, a focus group, and collaborative workshops were employed with four activist artists. A thematic analysis identified nine themes. Findings indicate little internalization of the business self. Rather, the results gesture towards a model of activist artist as care worker. Such a model reframes our understanding of activist artmaking and sheds light on strategies of subjective resistance to neoliberalism.