Lessons in Futility: Francis Als and the Legacy of May '68

摘要

This article examines the impact of May 1968 (Paris) on the evolution of contemporary critical theory, and its subsequent influence on contemporary art practice. The perceived failure of May 1968 led to a pervasive belief that political change must be preceded by a transformation of human subjectivity that is most readily produced by the experience of experimental forms of art and writing. This was paired with a general scepticism regarding the efficacy of more direct forms of political action and organisation. The second half of the essay examines the work of Belgian artist Francis Als in light of this tradition, and the increasingly canonical form it has taken in recent art theory.