Queries: [email protected] this episode of The Problem with Work we discuss Chapter 5 - The Future is Now and the epilogue - A Life Beyond Work. In these pages, Weeks divides the discussion into three sections: cases against utopia, defence of utopia, and forms and functions of the utopian expression.After considering Weeks’ relevant points from the last section, we’ll summarize the broad themes covered in our previous episodes this season. First, we’ll pull the key takeaways from previous episodes on the Work Society and the Work Ethic. By looking back at the first half of the book, we draw connections to what Weeks calls the ‘deconstructive’ function of a policy demand. Then, revisiting the Basic Income and Shorter Hours demands we can highlight what Weeks refers to as the ‘reconstructive’ function.   Benedetta summarizes her contributions to the past eight episodes as a reflection on the dual nature of the art world: as a place of work for artists and creative producers, and as a place of leisure for the public. By keeping in mind these two sides of the field, she argues we can clearly understand the limits of the work society both in terms of its exploitative structures, as well as in terms of what we are missing out on, by discounting our non-work time.In her professional reflections, Nancy focuses on her attempt to be a bridge and an antidote during this season. In her commitment to building a bridge between academia and practical application, she remains steadfast in the value of research being dependent upon effective public communication. As an antidote, she wishes that everyone would stop taking psychology-sounding advice from strangers on social media.Art of the Episode: Art For the Art World (1977), by Adrian PiperArt for the Art World is an installation made of a small room “large enough to accommodate 3 or 4 people at a time, but small enough to conduce to low-level claustrophobia” in Piper’s words. The outside of the box-room is white, whereas the inside is completely covered in black and white photographs and newspaper clippings depicting things like a strike in Cambodia, effects of an earthquake in Turkey, students riots public executions in Thailand and so on… in random places in red are stenciled the words NOT A PERFORMANCE.Question of the Episode: Imagine your current career as a sailboat. There are variables outside the boat which are out of your control: the weather, the water, other boats. There are variables inside that boat which are more likely to be within your control. Consider these questions: What is your current destination? How is your compass guiding you? When are the winds in your sails? Do you have any leaks? Who else is on board? Happy sailing, professionals. Stay tuned for updates on an exciting Season Two!Works citedWeeks, K. (2011). The Problem with Work. https://doi.org/10.1215/9780822394723Northumbria University Basic Income Health Project The 4 Day Week Foundation (UK)Vivek Chibber: How the Left Got Lost | DoomscrollSonnentag, S., & Wiegelmann, M. (2024). Not detaching from work during leisure time: A control‐theory perspective on job‐related cognitions. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 45(7), 1003–1024. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2792Van Reenen, J., & Yang, X. (2024). Cracking the Productivity Code: An international comparison of UK productivity. London School of Economics and Political Science. https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/special/cepsp41.pdf

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