The Commerce and Culture podcast provides an Austrian economist’s explanation of how culture would not exist without free trade and advances in technology.
Patron System
- The patron system limited the artist to just a few clients like the Church, royalty and the nobility, and rich merchants because they were the only ones who could spend money on frivolous art.
- People during the Renaissance realized that trading with other countries increased their wealth
- Free trade without the restriction of government policies (embargos, sanctions, wars) also led to the exchange of new cultures and inventions
- The Renaissance was a rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman literature, architecture, and math and Europeans relearned by trading with Islamic scholars who kept copies of ancient works.
- Patrons and commissioned art was no longer the main source of income for artists.
- Patrons often misunderstand the art process
- The patron system limited the artist’s ability to develop his style because patrons want a particular style or subject that isn’t the artist’s forte.
- Quality and uniqueness of commissioned art was sacrificed for quantity
- However, there was steady income with a patron.
Commercialization
- New inventions (like the printing press, films, and factories) mass-produced goods which made them cheaper
- Mass production of books, prints, TV shows, and other mediums of culture led to commercialization which made the arts widely available for the poor and middle class to enjoy.
- Commercialization led to more people becoming artists and engaging in the art market.
- More consumers meant more sources of income instead of having to rely on one patron.
- Art is more affordable now due to prints.
- Commercialization created more choices for both the artist and consumer.
- Art festivals are a prime example of the free market at work because there is little government intervention.
- One can find a variety of art mediums and the prices are negotiable.
What does a lack of free trade look like?
- Communist countries prevented their citizens from exchanging ideas, goods, and services freely.
- Thus, there was less innovation
- My dad grew up under Mao Zedong and he remembers that he only knew of traditional, classical style art instead of newer art forms like pop art.
- Compare that to current day China, where there’s an explosion of art and a demand for all types because relatively free trade was allowed and sanctions imposed by the West were lifted.