Fantasy, Neoliberalism and Precariousness: Coping Strategies in the Cultural Industries

International audienceDrawing on different fields of research such as cultural theory, sociology, political economy, and moral philosophy, Jérémy Vachet develops a psychosocial approach to coping strategies and defense mechanisms developed by individuals in a context where they are compelled to find their way toward self-realisation, and where the process of individualisation becomes arduous.Fantasy, Neoliberalism and Precariousness draws on the results of an original empirical study of independent musicians based in Brooklyn, San Francisco, Portland, Stockholm and Paris, and considers how experiences of precariousness and insecurity under conditions of neoliberalism threatens the well-being and self-realisation of aspiring musicians. Vachet examines anxiety, narcissism, recognition and self-esteem from a sociological perspective, considering them through the lens of social class and gender