Fraser has proposed an alternative concept of the public sphere that can connect the global forms of communication and discourse made easier by the digital era, since Habermas’ understanding of the public sphere is limited to the nation-state level. Art, according to Fraser, can play an important role in this alternative conception of the public sphere. While Habermas originally viewed art and music as private pursuits, Fraser believes that art can be used to engage serious public issues, and that it can be a powerful tool for social and political critique. This can be seen in examples such as the song “Lockdown” or art installations in museums and art shows that address pressing social and political issues. Furthermore, the digitalization of the public sphere has expanded the possibilities for participation and engagement, allowing more people to be involved in discussions and debates about important issues. The distribution of music, for example, has changed significantly in the digital era, with streaming services and social media allowing for greater access and more diverse forms of music to be shared and discussed. This has ultimately benefited the general discourse by increasing the range of perspectives and ideas that can be brought into the public sphere.
Bibliography
Adrian Yap CK (2021). Where did we buy music from before the Internet? [online] Red Bull. Available at: https://www.redbull.com/in-en/where-did-we-buy-music-from-before-the-internet#:~:text=People%20would%20put%20on%20their,the%20pre%2Dset%20listening%20stations.
Benitez-Eves, T. (2020). Anderson .Paak Keeps Moving On, Past ‘Lockdown’. [online] American Songwriter. Available at: https://americansongwriter.com/anderson-paak-keeps-moving-on-past-lockdown/
Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere : An Inquiry Into a Category of Bourgeois Society 1992, Wiley, Oxford. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central
Fraser, N. (1990). Rethinking the Public Sphere: A Contribution to the Critique of Actually Existing Democracy. Social Text, (25/26), 56–80. doi:10.2307/466240.