William Morris and the Aesthetic Constitution of Politics

Bradley J. Macdonald challenges conventional interpretations of the life and work of William Morris by arguing that his ‘practical socialism’ was an integral component of his aesthetic critique of modern capitalism. Thus, Macdonald makes a persuasive case that Morris should be understood as an important innovator within the tradition of Western Marxism, particularly with respect to eco-Marxism and eco-socialism. Unlike many works on literary and aesthetic theory, Macdonald’s theoretical argument emerges from a historical analysis of the rise of socialism during the 19th century and Morris’s activism within that movement. Macdonald’s claims are meticulously documented with impressive historical, biographical, and archival research. In his analysis of William Morris, Macdonald makes a compelling theoretical case for the importance of art and cultural politics in the struggles of the working class. -- Clyde W. Barrow, University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley * Victorian Studies * Can we see socialism through the eyes of an artist? Does eco-socialism tell us what’s beyond dystopia? Are “creatives” forever bound to the chains of commercialism? Bradley MacDonald addresses these questions of aesthetic political practice in an important new introduction to this classic study. -- Terrell Carver, professor of political theory, University of Bristol In this outstanding second edition of William Morris and the Aesthetic Constitution of Politics, Bradley MacDonald deepens and elaborates his original analysis of how Morris blends art, beauty, pleasure and socialism into extraordinary political theory. It is essential reading for anyone who recognizes aesthetic education, utopian imagination and revolutionary dedication must be woven together at the core of effective political action to realize beauty, equality and justice for all in ecosocialism. -- Timothy W. Luke, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University In the second edition of William Morris and the Aesthetic Constitution of Politics, Bradley MacDonald carefully and convincingly makes the case for understanding Morris’ aestheticism as central to, rather than distinct from, his socialism, foreshadowing important preoccupations of 20th and 21st century critical theorists. As such, this new edition will appeal to a wide range of readers in Morris studies, 19th century English literature, aesthetics and aesthetic theory, socialism, ecosocialism, and their intersections. MacDonald presents a Morris whose aesthetically-developed socialism points to how industrial and consumer capitalism deprives the modern individual from the beauty that he believes central to human flourishing. In our current circumstances, when the despair of ecosocialists and others about our ability to break the stranglehold of capitalism seems to be at an all-time high, the utopian moment that MacDonald traces in his materialist, aesthetic account of Morris’ work provides contemporary thinkers with important resources for developing their own bases for working towards a shared, ecologically admirable, and beautiful future. -- Michael Lipscomb, PhD, Winthrop University