Josh Kline: Project For a New American Century

Josh Kline’s exhibition “Project For a New American Century” is now on view in the Whitney Museum. It explores the most recent political and social issues like automation, climate change, diseases, and the consequences they can lead to. 

For me, the exhibition turned out to be controversial. Interesting ideas and art considering the topic of unemployment and other social issues Americans face, combined with pretty basic points on the danger of automation and the terrible consequences it can lead to. The ideas of a post-apocalyptic future where intelligent software takes the place of regular employers have been widely discussed for a while now, and they state the same thing: automation is dangerous, it will lead to massive unemployment and hunger, and, in the end, will destroy our society. 

At the same time, there were some new and interesting perspectives on the matter. For example, the idea of unemployment being contagious and spreading like a virus. It made me think of a wave that starts low and grows bigger and bigger, spreading across the cities. One of the exhibit's rooms shows glass virus cells with all the items employees had to bring home from their desks once fired: thermoses, family pictures, pens and pencils, and shoes. All these different items tell us that very different people get fired: men and women of different ages, races, wealth, and professions. There is no escape. Unemployment spreads like a virus and can come to your door when you least expect it. 

Another idea that I found creative was the metaphor of employees being thrown out like trash. The museum room was filled with bags of cans, bottles, and… people. All over the floor there were mannequins of men and women inside plastic bags, thrown out of their jobs like trash is thrown out of the bins. That made me wonder if big corporations actually value employees or if they are just a tool that, if not needed, is being thrown away. 

I can’t recommend “Project For a New American Century” to all audiences because most of the ideas described have already been discussed in books, magazines, and TV shows. But there definitely were interesting angles that I’ve never considered before, and if, after this article, you got curious too, the exhibition is worth exploring. And suppose you are only now getting acquainted with the idea of utopian and dystopian consequences of automation. In that case, Project For a New American Century is a great way to start the journey.

By Mary Zakharova