Mammonart: An essay in economic interpretation

"Mammonart: An Essay in Economic Interpretation" by Upton Sinclair is a critical essay written in the early 20th century. The book explores the relationship between art and economics, focusing on how artists have historically been influenced and controlled by socioeconomic structures and the ruling classes. Sinclair aims to reveal the underlying motivations and consequences of artistic expression through a socio-political lens. The opening of the essay introduces a fictional character named Ogi, who embodies the earliest forms of artistic expression in human history. It depicts Ogi's initial attempts to create art, representing a significant moment where art transitions from mere survival to a representation of life and culture. Through Ogi's experiences, Sinclair illustrates how art can stir excitement and fear and how it quickly becomes entwined with power and authority. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that Ogi's artistry sets the stage for discussions about the role of the artist within societal structures and the implications of art as a tool for propaganda, serving the interests of those in power rather than the collective good of society. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. was an American author, muckraker, and political activist, and the 1934 Democratic Party nominee for governor of California. He wrote nearly 100 books and other works in several genres. Sinclair's work was well known and popular in the first half of the 20th century, and he won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1943.