Sociology of Arts and Culture – Exam January 20th
Sociology: The science of social life and society
The social: Set of (in)direct relationships that people engage in with each other at
specific times and contexts.
Society: The network of all possible relationships that (groups of) people enter with
each other and maintain across time and space.
Sociology studies different ways that people relate, in a specific time or context, and
more general through time and space.
Sociological perspective
Pro’s Con’s
1. Becomes a way of thinking, a 1. Sociology is part of a changing
‘form of consciousness’ that world.
challenges familiar understandings.
2. Enables to assess both the 2. Sociologists are part of what
opportunities and constraints that they study.
characterize our lives.
3. It helps us to be active 3. Sociological knowledge
participants in our society. becomes part of society.
4. Enables to recognize human
differences and suffering and to
confront the challenges.
3 main themes of Sociology of Arts and Culture
1. Cohesion
2. Inequality
3. Rationalization
Studies of the Arts
Humanities: view from the inside -> the unique
- Analysis of intrinsic, autonomous characteristics
- Artistic quality is expression of genius of individual artist
Sociology: view from the outside -> the general
- Analysis of the collective process of production, distribution and
reception culture in specific context
- Artistic quality is social construction
2 distinction in culture
- Culture as a way of life (“Designs for living”, values, beliefs, behavior,
etc. for example what shirt you wear)
- Culture as a form of artistic expression and communication (Arts)
Art as social construction because:
Highly context dependent (in particular time and institutional
legitimitation)
How does one make distinctions in the art world (between art and kitsch)
1
Sociology: The science of social life and society
The social: Set of (in)direct relationships that people engage in with each other at
specific times and contexts.
Society: The network of all possible relationships that (groups of) people enter with
each other and maintain across time and space.
Sociology studies different ways that people relate, in a specific time or context, and
more general through time and space.
Sociological perspective
Pro’s Con’s
1. Becomes a way of thinking, a 1. Sociology is part of a changing
‘form of consciousness’ that world.
challenges familiar understandings.
2. Enables to assess both the 2. Sociologists are part of what
opportunities and constraints that they study.
characterize our lives.
3. It helps us to be active 3. Sociological knowledge
participants in our society. becomes part of society.
4. Enables to recognize human
differences and suffering and to
confront the challenges.
3 main themes of Sociology of Arts and Culture
1. Cohesion
2. Inequality
3. Rationalization
Studies of the Arts
Humanities: view from the inside -> the unique
- Analysis of intrinsic, autonomous characteristics
- Artistic quality is expression of genius of individual artist
Sociology: view from the outside -> the general
- Analysis of the collective process of production, distribution and
reception culture in specific context
- Artistic quality is social construction
2 distinction in culture
- Culture as a way of life (“Designs for living”, values, beliefs, behavior,
etc. for example what shirt you wear)
- Culture as a form of artistic expression and communication (Arts)
Art as social construction because:
Highly context dependent (in particular time and institutional
legitimitation)
How does one make distinctions in the art world (between art and kitsch)
1
