Sociology of art
Encyclopedia
The Sociology of art is a subfield of sociology
concerned with the social worlds of art
and aesthetics
.
Studying the sociology of art throughout history is the study of the social history of art, how various societies contributed to the appearance of certain artists.
In her 1970 book Meaning and Expression: Toward a Sociology of Art, Hanna Deinhard gives these defining features of a sociology of art (page 3): "The point of departure of the sociology of art is the question: How is it possible that works of art, which always originate as products of human activity within a particular time and society and for a particular time, society, or function -- even though they are not necessarily produced as 'works of art' -- can live beyond their time and seem expressive and meaningful in completely different epochs and societies? On the other hand, how can the age and society that produced them be recognized in the works?"
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
concerned with the social worlds of art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
.
Studying the sociology of art throughout history is the study of the social history of art, how various societies contributed to the appearance of certain artists.
In her 1970 book Meaning and Expression: Toward a Sociology of Art, Hanna Deinhard gives these defining features of a sociology of art (page 3): "The point of departure of the sociology of art is the question: How is it possible that works of art, which always originate as products of human activity within a particular time and society and for a particular time, society, or function -- even though they are not necessarily produced as 'works of art' -- can live beyond their time and seem expressive and meaningful in completely different epochs and societies? On the other hand, how can the age and society that produced them be recognized in the works?"