Arts and Power: Policies in and by the Arts

Sociology has always been concerned with power and domination in societal structures. Max Weber's definition of power as "imposing one's will on others" is still relevant to explaining processes in the arts. Domination in the arts is exercised by internal and external rulers through institutionalized social structures and beliefs about their legitimacy. The complexity of how the arts relate to power arises from the complexity of the policies of artistic production, distribution, and consumption. Arts and Power: Policies in and by the Arts brings together diverse voices who position the societal functions of art in fields of domination and power, of structure and agency, and encourages a more systematic, empirically, and theoretically founded sociological debate on the arts and power.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 358 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2022
Publisher: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden

Since the field's inception, sociology has been preoccupied with the concepts of power and dominance in societal structures. Max Weber's definition of power as "imposing one's will on others" remains pertinent in explaining processes within the arts, encompassing their production, imagination, communication, distribution, critique, and consumption.

Within the realm of the arts, domination is exerted by both internal and external rulers through institutionalized social structures and through beliefs about their legitimacy. This legitimacy is achieved by defining and shaping art tastes, thereby influencing the preferences and perceptions of the public.

The intricate relationship between the arts and power arises from the complex policies governing artistic production, distribution, and consumption. These policies serve to either facilitate or hinder the aesthetic object's journey from the artist to its intended public. Curators, critics, and collectors employ various forms of cultural and artistic communication to mirror and shape the dominant social, economic, and political conditions.

Arts and Power: Policies in and by the Arts brings together a diverse range of voices that explore the societal functions of art in the domains of domination and power, structure and agency. These voices examine whether art is employed to impose hegemonic, totalitarian, or unjust goals or to pursue social purposes that promote equal rights and grassroots democracy. The contributions in this volume serve as exploratory steps toward a more systematic, empirically grounded, and theoretically informed sociological debate on the arts and power. They also invite further exploration and engagement in this critical area.

Weight: 481g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783658374280
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022