Realizing the Values of Art: Making Space for Cultural Civil Society

This book explores how art is practiced and values are realized in creative circles and co-creative communities of spectators, developing the concept of cultural civil society to analyze how art is practiced and values are realized. It provides a four-stage scheme for realizing values in art and concludes with a new perspective on cultural policy that aims to create a legal and social framework in which social practices around the arts can flourish and co-exist peacefully.

Format: Hardback
Length: 150 pages
Publication date: 01 March 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This captivating book offers a fresh and innovative perspective on the profound significance of art. It compellingly argues that art has frequently been exploited for state-building, fostering social inclusion and diversity, or serving economic interests like growth and innovation. In response to this, the authors embark on a profound exploration to uncover the values that artists and audiences seek to realize through the various social practices surrounding the arts. They introduce the concept of cultural civil society to analyze how art is practiced and values are actualized within creative circles and co-creative communities of spectators. Through captivating case studies encompassing hip-hop, Venetian art collectives, dance festivals, science-fiction fandom, and a queer museum, the authors vividly illustrate their insights. They develop a comprehensive four-stage scheme that elucidates the process of value orientation, imagination, realization, and evaluation. This interdisciplinary approach, rooted in economics and sociology of the arts, draws upon broader social theories while integrating them pragmatically through the lens of John Dewey and more recent neo-pragmatist thought. The authors conclude with a groundbreaking perspective on cultural policy, advocating for state neutrality towards the arts and seeking to establish a legal and social framework that fosters the harmonious coexistence of social practices around the arts. This thought-provoking book is a must-read for anyone interested in delving deeper into the world of art and its profound impact on society.

Weight: 355g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031245978
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023