Abstract
The argument to shift from the ‘sociology of art’ to ‘sociology from art’ highlights a paradigm change due to sociologists’ failure to consider creative processes, such as the problem of gift, genius, or artistic greatness. This shift is understandable, as sociologists were mainly focused on examining the structure of art fields, influenced by Becker and Bourdieu, or on the consumption of cultural objects. Some sociologists have contributed to expanding the discourse on this paradigm shift, either supporting or criticizing it. However, a limitation of this new approach is that it often neglects the artwork itself when analyzing the art world’s structure. While efforts have been made to propose new directions, the analysis of artworks remains predominantly the domain of art historians. Critics argue that sociologists should not examine artworks because they often exaggerate reality. However, following Durkheim’s notion of social facts, artworks reflect the society in which they are created, making them valuable for sociological analysis. This paper argues that sociologists should pay attention to artworks and justifies their inclusion in sociological research by revisiting the works of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. In doing so, it aims to contribute to expanding the methodological discourse in the sociology of art.
Presenters
Daseul KimStudent, PhD, State University of New York at Stony Brook, New York, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Sociology of art, Methodological discourse, Artwork as method, Classical theorists
