Theories about the relationship between Art & Society (Socio-historic dimensions)

Theories about the relationship between Art & Society(Socio-historic dimensions)

References to Readings Today:Becker, Howard. “Art Worlds", andBourdieu, Pierre. "Who Creates the

'Creator'?” & "The Circle of Belief”Inglis, David. “Thinking ‘Art’

Sociologically”Mitchell, W.J.T. “Offending Images..”

Recommended: Becker “The power of inertia”

Bill Viola “Crossings” (detail)

Course Organization

Handout 1: Syllabus and Preliminary Reading ListHandout 1: Syllabus and Preliminary Reading List Resources (on web)Resources (on web)

http://webdav.sfu.ca/web/cmns/courses/2011/488 note note

Importance of attendance & participationImportance of attendance & participation Proper use of citations to acknowledge sourcesProper use of citations to acknowledge sources

Finding out about artistic events & issues

Library Resources:Library Resources: Music : Music :

http://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/subjectguides/fpa/music.htmhttp://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/subjectguides/fpa/music.htm Dance Dance

http://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/subjectguides/fpa/dance.htmhttp://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/subjectguides/fpa/dance.htm Visual Arts Visual Arts

http://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/subjectguides/fpa/visarts.htmhttp://www.lib.sfu.ca/researchhelp/subjectguides/fpa/visarts.htm

Other SourcesOther Sources

Cultural Sections of papers likeCultural Sections of papers like The Georgia The Georgia StraightStraight

broader: broader: Sunday New York Times -- Arts and Sunday New York Times -- Arts and Leisure Section Leisure Section (in library)(in library)

Other magazines and journals devoted to the artsOther magazines and journals devoted to the arts Web sites, blogs etc… showcasing art, Web sites, blogs etc… showcasing art, ex. http://www.agitart.org/ex. http://www.agitart.org/

A few events in Vancouver this week: “art, revolution and ownership”

Swarm 12– Public Open-house of Artist-Run Centres—Sept 8 & 9

http://swarm.paarc.ca/http://swarm.paarc.ca/““The Pacific Association of The Pacific Association of

Artist-Run Centres will hold Artist-Run Centres will hold their annual festival, Swarm, their annual festival, Swarm, to mark the kick-off of to mark the kick-off of Vancouver’s artist-run Vancouver’s artist-run centre programming season. centre programming season. Two nights full of gallery Two nights full of gallery hopping, public projects, hopping, public projects, and artist collectives will and artist collectives will leave you feeling inspired. leave you feeling inspired. Swarm is always a fun party Swarm is always a fun party and a great way to connect and a great way to connect with our alternative art with our alternative art

scene.”scene.”    

Some “Common-sense” approaches to Art (Artist)/Society Relations

Art as Art as historical record (events, practices, values)-- notion of historical record (events, practices, values)-- notion of

Zeitgeist Zeitgeist (spirit of the time) or mentalities (spirit of the time) or mentalities Measure of civilization (with predictable stages of Measure of civilization (with predictable stages of

“development”) “development”) Predictor or instigator of socio-political or cultural change Predictor or instigator of socio-political or cultural change

(theories of the avant-garde)(theories of the avant-garde)

Some “Common-sense” approaches to Art/Society Relations

Art as Art as historical record (events, practices, values)-- historical record (events, practices, values)-- notion of notion of Zeitgeist Zeitgeist (spirit of the time) or mentalities (spirit of the time) or mentalities

Measure of civilization (with predictable stages of “development”)Measure of civilization (with predictable stages of “development”)

Ex. representation of perspective in neo-classical painting. Jacques Louis Ex. representation of perspective in neo-classical painting. Jacques Louis David c. 1889. David c. 1889. The lictors bringing to Brutus the bodies of his sonsThe lictors bringing to Brutus the bodies of his sons

Predictor or instigator of change Predictor or instigator of change (theories of the avant-garde)(theories of the avant-garde)

Pink Bloque (2001-2005) Dancing in Dissent protesting racism & sexism at street dances http://www.pinkbloque.org/

Disciplinary Differences: Internal vs. External Approaches

““internal”internal” (humanities) -- arts outside social processes (humanities) -- arts outside social processes Artist=solitary creator, exceptional genius (humanistic Artist=solitary creator, exceptional genius (humanistic

approach)approach) Arts, aesthetics as “universal”Arts, aesthetics as “universal”

““external”external” (social sciences & interdisciplinary (social sciences & interdisciplinary approaches) --art world(s) socially constructedapproaches) --art world(s) socially constructed importance of social context, processes & structures for importance of social context, processes & structures for

understanding the production/creation, mediation & understanding the production/creation, mediation & reception/consumption of the arts, recognition processes, reception/consumption of the arts, recognition processes, their uses, functions, meaningstheir uses, functions, meanings

Theories of Art and Society (Different Intellectual Traditions & Roots)

Humanistic disciplines (history, literary studies)Humanistic disciplines (history, literary studies) Formerly --great events, individuals, canonsFormerly --great events, individuals, canons Some interdisciplinary (ex. Cultural studies) Some interdisciplinary (ex. Cultural studies) Iconographic & formalist frameworksIconographic & formalist frameworks

Visual and Performing Arts Visual and Performing Arts perspective of art-makers & criticsperspective of art-makers & critics

AnthropologyAnthropology functions of the arts & symbolic representations, “others”functions of the arts & symbolic representations, “others” ex. Religious, ritualex. Religious, ritual

PsychologyPsychology cognition & perceptioncognition & perception

PhilosophyPhilosophy AAesthetics, knowledge etc.esthetics, knowledge etc.

Sociology & Communications –many approaches (focus of the Sociology & Communications –many approaches (focus of the course)course)

Some “Internal” Debates: “What is Art? Who Are Artists?”

emphasis onemphasis on Gifts, talent, innate Gifts, talent, innate

characteristics, vision (of Artists)characteristics, vision (of Artists) expression of eternal “truths” expression of eternal “truths”

(artists, publics)(artists, publics) Ex. Notion that Greek Aesthetic Values Ex. Notion that Greek Aesthetic Values

(like Ideals of Beauty(like Ideals of Beauty& Bodily Proportions) express universals& Bodily Proportions) express universals

Relations to natural world or “real) Relations to natural world or “real) through material or embodied through material or embodied practicespractices

MimesisMimesis (representation) (representation) Imitatio Imitatio (simulation, copy)(simulation, copy)

Artists presentations of the relations of their work to social issues & institutions

Three examples:Three examples: Cai Guo-Qiang interview: Cai Guo-Qiang interview: Art:21(Art in the 21st Century) Art:21(Art in the 21st Century)

PBSPBS If time: Olympic Ceremony Controversy (enhancement of Cai Guo-Qiangs’s If time: Olympic Ceremony Controversy (enhancement of Cai Guo-Qiangs’s Footprints of Footprints of

History” History” firework performance firework performance http://blog.art21.org/2008/08/22/cai-guo-qiang-responds-to-olympics-fireworks-controversy/http://blog.art21.org/2008/08/22/cai-guo-qiang-responds-to-olympics-fireworks-controversy/

Olafur EliassonOlafur Eliasson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKl0tb3VmfQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKl0tb3VmfQ

Taryn Simon on her creative practicesTaryn Simon on her creative practices http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKl0tb3VmfQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKl0tb3VmfQ

Internal Approaches --

Systems of ranking art forms:Systems of ranking art forms:– avant-garde vs. traditionalists etc.avant-garde vs. traditionalists etc.– Subjects or content (ex. French Academy rankings by categories: history of religious, Subjects or content (ex. French Academy rankings by categories: history of religious,

landscape, portrait, still life, genre)landscape, portrait, still life, genre)– Medium (ex. visual arts: painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, performance art, Medium (ex. visual arts: painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, performance art,

conceptual art etc.)conceptual art etc.)– Styles, tastes and genres Styles, tastes and genres – Socio-political or ideological criteria (art for art’s sake, social realism, arts activism etc.)Socio-political or ideological criteria (art for art’s sake, social realism, arts activism etc.)

CanonsCanons –essential components of dominant art system, influential artworks that participants must –essential components of dominant art system, influential artworks that participants must know & understand know & understand

More recently: place of social & historical processes in defining art & what/who gets included in More recently: place of social & historical processes in defining art & what/who gets included in canonscanons

Internal Approaches --

Genres, stylistic movements, forms of expressionGenres, stylistic movements, forms of expression CanonsCanons –essential components of dominant art system, –essential components of dominant art system,

influential artworks that participants must know & influential artworks that participants must know & understand understand

More recently: “The New Art History” & cultural studies in More recently: “The New Art History” & cultural studies in the humanities (differs from social scientific interpretationsthe humanities (differs from social scientific interpretations

• place of social & historical processes in defining art & what/who place of social & historical processes in defining art & what/who gets included in gets included in canonscanons

What is art? Who decides?Ex. Marcel Duchamp--Readymade Sculptures vs. conventional techniques (challenging definitions of what is art and who decides)

Fountain, original (left) and recreations of lost 1917 “Original”

Who decides what is art?– the artist, experts, publics??

Other Examples of Challenges to “the Canon” & Authority

(l.)Leonardo DaVinci’s so-called Mona Lisa c. 1503; (r.) Marcel Duchamp’s L.H.O.O.Q, 1920 for a Paris Dada show.

Non-western cultural traditions

(l.)Leonardo DaVinci’s so-called Mona Lisa c. 1503; (r.)Book cover from Cultural Studies for Beginners by Sardar & Van Loon.

Rethinking institutionalized exclusionary practices: “Differencing the Canon”

Guerilla Girls posterGuerilla Girls poster

References to Artistic Canons as way of establishing credibility & authority within art worlds

Jean August Dominique Ingres, Grande Odalisque (1814), oil on canvas.

Another Example Manet Olympia 1863.

Yasumasa Morimura—Appropriation art Twins

“External” Approaches to Thinking about Art/Society Relations

art should be art should be contextualizedcontextualized (situated in social, political & historic (situated in social, political & historic contexts)contexts)

search for patterns rather than exceptionssearch for patterns rather than exceptions What do successful artists have in common?What do successful artists have in common? What characteristics do fans share?What characteristics do fans share? How do artistic institutions or networks function?How do artistic institutions or networks function? What do the arts have to do with economics, politics and culture?What do the arts have to do with economics, politics and culture? Can the arts redress injustices, help people recover from trauma, Can the arts redress injustices, help people recover from trauma,

communicate values that change the world?communicate values that change the world?

External Approaches Often a wider range of art forms studied (not just high Often a wider range of art forms studied (not just high

culture but also pop culture, folk culture, outsider art, culture but also pop culture, folk culture, outsider art, etc..)etc..)

Stronger focus on institutions & processes ofStronger focus on institutions & processes of Production-creationProduction-creation

• (training, collaboration networks etc.)(training, collaboration networks etc.) MediationMediation

• (gatekeepers, facilitators etc.) (gatekeepers, facilitators etc.) Reception,Reception, consumption consumption

• (tastes, audiences, publics, markets)(tastes, audiences, publics, markets)

Importance of social processes for recognition of the arts & artists: Visitors to the Louvre Museum in front of Mona Lisa (old hanging)

Artists, the arts and society—Recognition processes

Banksy & museums as authoritiesBanksy & museums as authorities http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW-

rt3jyZU8rt3jyZU8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZK7D6WqzR0v=fZK7D6WqzR0

Early Social Scientific Approaches to the study of Art/Society Relations

Art Art andand Society Society Art History & Criticism (Interpretation of artworks as symbolic forms Art History & Criticism (Interpretation of artworks as symbolic forms

with cultural meanings) : Erwin Panofsky, Arnold Hauser, Pierre with cultural meanings) : Erwin Panofsky, Arnold Hauser, Pierre Francastel, John Berger, etc..Francastel, John Berger, etc..

Marxist Traditions : T. Adorno, W. Benjamin, Heidigger (Francfort School), H. J. Jauss Marxist Traditions : T. Adorno, W. Benjamin, Heidigger (Francfort School), H. J. Jauss (School of Constance), Janet Wolff, Lucien Goldmann, (School of Constance), Janet Wolff, Lucien Goldmann,

Art Art inin Society Society practices & institutions such as patronage, connoisseurship, practices & institutions such as patronage, connoisseurship,

publics, fans (M. Baxandahl, T.J. Clark etc.)publics, fans (M. Baxandahl, T.J. Clark etc.) styles as social networks (M. Schapiro, C. Ginzburg)styles as social networks (M. Schapiro, C. Ginzburg)

Art Art asas Society Society

Variety of “external” approaches

Different degrees of importance of Different degrees of importance of “social “social construction of reality”construction of reality”

Debates about symbolic vs. material Debates about symbolic vs. material dimensionsdimensions

Varied assumptions about society & how to Varied assumptions about society & how to study itstudy it

Examples: two different approaches Becker Examples: two different approaches Becker & Bourdieu& Bourdieu

Pierre Bourdieu— Marxist, critical theoristMarxist, critical theorist Emphasis onEmphasis on

Social and political structures & material conditions as limits to Social and political structures & material conditions as limits to freedom of freedom of agencyagency

Power relations within the Power relations within the field of artistic productionfield of artistic production Creation of beliefCreation of belief in the power of in the power of symbolic goodssymbolic goods (art, artistic (art, artistic

reputations etc.) and their conversion into reputations etc.) and their conversion into economiceconomic and and socialsocial capitalcapital

Core notions: Core notions: Habitus, field of cultural productionHabitus, field of cultural production (history & (history & position in it), domination, distinction (taste & class), position in it), domination, distinction (taste & class), praxis, doxa praxis, doxa

hierarchical modelhierarchical model Relationships marked by class Relationships marked by class conflict and power strugglesconflict and power struggles

1930-2002

Howard Becker Symbolic interactionistSymbolic interactionist

http://home.earthlink.net/~hsbecker/http://home.earthlink.net/~hsbecker/

Early work on labeling theory and social Early work on labeling theory and social actorsactors (a different (a different way of thinking of way of thinking of agency)agency)

Emphasis on Emphasis on Sense-making (interpretive) Sense-making (interpretive) Human interaction & identity-formationHuman interaction & identity-formation ConsensusConsensus & conventions & conventions Art-making as a Art-making as a collective activitycollective activity Notion of different types of “art worlds”Notion of different types of “art worlds”

Strong sociological background but also a performing artist Strong sociological background but also a performing artist (jazz musician)(jazz musician)

“Many people know that I used to play the piano for a living, in taverns, for dances, weddings, bar mitzvas, Safeway employees Christmas parties, and so on. Here is a picture of the Bobby Laine Trio, circa 1950 (Bobby Laine, tenor; Dominic Jaconetti, drums; Howie Becker, piano), performing at the 504 Club, which was located at 504

W. 63rd St. in Chicago” from Howie Becker’s homepage

Art & Political Representations

Debates regarding what art is considered to “represent” Example related to History of Visual ArtsExample related to History of Visual Arts

rendering of “reality” (nature), rendering of “reality” (nature), mimesismimesis as world view in a specific place & timeas world view in a specific place & time as product of solitary genius (Renaissance)as product of solitary genius (Renaissance) made by “system” of production & receptionmade by “system” of production & reception as social process (symbolic & material)as social process (symbolic & material)

Critiques of Externalist/Internalist Stances

extreme extreme reductionismreductionism vs extreme vs extreme formalismformalism (Scylla & Charybdis metaphor)(Scylla & Charybdis metaphor)

reductionismreductionism art reduced to social process (ignores specific art reduced to social process (ignores specific

characteristics of aesthetic forces)characteristics of aesthetic forces) Formalism Formalism

focus on limited range of aesthetic qualities --ignores focus on limited range of aesthetic qualities --ignores importance of social processes & contextimportance of social processes & context

Recent Controversy over what art represents (EU public art project--Brussels)

L-“The sculpture resembles a giant model kit with snap-out pieces.” (CBC)

R-“Romania is depicted as a vampire theme park.” (CBC)

See also CBC coverage (link) Jan 14 2009British (Telegraph) coverage and video

Bulgaria as a toilet link

Theories about changes in ideas about what art represents over time (Jurt)

rendering of “reality” (nature), rendering of “reality” (nature), mimesis, imitatiomimesis, imitatio as world view in a specific place & timeas world view in a specific place & time as product of solitary genius (Renaissance)as product of solitary genius (Renaissance) Artists’ vision (19th romanticism)Artists’ vision (19th romanticism) made by “system” of production & receptionmade by “system” of production & reception Socio-political processes (symbolic & material)Socio-political processes (symbolic & material)

“Externalist” Views art should be art should be contextualizedcontextualized (situate in social & historic contexts) (situate in social & historic contexts) search for patterns (regularity) rather than exceptionssearch for patterns (regularity) rather than exceptions

What do successful artists have in common?What do successful artists have in common? What do fans share?What do fans share? How do institutions function?How do institutions function?

wider range of art forms studied (high culture, pop culture etc..)wider range of art forms studied (high culture, pop culture etc..) Stronger focus on institutions & processes ofStronger focus on institutions & processes of

Production-creationProduction-creation • (training, collaboration networks etc.)(training, collaboration networks etc.)

MediationMediation • (gatekeepers, facilitators etc.) (gatekeepers, facilitators etc.)

Reception,Reception, consumption consumption • (tastes, audiences, publics, markets)(tastes, audiences, publics, markets)

Note to Users of these Outlines- not all material covered in class appears on these not all material covered in class appears on these

outlines-- important examples, demonstrations and outlines-- important examples, demonstrations and discussions aren’t written down here.discussions aren’t written down here.

Classes are efficient ways communicating Classes are efficient ways communicating information and provide you will an opportunity information and provide you will an opportunity for regular learning. These outlines are provided for regular learning. These outlines are provided as a study aid not a replacement for classes.as a study aid not a replacement for classes.

If time….

Art & Society example

Videoclip: Excerpt from Cai Guo-Qiang interview: Videoclip: Excerpt from Cai Guo-Qiang interview: Art:21(Art in the 21st Art:21(Art in the 21st Century) Century) PBSPBS

Olympic Ceremony Controversy (enhancement of Guo-Qiangs’s Olympic Ceremony Controversy (enhancement of Guo-Qiangs’s Footprints of Footprints of History” History” firework performance firework performance

http://blog.art21.org/2008/08/22/cai-guo-qiang-responds-to-olympics-fireworks-controversy/http://blog.art21.org/2008/08/22/cai-guo-qiang-responds-to-olympics-fireworks-controversy/