Explains the key concepts, theories, and studies in the sociology of the artsthe fully updated new edition of the classic textbook

Sociology of the Arts is a comprehensive yet accessible review of sociological approaches to studying the fine, popular, and folk arts. Integrating scholarly literature, theoretical models, and empirical studies, this authoritative textbook provides balanced coverage of a broad range of essential topicsenabling a deeper understanding of the field as a whole. Throughout the text, numerous real-world case studies reinforce key concepts, stimulate classroom discussion, and encourage students to contemplate abstract theoretical issues central to the relationship between art and society.

Now in its second edition, this bestselling volume features fully revised content that reflects the most recent literature and research in the field. New discussion on the production and the consumption of culture are complemented by fresh perspectives on changes in the social world such as the rise of the internet and digital media. Updated chapters offer insights into social boundaries and embodiment in the arts, emplacement, materiality, the social construction of art and aesthetics, and more. Exploring how art is created, distributed, received, and consumed, this textbook:

Written by a leading scholar in the field,Sociology of the Arts: Exploring Fine and Popular Forms, Second Edition is an ideal textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses on sociology of art and culture, media studies, anthropology of art, arts management, and the social history of art, and is a useful reference for established scholars studying any aspect of sociology of the arts.

VICTORIA D. ALEXANDER is Professor of Sociology and Arts Management at the Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK. She is author ofMuseums and Money: The Impact of Funding on Exhibitions, Scholarship, and Management (1996), co-author ofArt and the State: The Visual Arts in Comparative Perspective (2005), and co-editor of the multi-volumeArt and the Challenge of Markets (2018).

List of Illustrations vii

List of Tables ix

List of Figures xi

List of Boxes xiii

Preface and Acknowledgements xv

1 Introduction: What is Art? 1

Part I The Relationship between Art and Society 11

2 Reflection Approaches 13

Case Study 2.1 The Reflection of Race in Childrens Books 25

3 Shaping Approaches 29

Case Study 3.1 Violence in Popular Arts 43

4 A Mediated View: The Cultural Diamond 49

Part IIA The Cultural Diamond: The Production of Culture 53

5 Art Worlds and Artistic Fields 55

Case Study 5.1 From Academy to Public Sale 69

6 Businesses and Industries 75

Case Study 6.1 Innovation in Commercial Musical Theatre 89

7 Nonprofits and Networks 95

Case Study 7.1 Piccolos on the Picket Line: A Strike in the Symphony 108

8 Artists 113

Case Study 8.1 Nothing Succeeds Like Success: Careers in the Film Industry 129

Part IIB The Cultural Diamond: The Consumption of Culture 133

9 Consumption Approaches 135

Case Study 9.1 Romance Novels as Combat and Compensation 150

10 Sites and Experiences 155

Case Study 10.1 The Experience of Music 172

11 Identities 177

Case Study 11.1 Acropolis Now: National Identity and the Return of the Parthenon Marbles? 191

12 Distinction 199

Case Study 12.1 New Forms of Cultural Capital? Debates about Distinction 215

Part III Art in Society 221

13 The Art Itself 223

Case Study 13.1 The Renaissance Way of Seeing 241

14 The Constitution of Art in Society 245

Case Study 14.1 A Strange Sensation: Controversies in Art 263

Part IV Conclusion 269

15 Studying Art Sociologically 271

References 275

Index 299