SOCIOLOGY FOR THE ART

This course offers an overview of the main aspects and key concepts of the sociology of the arts and redefines artistic production, at both the material and the symbolic level of creation, by taking into account the social, economic, political, institutional and technical networks that delimit the always changing boundaries of the art worlds. Students learn the main theoretical and empirical approaches to the sociology of the arts with a particular attention to cultural studies and minoritarian persepctives, and focus on the practices of productive consumption and co-creation tof new media environments. This course shows the mediations between the arts and society in the West and the active role of the arts in creating the social, with the aim of overcoming the dichotomies between texts and contexts, facts and values, as well as between the disciplines of sociology and aesthetics, also according to the “cultural turn” of sociology on which the sociology of the arts relies.

- To know the relevant approaches and key issues of the sociology of the arts.
- To understand the changes in the practices of cultural production, distribution and consumption in relation to social changes.
- To situate the artists and artworks in networks of relations and processes of collective production.
- To adopt a self-reflexive stance to the study of the sociology of the arts, and to learn to question the evidence of data and facts.
- To problematize the given definitions about what is art and what is not art and the categories and hierarchies in the art field, and to observe the social dynamics through which they are naturalized.
- To contextualize the processes, practices and products of the art worlds without losing sight of the aesthetic and material aspects of the artworks.
-.To employ multiple variables and axes of analysis for the study of the differences and similarities among artistic and cultural phenomena.

No prerequisites are needed.

The following themes will be discussed (see class schedule in Moodle for more details):
- Art and Society, Aesthetics and Sociology: an Introduction.
- Culture Industry.
- Taste and Distinction.
- Art Worlds and Fields.
- Cultural consumption: Definitions and approaches.
- Cultural production and reproduction between hegemony and resistance.
- Center and Margins.
- The construction of artistic value.
- The art audiences.
- Spectacle, performance, prosumerism.

The reading list of mandatory and additional readings as well as other useful documents for in-class activities and assignments will be detailed and/or uploaded to Moodle before class begins.

For attending students: in-class assignments and seminars will be part of the final evaluation. The final test will be a written test (closed book, open answers) different for attending and non attending students.

Lectures, group activities, seminars.

Italian

Students must read each assigned text before class according to the provided schedule. Students will not be able to participate in class discussion without a hard or digital copy of the texts from the assigned syllabus (see: moodle). Laptops are allowed only for class activities. Any other electronic device is strictly not allowed in class (exceptions can be discussed with the instructor).
Please remind that participation in class for attending students is considered for the final evaluation.

Class members listen to and respect one another. This class promotes responsibility, equality, openness, collaboration and sharing. No harassment or discrimination of any kind will be condoned. Reciprocal respect is required towards different beliefs, orientations and experiences. Feel free to discuss with me privately if you have any special requirements or needs, or whenever you experience something that negatively interferes with your learning

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