Sociology of art


The sociology of art is a subfield of sociology concerned with the social worlds of art and aesthetics.
Studying the sociology of art throughout history is the study of the social history of art, how various societies contributed to the appearance of certain artists.
Key scholars in the sociology of art include Howard S. Becker, Arnold Hauser, and Harrison White.

Approaches

In her 1970 book Meaning and Expression: Toward a Sociology of Art, Hanna Deinhard gives one approach:
"The point of departure of the sociology of art is the question: How is it possible that works of art, which always originate as products of human activity within a particular time and society and for a particular time, society, or function -- even though they are not necessarily produced as 'works of art' -- can live beyond their time and seem expressive and meaningful in completely different epochs and societies? On the other hand, how can the age and society that produced them be recognized in the works"?
Other approaches consider the social and economic background to the creation of works of art, which has been a great focus of art history in recent decades. The role of patrons and consumers of art, as well as those of the artist themselves, are considered. There has also been a great interest in the history of art collecting, and the history of older objects between their creation and their current location, beyond a mere provenance.