Sociology of the Arts: Theory, Research, and Social Engagement in the Anthropocene

Interesting approaches and theories have been developed since the ‘70, in the field of sociology of arts. Especially, in the investigation of art and cultural production, sociologists evolved theories and research in the last quarter of the 20^th (Becker, 1982; Bourdieu, 1993, 1995, Elias, 1993) and the first quarter of the 21^st centuries (Heinich, 2014, 2004, Zolberg, 2014, 1997, Peterson & Anand, 2004, Born, 2010).

Even though there is a remarkable wealth of theories and approaches, recent developments yield for topical analysis and new theorizing of art production. It is vital to interweave research, discourses, theories in order to produce contemporary approaches. The importance of investigating public and participatory art forms is great, in order to evaluate the social impact of art on community and society (Bishop, 2012). In the current state of globalized capitalism, risk society, and liquid modernity, it is crucial to involve factors of capitalist critique and social engagement in the point of view of art-production.

In this presentation, we will be focus on moments of sociological approaches developed in the last fifty years. Many crucial elements were evolved in this fruitful sociological production (trajectories, habitus, field, collective action, collaboration, identity, critical approaches, pragmatism, outsider art etc). It is important to synthesize previous approaches and new research methods (Acord, 2006), discourses, and policies to shape new points of art-view.

Secondly, public and participatory arts are vital tools of action in local communities and societies. The influence of this activity is tranformational to strengthen community and enhance well-being (Bublitz et al, 2019), but also to reproduce urban commons and to correct spatial inequality (Eynaud, Juan, Mourey, 2018). Finally, we will consider artistic and social critique on capitalism (Ratiu, 2018, 2011; Boltanski & Chiapello, 2007) as it is outlined in the context of the new spirit of global capitalism.