Social Characteristics of Popular and Modern Painting’s Audiences in Iran

This article is based on findings of research in the field of audiences of Iranian modern and popular paintings which examines the problem of difference or indifference of the personal and social characteristics of Iranian modern and popular paintings’ audiences and their artistic taste. Moreover, factors effective on shaping these differences are examined.

The theoretical framework of the study is based on Pierre Bourdieu’s artistic fields and the research method is both qualitative and quantitative. In terms of qualitative research, in some selected galleries, audiences of paintings and their behavior were observed directly by the researcher. In terms of quantitative research, questionnaires were filled by all willing audiences of these galleries.

The general finding of the research showed that the audiences of modern and popular paintings were different in terms of cultural and social characteristics. They were also different not only in terms of their difference in the amount of capital they have gained in relation to the field, but also in terms of demographic characteristics such as their father’s occupational status and their life style. Moreover, the main hypothesis of the research was accepted and showed that there exists a meaningful relationship between the audiences and their taste judgment in general.