Sociological Theorizing from Arts In Turbulent Times

Sociological theorizing is the necessary procedure of constructing and refining concepts and explanations to understand, interpret, and explain social behavior, social relationships, and social structures. In this sense, theorizing from arts means using artistic works and practices—such as literature, painting, music, theater, film, and other creative expressions—as sources for developing sociological insights and theories about society. The arts, in fact, can contribute to social theorizing in many ways, such as revealing social reality as artistic works often capture social experiences, inequalities, cultural values, and historical changes. It can provide alternative ways of knowing as unlike surveys or statistical data, art conveys emotions, meanings, identities, and lived experiences and this can explore subjective dimensions of social life. On the other hand, art can expose critique for power relations, social injustice, and cultural conflicts, challenge dominant norms and institutions.This session is meant to show how social research on the arts can produce sociological theories.