Delivered at:: Department of Sociology

Course type:: Elective course

When:: 3 year, 1-4 module

Instructors

Kuleva, Margarita

Safonova, Maria

Sokolova, Nadezhda

Full Syllabus

Abstract

This seminar is created for students interested in studies of cultural production, consumption and reproduction with special emphasis on art and fashion worlds, creative labor and networks, contemporary art institutions and status reproduction through parenting practices. We will discuss (1) classical works on social history of art, on art worlds and fields of fashion and of cultural production, (2) contemporary empirical papers on art institutions and art participation, (3) empirical papers with various types of research design (surveys, network analysis, historical sociology, participant observation, organizational analysis etc.).

Learning Objectives

In addition, students will be able to explain culture preferences through social stratification perspective, understand the link between cultural production cultural consumption, generate research hypothesis, develop academic skills in reading, writing, and presentation.

Expected Learning Outcomes

be able to understand and discuss topics related to culture and inequality and improve skills in developing research design in the framework of culture and inequality studies

Course Contents

Culture and Inequality (Course introduction)
Why does art and cultural consumption matters. Status symbols and status groups. Schools, labour market and marriage markets as spaces of exclusion.
Taste cultures
Art perception as decoding process (Bourdieu original thesis). Code and legitimate culture. Abstract and contemporary art as specific objects for decoding. Upper classes as main consumers of legitimate art. Disinterested vs. Interested involvement: decoding or decorative qualities of art objects.
Art as a profession
Development of artistic educational institutions & art museums. Art academies and challengers in art education. Dominating and competing groups: curators, trustees, managers. Conflict between curatorial and educational functions inside museums. Neoliberal turn and stimuli for marketization.
Cultural production and urban milieus
Distinction and reproduction of symbolic boundaries. Consumer “sets” or repertoires. Symbolic boundaries and negative choices (dislikes). Symbolic exclusion and musical taste. Contradiction between Bourdieu statements and contemporary political cultures. Preferences for democracy and tolerance. Race VS. status intolerance.
Сultural production as labour
Concept of creative labour. Creative careers. Cultural and creative industries. Inequality and precariat in creative industries.
Art-world structure: producers, consumers, prosumers
H. Backer’s circular model of art world. Professionals vs. mavericks. Professionals, art institutions and definition of creativity. Conventions. Who creates genius? Prosumers as recent phenomenon.
Networks and creativity
Art-production as two-mode data. Core-periphery structure of cultural industries. Advantages and disadvantages of periphery positions. Weakness and strength of core positions. Team position and composition. Small-world phenomenon in creative industries. Legitimacy vs. innovation dilemma.
Class cultures and inequality reproduction
Class cultures and cultural capital. How to measure cultural capital. How cultural capital influence educational attainment and chances on marriage markets.

Assessment Elements

Class participation
Homework assignments
Exam

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (4 module)
0.4 * Class participation + 0.2 * Exam + 0.4 * Homework assignments

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Alexander, V. D., & Bowler, A. E. (2014). Art at the Crossroads: The Arts in Society and the Sociology of Art. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.25367D5F

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Tanner, J. (2003). Sociology of Art : A Reader. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=111300

Bachelor’s Programme 'Sociology and Social Informatics'

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Research Seminar “Culture and Inequality”