Review for
Exam #1
Sociology of
the Arts (Soc 348)
Professor
John Rice
I. Format: The exam will be short-answer and/or short
essay format. As mentioned, multiple-choice, true-false, and/or matching types
of questions do not match up well with the nature of this course.
II. Readings (for which you will be held
responsible):
W. Kandinsky,
"Introduction," "The Movement of the Triangle,"
"Spiritual Revolution," and "The Pyramid"
What the triangle represents, what the
general thrust of Kandinsky’s writing is, and why it
is significant
J. Dewey, "The Live Creature”
What does Dewey’s analysis say about the
view of art and the artist expressed in Kandinsky’s
essay?
J. Berger, chapters 1, 5 and 6
The image; ways of seeing; & how would
Berger see the view of art and the artist expressed in Kandinsky’s
essay?
Becker: chapters 1 and 9; 2 and 8
Art Worlds; art vs. craft; the role of
institutions in art worlds
III. Central Themes thus far:
A. The stereotypical view of art and
the artist in the modern world
1. Know and be able to
explain the social origins of that view
2. Who represents that
view? How?
B. The contrary views: i.e., those
who do not agree with the stereotypical view
1. On what grounds do
they disagree?
2. Who represents these
contrary views?
C. Context: Social, Cultural,
Historical
1. In what context did
the stereotypical view emerge?
2. How do the stereotype
& the context connect?
D. High & Popular (or Mass)
Culture: The Mass Culture Critique
1.
Know the elements of the critique (see the lecture outline on the course web
page)
2.
Are those elements supported by the evidence?
3.
What is the social basis for the critique?
E.
Institutional/Organizational foundations for split between high and pop culture
1. The
F.
Art Worlds & the Art/Craft Distinction
1. Elements of the art world
a. Network of
interlocking relations
b. The role of
conventions
2. Art & Craft
a. Fluid boundaries,
changing definitions
b. What happens when art
becomes craft?
c. What happens when
craft becomes art?
