The Social Production of Art

Description

This book has been a standard text for cultural studies and the sociology of art since its first appearance in 1981. It provides a clear and useful overview of theories and studies which contribute to the project of a sociology of art, ranging from sociology to art history, literary theory, feminism and media studies. The author also bridges the gap between European approaches and the American production of culture approach, and addresses the key questions of the role of the reader/viewer, the nature of authorship, and the possibility of cultural politics. The new edition contains an Afterword by the author.

JANET WOLFF was born in Manchester. After working as a secretary and studying modern dance, she taught for many years at the University of Leeds. She is now resident in the United States, where she is Professor of Art History/Visual and Cultural Studies at the University of Rochester. She is the author of several books on the sociology of art, including Aesthetics and the Sociology of Art and Feminine Sentences: Essays on Women and Culture.