Vision and Society ─ Towards a Sociology and Anthropology from Art

"The sociology of art is now an established sub-discipline of sociology. But little work has been done to explore the implications not of society on art, but of art on the nature and principles of sociology itself. Vision and Society explores the ways inwhich art (here mainly understood as visual art) structures in fundamental ways the constitution of society, the relations between societies and the ways in which society and culture should be theorized. Building initially on an unfulfilled project by the French sociologist of art Nathalie Heinich to derive a sociology from art, this book pushes this idea in unconventional directions. Rethinking the relationships between the study of art and the study of sociology and anthropology, this book explores howthis rethinking might impact sociological theory in general, and certain aspects of it in particular - especially the study of social movements, social change, the urban, the constitution of space and the ways in which human social relationships are mediated and expressed. This book attempts to re-orientate sociological theory in general as well as to create fresh approaches for the sociology of art. It does so by way of non-Western cases studies, broadening the range of art sociology and attempting to create a genuinely comparative sociology. It will be useful for students and scholars of sociology of art, sociology of culture, visual studies, visual anthropology and cultural studies around the world"--

John Clammer is Professor of Sociology at the United Nations University. His research interests encompass the sociology of art, urban sociology, the sociology of religion and sociological theory East and West. His most recent book is Culture, Development and Social Theory (Zed Books 2012).