A valuable introduction to the central issues in the sociology of the
arts, this work draws on sociology, art history, feminism, and literary
and media studies, to explain the social nature of the arts, their
production, distribution, and reception. This second edition is the
result of the author's chapter-by-chapter review and updating, taking
into account not only her own re-thinking on these issues but also the
work that has been done in cultural studies and the sociology of the
arts since the first edition appeared in 1984. Wolff considers changes
in sociology, literary studies, and cultural studies, and their
implications for the project of the sociology of art: the relevance of
post structuralist theory for an understanding of the author/artist; and
the current, and perhaps unfounded, rejection of the concept of
ideology. The author also assesses the question of cultural politics in
relation to debates about postmodernism, as well as the matter of
identity politics with regard to gender and ethnicity. Containing a
wealth of information about both past and present thinking on the
sociology of art, this book will be of particular interest both to
students of the arts and students of sociology.