Kunst und Gesellschaft: Arts and Power

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The exploration of power and domination within societal structures has been central to sociology since its inception. Max Weber’s definition of power as “imposing one’s will on others” remains pertinent in understanding processes in the arts, including production, communication, and consumption. Domination in the arts is enforced by both internal and external authorities through institutional frameworks and prevailing beliefs about legitimacy, which shape art tastes. The intricate relationship between the arts and power stems from the policies governing artistic production, distribution, and consumption, which can either facilitate or obstruct an aesthetic object's access to its audience. Curators, critics, and collectors utilize various forms of cultural communication to reflect and influence existing social, economic, and political conditions. This volume brings together diverse perspectives that examine the societal roles of art within contexts of domination and power, addressing both oppressive and progressive uses of art. The contributions serve as exploratory steps toward a more systematic and theoretically grounded sociological discourse on the intersection of arts and power, inviting further inquiry and discussion.