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A Study of the Social Characteristics of Artists

University of Tehran, ravadrad{at}ut.ac.ir

This article examines the social characteristics of artists. The idea is that artists share some common characteristics that may have an effect on their becoming an artist. The process of acquiring the identification of artist is a multidimensional one, which is related to creativity, alongside many other factors that are inherently social. Here, emphasis is on the second kind of factors, the social ones. In order to show the importance of such factors, data from the author’s previous research are presented. The theoretical field of study is sociology of art with an emphasis on Janet Wolff’s ideas. The main hypothesis is that creativity and genius are preconditions for a person to become an artist, but are not sufficient in themselves. The individual’s emergence as artist also relies on their social conditions. If certain social conditions are right, then an individual may be able to pursue artistic activities and become known as an artist.

Key Words: artist • social factors • sociology of art

Current Sociology, Vol. 57, No. 6, 787-808 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0011392109342209


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