Towards a New Kind of System of Art

Since the 1960s, the Western sphere of art has given
up modern aesthetics that held that the sphere of art
should be independent of the spheres of economics,
cultural industry, politics and practical utility. In
contrast to a conception of art such as this, the
contemporary sphere of art has firmly become rooted
in its societal-cultural environment. In particular,
it is widely interlaced with the spheres of public
sector, economics, mass media, philosophical
reflection, scientific research work, people's
everyday life and practical social action. In
particular, an increasing marketisation and
managerialism is characteristic of the contemporary
sphere of art.
The book on hand critically considers the shift from
the modern to the contemporary sphere of art. It
suggests that the contemporary sphere of art can be
understood as a complex societal and cultural system
whose internal system-likeness is on the decrease. At
the same time it is vital a and dynamic sub-system of
contemporary society, and, as such, it possesses an
amazing capacity to renew.

Autorentext

• Photo: Ulla Karttunen
• Erkki Sevänen (born 1954),
• Professor of Literature, in particular, sociology of literature
  at the Department of Cultural Research at the University of
  Joensuu (Finland),

• Main publications: Cultural Identity in Transition (2004),
  Aesthetic Culture (2005).

  Klappentext
  Since the 1960s, the Western sphere of art has given up modern aesthetics that held that the sphere of art should be independent of the spheres of economics, cultural industry, politics and practical utility. In contrast to a conception of art such as this, the contemporary sphere of art has firmly become rooted in its societal-cultural environment. In particular, it is widely interlaced with the spheres of public sector, economics, mass media, philosophical reflection, scientific research work, people's everyday life and practical social action. In particular, an increasing marketisation and managerialism is characteristic of the contemporary sphere of art. The book on hand critically considers the shift from the modern to the contemporary sphere of art. It suggests that the contemporary sphere of art can be understood as a complex societal and cultural system whose internal system-likeness is on the decrease. At the same time it is vital a and dynamic sub-system of contemporary society, and, as such, it possesses an amazing capacity to renew.