Artists and their careers. Sociology of artistic professions

foreign languages
general courses

(in Polish) Knowledge of English (reading, speaking and writing), basic knowledge about social processes and sociological analysis

In the last decades of the twentieth century, creative professions became the subject of interest to management and coaching specialists, who casted “creative professions” (in the colloquial sense of the term) the model of the XXI century employee. The specific characteristics that are attributed to them (creativity, independence, dedication, passion, selflessness, flexibility, mobility and individualization of work) stand for an inexhaustible potential for accomplished professional in contemporary societies. One of the first sociologists to undertake the subject of professional groups today described as creative was Florian Znaniecki, who studied social roles of artists and scholars. Subsequent works devoted to artistic competitions have been produced since the 1950s as part of the Chicago School Tradition (Cameron, Becker, Westby). Starting from the 1980s this topic became popular among French sociologists (Bourdieu, Heinich, Dubois, Lahire, Perrenoud), who contributed largely to further development of the discipline. The sociology of creative professions has developed to such an extent that today we can certainly consider it an important subdiscipline in the sociology of professions. Considering the fact that in recent decades, developed societies and developing countries attach more and more importance to the production of knowledge (in a broad sense - also including culture), such an increasing interest in creative professions is fully justified.

The course will start from introductory lessons focused on the presentation of historical research traditions (Chicago School and e.g., Znaniecki’s analysis of the social role of artists), theoretical and methodological approaches to the analysis of artistic careers, which contributed to the development of this field of sociological studies. The remaining classes will center on works of French, American and Polish authors, who undertook this topic from various angles. Referring to cases studies of specific professional categories such as musicians (virtuosos, jazzmen, blues and rock musicians), writers and poets, theater and film actors, painters, photographers, dancers (classical and modern) and architects, we will learn how to analyze career making process, what elements facilitate and what derail artistic careers. We will pay attention to career’s differences that stem from gender on the one hand and national characteristics on the other.

This seminar will also have an applicable aspect. In the class students will be asked to select a profession and carry out a case study analysis of a specific career (based on an interview or historical material) applying methodology and theoretical concepts introduced at the beginning of the course.

SELECTED LITERATURE (in English):

BECKER, Howard S. 1982. Art Worlds, Berkeley, University of California Press.

CAMERON, Wiliam Bruce. 1954. Sociological Notes on the Jam session. “Social Forces” n° 33.

DeNORA, Tia, 1995, Beethoven and the Construction of Genius: Musical Politics in Vienna 1792-1803, Berkley, Los Angeles and London: University of California Press,


ELIAS, Norbert, 2006, Mozart. Portret geniusza [Mozart. Zur Soziologie eines Genies] Warszawa, W.A.B., Wydawnictwo.


FAULKNER, Robert R. 1971. Hollywood Studio Musicians. Their Work and Career in the Recording Industry, Chicago-New York, Aldine- Atherton.


GLASER Barney G., 1964, Comparative Failure in Science in “Science”, 6 March 1964:vol 143, no. 3610, pp.1012-1014;

STRAUSS, Anselm, 1975, Professions, Work and Careers, Transaction, Inc; New Brunswick, New Jersey.

WAGNER, Izabela, 2006, Coupling Career in the Artistic and Intellectuals Worlds in „Qualitative Sociological Review” n°3; avril 2006. (on- line)


------, 2011 : Transnational Careers in the Virtuoso World in “Careers in Creative Industries” Chris Mathiew (ed.), Routledge, London, New York (December 2011)


------, 2015. Producing Excellence. The Making of Virtuosos, New Brunswick, Rutgers University Press.

WESTBY, David L (1960): The Career Experience of the Symphony Musician, “Social Forces”, n° 38.

WHITE, Harrison C. and WHITE Cynthia A., 1965, Canvases and Careers: Institutional Change in the French Painting World. University of Chicago Press.

Knowledge

A student…

K_W01 knows and understands basic concepts of qualitative sociology and sociology of artistic/creative professions;

K_W03 is aware of ongoing theoretical and methodological disputes within qualitative sociology;

K_W27 has basic knowledge about the elements that build careers in the social world of art and about changing conditions of the artistic labor market;

K_W16 has in-depth knowledge about French, American and Polish studies on creative professions (various specializations);

Skills

A student…

K_U04 can critically select information and materials for academic work, using various sources in a foreign language as well as modern technologies

K_U17 can relate an academic text to the problems of social life and its empirical studies

K_U18 can identify the kinds of research in which the scientific texts read can be applicable

K_U19 can prepare a presentation of a selected problem or study in a foreign language (discussion, presentation, text)

Competence

A student…

K_K02 can propose a solution to a problem that requires an interdisciplinary research approach

K_K05 can gather, find, synthesize and critically assess information about social problems and processes

K_K10 independently sets directions of personal development and further learning

K_K14 takes responsibility for planned and performed tasks

1) Paper based on the presented case study (60%)

2) Case study presentation (30%)

3) Presence and active participation in the classes based on readings (10%)