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- Title
Can the institutional theory of art survive zombie formalism?.
- Authors
Hegenbart, Sarah
- Abstract
Zombie formalism describes a type of art designed specifically to cater to the demands of the market. I argue that recent developments on the art market challenge the institutional theory of art since it appears increasingly questionable whether the artworld–the centerpiece of the institutional theory–is guided by a deep understanding of art rather than economic considerations. Given that the institutional theory remains rather vague about the very definition of ›the artworld‹, the artworld may also comprise investment-minded mega-collectors and art dealers. If, however, money becomes the driving force for the creation and exhibition of art, how does this impact on the artworld as institution that decides about whether or not something may count as an artwork? Can the institutional theory of art survive zombie formalism? In order to answer these questions, I will map out recent developments in the artworld that might force us to amend the institutional theory to be applicable also to contemporary phenomena. My summary of the main approaches to institutional theory will reveal that none of them has yet succeeded in providing persuasive account of the nature of the artworld. I will suggest as an outlook that we need to critically interrogate David Hume’s standard of taste in order to work towards a curatorial standard of taste.
- Subjects
HUME, David, 1711-1776; ART theory; ART dealers; ART exhibitions; ARTS exhibitions; ART industry; TASTE
- Publication
Zeitschrift für Ästhetik und Allgemeine Kunstwissenschaft (ZÄK), 2021, Vol 66, Issue 1, p97
- ISSN
0044-2186
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.28937/9783787340682_4