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9 - The publics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2009

Liah Greenfeld
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
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Summary

The discussion of the case so far might have already made clear, that the Israeli public is divided into two parts which correspond to the division of styles into figurative and Abstract and belong to the two subsystems of the Israeli art world. The division of the public is so conspicuous that one actually has to talk about two distinct publics.

According to the interviews, extracts from which will be quoted below, the main characteristic of the figurative art public is its self-confidence. This public has clear and rather well-founded personal preferences. Its members understand what they like and why. They approve or disapprove of paintings according to whether they answer their requirements or not. These requirements protect the public of figurative painting and help its members to explain why they prefer certain works of art or styles to the others. Since its judgment is based upon rational considerations, there is no intolerance towards the existence of those styles which this public does not accept. It does not perceive any threat in the existence of these styles and can allow itself to show patience towards them.

Although among this public there are persons who prefer “not quite Abstract and not quite Realistic” art, “real, but hinted, not finished things,” namely works of Impressionistic or Post-Impressionistic character, they, in any case, demand from the painter a demonstration of technical skill. In accordance with this, even paintings of this kind have to be “with some sense, not mere daubs”.

Type
Chapter
Information
Different Worlds
A Sociological Study of Taste, Choice and Success in Art
, pp. 146 - 160
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1989

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  • The publics
  • Liah Greenfeld, Harvard University, Massachusetts
  • Book: Different Worlds
  • Online publication: 16 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511571039.010
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  • The publics
  • Liah Greenfeld, Harvard University, Massachusetts
  • Book: Different Worlds
  • Online publication: 16 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511571039.010
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • The publics
  • Liah Greenfeld, Harvard University, Massachusetts
  • Book: Different Worlds
  • Online publication: 16 September 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511571039.010
Available formats
×