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THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF ART: VARIATION IN THE VALUATION OF ART WORKS IN A COMMUNITY ART MUSEUM *
Author(s) -
Valentine Catherine
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
symbolic interaction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.874
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1533-8665
pISSN - 0195-6086
DOI - 10.1525/si.1982.5.1.37
Subject(s) - visitor pattern , valuation (finance) , art , variation (astronomy) , visual arts , contemporary art , museology , value (mathematics) , sociology , art history , performance art , computer science , physics , finance , machine learning , astrophysics , economics , programming language
This paper examines variation in the valuation of art works in a community art museum. It often is assumed that art objects collected and displayed by museums are treated as highly valued if not sacred objects. Research at a community art museum indicates that the value of art works varies. Frontstage at the museum, art works are treated with care by museum workers. Backstage, they may be destroyed, misplaced, lost, or stolen. In addition, when not engaged in playing the conventional role of museum visitor, visitors to the museum may disregard and even mistreat art objects. Data are based on observations and interviews conducted over a two‐year period in a medium‐sized community art museum.