Erkki Sevänen

Towards a New Kind of System of Art: the Shift from the Modern to the Contemporary Sphere of Art from the Standpoint of System-theoretical and Systemic Sociology Erkki Sevänen

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.