Art, value and function

Schroeder, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4480-6458 (2013) Art, value and function. The Nordic Journal of Aesthetics, 23 (46). pp. 47-62. ISSN 2000-9607

Abstract/Summary

Is the concept of a work of art an evaluative concept: does its application imply a positive evaluation? I shall discuss this question by considering two opposing attempts at defining art, namely the Institutional Theory and the view that art is a functional concept. I shall argue that the concept of art does not imply an unconditionally positive evaluation, but that art is a prestige concept. Moreover, it will be shown that functional definitions of art are flawed.