Hello,

The Department of Sociology holds 3 to 4 colloquia each semester to explore research trends in the field of sociology both domestically and internationally and to promote academic dialogue between professors and graduate students.

For the first colloquium of this semester, we will be inviting Professor Shim Bo-seon from Yonsei University to share his research achievements and current interests.

We encourage all interested individuals to participate.

[1st Seoul National University Department of Sociology Colloquium for the 2024 Fall Semester]

• Topic: How Can the Sociology of Art Be Justified?: Focusing on Action, Value, Creativity, and the Concept of Art
• Date and Time: September 12, 2024 (Thursday) from 16:00 to 17:30
• Location: Seminar Room 427, Social Sciences Building 16
• Speaker: Shim Bo-seon (Yonsei University Graduate School of Communication)
• Moderator: Im Dong-kyun (Seoul National University Department of Sociology)

※ The event will be held in person but will also be live-streamed via Zoom.
(Zoom Link: https://snu-ac-kr.zoom.us/j/7818494673)

Presentation Overview
Sociologists of art consider art to be a significant domain in both collective and individual lives, exploring its roles and meanings. However, the importance of art is often taken for granted, as suggested by the parody of Bourdieu’s book title, "The Love of Art." Contemporary art sociology seems to be sustained by a dedicated group of art lovers. In this presentation, I will refrain from emphasizing art love and instead discuss how sociology has imagined the importance of art and how this sociological imagination has historically evolved, focusing on the relationship between art and the value of action. Interest in the relationship between art and the value of action treats art as a subject of sociological study by illuminating the paths where art intersects with the specific value of creativity and competes with other values. From this perspective, art, as defined by art sociology, is neither a fixed object nor inherently good or right. Art confirms, shapes, and disseminates the specific value of creativity. This value can be associated with, surpass, or be separated from art within actions. Most importantly, the patterns of the relationship between art and the value of action have changed and will continue to change. Keeping this in mind, I will discuss why sociology should study art and consider the tasks it should undertake.

Speaker’s Biography
Professor Shim Bo-seon earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Seoul National University and her Ph.D. in Sociology from Columbia University. He currently teaches and researches cultural mediation and the sociology of art at Yonsei University’s Graduate School of Communication. His publications include The Sooted Art (2013), Everyday Art (2017, co-authored), and Asylums (Erving Goffman) (2018, translated).