Beyond Price
Value in Culture, Economics, and the Arts
Michael Hutter editor David Throsby editor
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
Published:27th Jun '11
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- Hardback£57.00(9780521862233)
This book explores the tensions between economic and cultural value from a range of disciplines.
How do we place a value on a painting, or a piece of music, or a traditional ritual? This book explores the tensions between economic and cultural value from a range of disciplinary viewpoints and provides many new insights into how value is constructed in contemporary society.Much recent discussion surrounding valuation of the arts and culture, particularly in the policy arena, has been dominated by a concern to identify an economic and financial basis for valuation of art works, arts, activities and more general ways in which we express our culture. Whereas a great deal can be gained from a fuller understanding of the economic value of art, there is a real danger that financial considerations will tend to crowd out all other aspects of value. This book moves beyond the limitations implicit in a narrow economic approach, bringing different disciplinary viewpoints together, opening up a dialogue between scholars about the processes of valuation that they use and exploring differences and identifying common ground between the various viewpoints. The book's common theme – the tension between economic and cultural modes of evaluation – unites the chapters, making it a coherent and unified volume that provides a new and unique perspective on how we value art.
'Beyond Price is an important contribution to the growing interdisciplinary literature on the varied notions of “value” and in particular the conflicts between traditional economics-centered and culture-centered conceptions of value. These issues are of great moment in all cultural disciplines, including cultural economics, the home field of the collection. The book moves the literature a step ahead by focusing on how and why the methodological innovations implied by this work should be implemented. The contributing scholars are first-rate, and Hutter and Throsby themselves have very strong and distinguished reputations in the field of cultural economics.' Randall Mason, University of Pennsylvania
'Beyond Price is a stimulating collection of essays that expands the discussion on valuation of the arts far beyond the usual duality of market and aesthetic values. In its place, this volume offers a vastly more nuanced set of concepts concerning the processes by which art, music, and literature are accorded worth and significance. A wide range of readers will enjoy, and profit from, the book's lively dialogue among economists and cultural historians of various stripes.' Mark A. Meadow, University of California at Santa Barbara
'Well-known economists of the arts and culture join with colleagues in other social sciences and in the humanities through a series of papers that were shared, revised in light of insights and new perspectives gained from other participants, and finally brought together in this collection. Recommended.' Choice Magazine
'Different disciplinary viewpoints are combined to identify the processes of valuation that are used in the valuation of the arts and culture, and exploring differences and identifying common ground between the various viewpoints.' The Times Higher Education Supplement
'Beyond Price is a rich source for anyone working on value in art and culture, and cultural production more generally. … the seventeen essays included in the volume provide an extensive and detailed overview of a multidisciplinary body of literature on value … an enriching read.' British Journal of Sociology
ISBN: 9780521183000
Dimensions: 230mm x 154mm x 19mm
Weight: 500g
334 pages