I'm looking for good studies that could exist about the use of wall
images that people hang on their wall. Why do people put pictures on
the wall at home. For decoration ? to modify their environement ? To
have a work of art that they like ? To evocate a souvenir ... and so
on. With other words, what is the general purpose beyond the act of
putting an image on the wall, what does it stands for, why do people
do that, in the objective of satisfying which needs ? If people put
image on their wall, there are some reasons for that. This is what I want to
know.

---

Request for Question Clarification by markj-ga on 08 Oct 2004 08:56 PDT

johndifool--

I agree with the commenters on your follow-up question that this
subject has apparently not been widely explored in academic studies,
at least studies that are cited online.

However, I have found a recent, serious academic book by a respected
sociologist devoted to the use and purpose of art displayed in the
American home.  It is not a theoretical work, but rather is based on a
detailed study performed by this sociologist in several carefully
chosen neighborhoods that represent a wide range of economic and
cultural features.

The work has been described as the "seminal" work on this subject by a
sociology professor who is herself interested in, and working in, this
specific field.

Would information on this book (including how to obtain a reasonably
priced copy) be a sufficient core of an asnwer to your question?  I
can supplement the answer with references to other sociologists who
have published on the sociology of art, although the book and study
that I have in mind appears to be the work that most closely matches
your particular interests.

markj-ga

---

Clarification of Question by johndifool-ga on 08 Oct 2004 14:11 PDT

Hi markj,

What you say looks interesting. If the book is about original
painting, I'm not interested. If the word "Art" is taken in a general
way, (not only original painting), it may be a good answer. Is there a
possibility of having more details abour the content. A list of
chapters or something of that kind.

---

Request for Question Clarification by markj-ga on 08 Oct 2004 15:01 PDT

johndifool --

I understand your desire you have some more detail, so let me give you
a little more information about the book I have in mind.

First, here is what the author says generally about the scope of the book:

"In this [first] chapter I lay out [the] major motifs that inform
residential life.  In the subsequent chapters I will locate in the
context of these motifs many central meanings of the artistic and
cultural items that residents display."

Second, descriptions of the book indicate that it devotes its
attention to the display in the home of cultural artifacts such as
photography, fine arts and religious iconography and art, and the
meaning that residents find in their choices of artworks.

Finally, one review of the book emphasizes how the author's goal in
his study and his book was an understanding and coherent explanation
of the complicated meanings that the display of art in a home entails.


Does this sound like it would suit your purposes?

markj-ga

---

Clarification of Question by johndifool-ga on 09 Oct 2004 03:56 PDT

Markj,

What you say looks good.
I was more expecting some kind of statistical survey, but I'm glad
with a sociologic approach and a book. Thanks to give me the complete
information as an asnswer, given that I can buy this book online from
France

Thanks for your help

johndifool --

Thanks very much for your latest clarification.  I hope and expect
that the book I have described will meet your needs, and, yes, it is
conveniently available used or new through Amazon.fr and other online
book sellers.

The book is by David Halle and is titled "Inside Culture: Art and
Class in the American Home." It was published by University of Chicago
Press in 1994 (hardcover) and 1996 (paperback).

After finding a reference to the book (I explain my search strategy
below), I located it at Amazon.com.  For reasons of copyright I can't
post here all of the information about it that is available at that
site, but the "Search Inside the Book" feature of the Amazon listing
for the book will allow you explore its content in some detail.  Here
is a link to that listing:

Amazon.com:  Inside Culture: Art and Class in the Home
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0226313689/ref=sib_rdr_rdp2/104-4600328-5157502?%5Fencoding=UTF8&no=283155&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&st=books

In order to "search inside" the book, just click on the image of the
book's cover.  You can then link directly to the index, table of
contents, front and back covers or a pre-chosen excerpt, or you can do
a keyword search of the entire text of the book.

Besides the information about the content of the book that is
available at Amazon.com,  there are a few additional reasons why I
think the book may be useful to you:

The "Library Journal" summary of the book (at the Amazon.com page
linked above) indicates that there is little other research on this
subject.  Also, that journal notes the author's use of statistical
information (while this should please you, the journal cites is as a
minor drawback):

"Although [the author's] narrow geographical focus and overreliance on
statistics can be faulted, the scarcity of studies of the artworld
from the perspective of the consumer--rather than the dictates of the
cultural elite--recommend the inclusion of this book in collections
concerned with art, popular culture, or sociology." - David
McClelland, Temple Univ. Lib., Philadelphia


Another interesting perspective comes from a University of Virginia
sociology professor who is also interested in this little-researched
topic:

"I have recently, however, been working on the sociology of art with
Bethany Bryson and am now trying to think through contemporary
American tastes and "uses" of personal art displayed in domestic
contexts. Halle's seminal work on this topic (Inside Culture, 1993,
Chicago) is resolutely critical of Bourdieu's notions of habitus and
attendant developments of this line of thinking by others, especially
DiMaggio. Although I'm sympathetic to some of Halle's issues with both
the conceptual formations and empirical evidence, I think it's too
easy to dismiss Bourdieu's emphasis on the connections between art and
class as irrelevant, at least in the American context and in this day
and age. Many scholars emphasize themes of cultural convergence and/or
omnivorous consumers and argue the traditional "high" arts are simply
one choice among many highly differentiated taste systems and
lifestyle choices (e.g., Crane, L. Levine, Gans, Peterson). Such
arguments seem to deny the continued and widespread legitimacy of high
art's claim to status."

Symbolic Boundaries Research Network Online Conference, Feb. 10-14,
2003 (Posting of Sarah Corse) (about halfway down the page)
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~bb3v/symbound/conf2003/vforum3.html

This posting was interesting to me (and, I am hopeful, to you) because
it establishes Halle's credibility in academic circles, and it
confirms again that this topic has not been researched systematically
before (or since).  And,  it includes references to other sociologists
whose work may be of interest to you if you are inclined to delve into
more academically oriented research that has some bearing on your and
Halle's (and Corse's) specific interest.

The Halle book is available for purchase from Amazon.com by using the
ordering page linked above.  However, it appears from you
clarification that it is probably more convenient for you to use
Amazon.fr.  Here is a link to the listing for the paperback on that
site (it is available in hardcover there as well):

Amazon.fr.: Inside Culture: Art and Class in the American Home
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/0226313689/ref=ed_oe_o/402-4759943-5750514


Additional Information:

David Halle is a professor at UCLA.  Here is his page at the UCLA
faculty Web directory:
UCLA: Faculty: David Halle
http://www.soc.ucla.edu/faculty.php?lid=46&display_one=1

Here is a simple Google search that produces several hundreds
references to Halle and his book:

halle "inside culture"
://www.google.com/search?num=30&hl=en&lr=&q=%27halle+%22inside+culture%22


Search Strategy:

I tried a variety of Google searches before hitting on one that led me
to the posting by Prof. Corse.  These were the successful search
terms:

"people choose OR display art" homes
://www.google.com/search?num=30&hl=en&lr=&q=%22people+choose+OR+display+art%22++homes


I then followed up the reference to Halle found there with more
focused searches, such as, among others:

sociology art corse halle
://www.google.com/search?num=30&hl=en&lr=&q=sociology+art+corse+halle


Finally, as explained above, I took advantage of the ""Search Inside
the Book" feature of Amazon.com listing for the book.


Based on our "conversation," I am reasonably confident that you will
find the above information to be useful to you.  If anything is
unclear, please ask for clarification before rating the answer.


markj-ga

People who follow Vasthu (Science to create harmony in a given place)
often put pictures to create a balance in their environment. for
example it is recommended to put pictures of couples in bedroom for a
happy relationship and so on...

markj,

Your answer looks great and I'm very impressed by its quality.
I have ordered the book. I'm expecting it in 2 weeks from now.
As soon I've read it, I will rate your answer. 5 stars I think..

Thanks a lot

johndifool --

Thanks for your comment. I am pleased that the Halle book appears (so
far) to meet your needs.

markj-ga

At first, the question sounds stupid.. May be this could be a reason
why nobody answers.

But finally, I would simply say that people don't like empty spaces.
Is it nice in an empty room? Would one buy an empty (e.g. just white)
painting?

Here's another question: Why do we like colors?