Project 2 Proposal
For my second project I’d like to combine the two concepts of art as a commodity and spectatorship to focus on the way in which the business of art goes about influencing amateur art viewers. Essentially I’m interested in the way the average tourist, someone who has little to no knowledge of art, is solicited to view and experience art. In addition to this I’d like to gain an understanding of tourists’ perspectives on the business of art. Specifically, do tourists feel as though they’re being exploited? Do tourists feel as though the tours and museums teach them the history of their exhibits, or do they simply play on the excitement factor? And finally, do tourists understand that art is indeed business and doesn’t exist solely for the purpose of expression and creativity?
I’d like to accomplish these goals by interviewing some tourists at random and trying to gain an understanding of their experiences. To supplement these interviews, I’ll examine the way literature provided at museums, bookstores, and travel agencies advertise exhibits and events relating to the art world.