SS1 - A Sociological Look at Art in the Urban Renaissance
SCURS Disciplines
Sociology
Document Type
General Presentation (Oral)
Invited Presentation Choice
Not Applicable
Abstract
Along with two co-authors (Nick Dempsey at Eckerd College and Deborah Gambs at Borough of Manhattan Community College), I am co-authoring a new textbook provisionally titled Introduction to the Sociology of the Arts: A Primer. In this presentation, I will discuss my work in developing a chapter on art in the urban renaissance, which describes the interrelationship between art and urban social life. Under the auspices of new urbanism (Congress for the New Urbanism 2001; Katz 1994), a design ethos that emerged in the 1990s with a focus on aesthetics and accessibility, many cities have experienced an uneven process of redevelopment, often disproportionately benefiting wealthy residents and investors. I will examine the interrelationship between art and the city as manifested through this urban renaissance in a wide variety of cities, including Pittsburgh, PA and Spartanburg, SC. I will share illustrative examples showing how clusters of artists and their audiences form scenes that can renew a place’s local culture, often remaking images of neighborhoods and city brands, and/or creating a foundation for gentrification, (Nevarez (2024) and Ocejo (2024). I will also delineate examples of official place branding efforts, in which city’s often attempt to incorporate (or co-opt) elements of these scenes in promoting creative placemaking. Finally, I will draw on previous research (King and Crommelin, 2013) and more recent examples to describe how unsanctioned placemaking efforts, from graffiti, to ruins photography, and DIY place branding efforts can both contest and contribute to the image of a city and the understanding of art in urban social life.
Keywords
urban renaissance, art, new urbanism, place character, DIY place branding
Start Date
10-4-2026 2:10 PM
Location
CASB 108
End Date
10-4-2026 2:25 PM
SS1 - A Sociological Look at Art in the Urban Renaissance
CASB 108
Along with two co-authors (Nick Dempsey at Eckerd College and Deborah Gambs at Borough of Manhattan Community College), I am co-authoring a new textbook provisionally titled Introduction to the Sociology of the Arts: A Primer. In this presentation, I will discuss my work in developing a chapter on art in the urban renaissance, which describes the interrelationship between art and urban social life. Under the auspices of new urbanism (Congress for the New Urbanism 2001; Katz 1994), a design ethos that emerged in the 1990s with a focus on aesthetics and accessibility, many cities have experienced an uneven process of redevelopment, often disproportionately benefiting wealthy residents and investors. I will examine the interrelationship between art and the city as manifested through this urban renaissance in a wide variety of cities, including Pittsburgh, PA and Spartanburg, SC. I will share illustrative examples showing how clusters of artists and their audiences form scenes that can renew a place’s local culture, often remaking images of neighborhoods and city brands, and/or creating a foundation for gentrification, (Nevarez (2024) and Ocejo (2024). I will also delineate examples of official place branding efforts, in which city’s often attempt to incorporate (or co-opt) elements of these scenes in promoting creative placemaking. Finally, I will draw on previous research (King and Crommelin, 2013) and more recent examples to describe how unsanctioned placemaking efforts, from graffiti, to ruins photography, and DIY place branding efforts can both contest and contribute to the image of a city and the understanding of art in urban social life.