Symbolic Boundaries, Identity, and Art Museum Visitation
Journal
The International Journal of the Arts in Society
Date Issued
2009
Author(s)
DOI
10.18848/1833-1866/cgp/v04i01/35566
Abstract
This article provides evidence of how different art museum visitation groups (high, middle,
and low attendance levels) draw symbolic boundaries in order to distinguish themselves from others
and develop a sense of group membership. In-depth, semi-structured interviews revealed that interviewees
in the high visitation level mainly distinguished themselves from other visitors rather than
from non-visitors. On the other hand, interviewees in the low visitation level distinguished themselves
from non-visitors, while those in the middle level adopted an intermediate position by distinguishing
themselves from both non-visitors and visitors. This process of exclusion and inclusion seems to define
the interviewees’ self-identity and to influence their visitation decisions. Even though this study focuses
on cultural boundaries, evidence of moral and socio-economic boundaries is also apparent.
and low attendance levels) draw symbolic boundaries in order to distinguish themselves from others
and develop a sense of group membership. In-depth, semi-structured interviews revealed that interviewees
in the high visitation level mainly distinguished themselves from other visitors rather than
from non-visitors. On the other hand, interviewees in the low visitation level distinguished themselves
from non-visitors, while those in the middle level adopted an intermediate position by distinguishing
themselves from both non-visitors and visitors. This process of exclusion and inclusion seems to define
the interviewees’ self-identity and to influence their visitation decisions. Even though this study focuses
on cultural boundaries, evidence of moral and socio-economic boundaries is also apparent.