Anamaria Tomiuc | University of Art and Design, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (original) (raw)
Papers by Anamaria Tomiuc
Journal of Media Research, Nov 30, 2022
The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitat... more The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitative research method and a tool in a social innovation approach. It presents an exploratory research on the artistic practice of the ArtiViStory Collective, as a group of artists and faculty members from the University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca (UAD) working in the field of urban comics that have developed a specific methodology for using comics in research processes by creating specific artworks as part of the data collection process, of the data analysis process and by using curatorial approaches for results' dissemination to different audiences. Starting by inquiring the use of documentary comics and sequential storytelling as an emerging qualitative research method, the article presents the specificity of this case study that renders a new
Journal of Media Research, Nov 30, 2022
The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitat... more The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitative research method and a tool in a social innovation approach. It presents an exploratory research on the artistic practice of the ArtiViStory Collective, as a group of artists and faculty members from the University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca (UAD) working in the field of urban comics that have developed a specific methodology for using comics in research processes by creating specific artworks as part of the data collection process, of the data analysis process and by using curatorial approaches for results' dissemination to different audiences. Starting by inquiring the use of documentary comics and sequential storytelling as an emerging qualitative research method, the article presents the specificity of this case study that renders a new
Journal of Media Research Vol. 15, Issue 3 (44) , 2022
The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitat... more The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitative research method and a tool in a social innovation approach. It presents an exploratory research on the artistic practice of the ArtiViStory Collective, as a group of artists and faculty members from the University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca (UAD) working in the field of urban comics that have developed a specific methodology for using comics in research processes by creating specific artworks as part of the data collection process, of the data analysis process and by using curatorial approaches for results dissemination to different audiences. Starting by inquiring the use of documentary comics and sequential storytelling as an emerging qualitative research method, the article presents the specificity of this case study that renders a new approach in Romania on an urban comics-based research process by focusing on the evolution of the group as a community of practice as well as on the analysis of the specificity of their methodology and working process that act as catalyzers for engaging audiences in urban transitions.
IntroductionThe beginning of the third millennium comes with a technological revolution: the digi... more IntroductionThe beginning of the third millennium comes with a technological revolution: the digital sphere has been immersed in the everyday life of society. Websites, Ipads, Smartphones are only a small number of new media that have gained control over our lives. The rapid expansions of media technology, the universal access to the Internet, the continuous online presence in the social media are fundamentally changing the cultural experience. In the entertainment and the new museum era, the issue is no longer whether new media and technologies should be used by museums (the focus of our study) but how they may be used to develop a richer, deeper and more immersive visitor experience. Generally, digital media have been explored in order to strengthen the communication process between the museums and their visitors, to provide new methods of visitor interaction with the collections and the art works.In this study we investigate some of the forms used by museums to build up a digital...
IntroductionIn the world of mass consumption, art itself has become a commodity. The history of c... more IntroductionIn the world of mass consumption, art itself has become a commodity. The history of contemporary art is now written depending on art's integration in the art market while its relation to its audience gets to be highly influenced by this market. We are now facing a new type of reception of the contemporary art that is becoming more and more popular, while the success associated with the art world gets to be similar (on a reduced scale, though) to that associated with other cultural industries. Artists have become celebrities; the art world itself is extremely spectacular, while both insiders and outsiders are strongly fascinated by its aura. For example, Damien Hirst's retrospective exhibition held in Tate Modern London in 2012 has been the most popular solo show in the history of the institution, attracting record-breaking visitor numbers, as well as Jeff Koons' retrospective at Whitney Museum of American Art in 2014, which was the most visited exhibition in ...
IntroductionWe are today in the midst of a golden age of contemporary museums with new ones openi... more IntroductionWe are today in the midst of a golden age of contemporary museums with new ones opening at short intervals and playing a popular role in the cultural life. A global phenomenon, in cities large and small, museums are settled in new signature buildings, are expanding their existing facilities or reconfiguring their current places. We are facing a contemporary boom of the cultural institutions that actually write / re-write the history of humanity, by displaying their collections and sharing multiple experiences with their visitors. From unique sites to expanding global networks, museums have nowadays become worldwide brands that attract millions of visitors annually. Contemporary art museums (Tate Modem), science museums (Science Museum London, Arts & Metiers Paris), fashion or design museums (V&A London, Design Museum London), ethnology museums (Tjibaou Cultural Center Noumea, Musee du Quai Branly Paris), history museums (Osaka Museum of History) are just some of the type...
Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 2016
Once with Romania's integration in the EU, a long series of structural reforms have been at the c... more Once with Romania's integration in the EU, a long series of structural reforms have been at the core of the national, regional and local policies. There are three major aims of this paper. The fi rst is to investigate the culture-oriented policies that have been envisaged in post-communist Romania, before and after joining the EU, in order to point out the correlation with the European cultural agenda, and to observe the transition towards a decentralized vision on culture that would redirect the cities' contributions to their urban development. The second is to analyze what types of development strategies and cultural policies have been developed and implemented in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) that frame a new vision on the city and propose the concepts of 'participation, creativity and university' at the core of its transformation. The third is to question the role of the festival use (as a cultural form involving large participation) and to discuss the specifi city of the city of Cluj-Napoca where the enthusiastic support from the local authorities for this type of actions is balanced by a more reasonable consideration within the cultural strategy. The research is based on document analyses and interviews with decision-makers and stakeholders' representatives.
Once with Romania's integration in the EU, a long series of structural reforms have been at the c... more Once with Romania's integration in the EU, a long series of structural reforms have been at the core of the national, regional and local policies. There are three major aims of this paper. The first is to investigate the culture-oriented policies that have been envisaged in post-communist Romania, before and after joining the EU, in order to point out the correlation with the Europe-an cultural agenda, and to observe the transition towards a decentralized vision on culture that would redirect the cities' contributions to their urban development. The second is to analyze what types of development strategies and cultural policies have been developed and implemented in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) that frame a new vision on the city and propose the concepts of 'participation, creativity and university' at the core of its transformation. The third is to question the role of the festival use (as a cultural form involving large participation) and to discuss the specificity of the city of Cluj-Napoca where the enthusiastic support from the local authorities for this type of actions is balanced by a more reasonable consideration within the cultural strategy. The research is based on document analyses and interviews with decision-makers and stakeholders' representatives.
Although the association of the term " branding " with the world of art may still generate negati... more Although the association of the term " branding " with the world of art may still generate negative reactions, reluctant attitudes and rejection, the present article investigates the branding phenomenon within the art system, with a direct reference to the contemporary artist. Two theoretical directions – the theory of the art worlds and the institutional theory of art – constitute the background for this research and provide the tools for the use of the brand term in connection with the status of the contemporary artist. The investigation will point out its particularities, starting from the idea that the " brand " contemporary artist is the creation of the art system and thus the well spread network will contribute essentially to the celebrity of that artist: branding is a strategic tool used for the cultural establishment of the artist while the value of the art work signed by a certain artist is related to the scale of the artist's promotion and branding. The branding phenomenon is associated with the celebrity status / celebrity persona that is generally acquired and internalized by contemporary visual artists, and more especially by those who consume their art, be those collectors or general public. Keywords: the art world; the art system; the celebrity persona; the brand artist.
Postmodern Openings, 2015
As a consequence of the expansion of social media, this article explores the growing popularity o... more As a consequence of the expansion of social media, this article explores the growing popularity of fashion blogging in Romania, by pointing out the existence of three categories of blogs that render the particularities of the contemporary fashion blogosphere. Within this classification, fashion blogs are viewed as a form of social activity providing interaction spaces, promotional spaces and analytical spaces that arouse curiosity, inspiration and desire and create a unique experience for the reader, a specific mood that incites both engagement and sharing. Furthermore, this research investigates the transition towards fame and reputation of the fashion blogger whose (trans)formation as a trendsetter, attention leader, endorser or taste-maker and knowledge creator plays an essential role in the genuine fashionscape (the established fashion system, industry and fashion media). The research was conducted on 21 of Romania's top fashion blogs, focusing on an elaborate layout and content analysis of these blogs, as well as on the analysis of their feedback (public comments), their development and evolution (in time and number of followers) and their interconnectedness with other social media such as Facebook and Instagram. The findings of the analysis reveal that the fashion bloggers create a unique interaction with their readers that leads to the reshaping of the Romanian fashionscape by generating discussions concerning style, lifestyle, and fashion trends and influencing the buying behavior of these readers. Thus, the fashion blogosphere becomes an important component in communicating and promoting fashion. This research also reveals that through their influence on their fashion audiences, the fashion bloggers have the ability
Journal of Media Research, vol. 8, issue 1 (21) / 2015
We are facing a contemporary boom of museums that actually re-write the history of humanity by di... more We are facing a contemporary boom of museums that actually re-write the history of humanity by displaying their collections and sharing multiple experiences with their visitors, but very few are dedicated to advertising. In this particular context, the purpose of this article is to investigate the manners in which the history of advertising is actually written, by discussing two types of representations - within the curatorial practices of museum exhibition displays (set both in real spaces and online, in virtual museums), and within the online advertising archives, stating that we are faced with multiple histories of advertising mediated by the particular device of their settings. Our approach is focused on the creative part of advertising, or, more specifically, of advertising as a form at the borders of art.
KEY CONCEPTS: history of exhibitions, the exhibition as a mediating device, mediated histories of advertising, virtual museums, digital archives
Journal of Media Research, vol 7, issue 3 (20) / 2014
Abstract: This paper focuses on the use of mobile technologies and their ability to engage audie... more Abstract:
This paper focuses on the use of mobile technologies and their ability to engage audiences in a new type of exploration that enriches the museum experience. The rapid expansions of media technology, the universal access to the Internet, the continuous online presence in the social media are fundamentally changing the cultural experience. In the entertainment and the new museum era, the issue is no longer whether new media and technologies should be used by cultural institutions (more precisely, in this article, museums), but how they may be used so that they heighten the visitor experience. Therefore, we will explore the new relationship between technology and museums and the ways in which newly emerging technologies such as augmented reality could be used in order to transform the audience’s encounter with culture.
Key words: mobile technologies, museum experience, Smartphone apps, augmented reality, Google Glass
Books by Anamaria Tomiuc
Faptul că practicile artistice contemporane – în speță, cele vizuale – constituie un obiect al cu... more Faptul că practicile artistice contemporane – în speță, cele vizuale – constituie un obiect al cunoașterii extrem de problematic a devenit un loc comun. Cauza primă a acestui fapt ține de extinderea continuă a frontierelor conceptuale ale artei contemporane. Eminamente poroasă, aceasta a absorbit, cu o ritmicitate din ce în ce mai accelerată începând din anii ‘60 ai secolului trecut, obiecte și practici sociale care, prin eterogenitatea lor, au făcut imposibilă identificarea unei esențe a artei. La aceasta se adaugă lărgirea și diversificarea continuă a sistemului instituțional al artei contemporane, prin apariția de noi tipuri de instituții ce complexifică raporturile dintre actorii angrenați în această lume profesională.
Această stare de fapt a constituit o puternică provocare pentru disciplinele tradiționale ale artei – estetica filosofică, istoria artei și critica de artă –, discipline orientate spre o definire esențialistă a acesteia. „Criza” discursului tradițional a fost contrabalansată de avântul unor noi discipline de studiere a artei precum sociologia artei, antropologia artei, economia culturii sau științele comunicării, interesate de mecanismele și procedurile istorico-sociale de construcție a valorii artistice. „Succesul” acestor noi discipline academice a determinat reformularea celor tradiționale: astfel, atât estetica filosofică, cât și istoria artei și critica de artă și-au reconstruit obiectul de studiu. Indiferent de maniera de reformulare, faliile dintre discipline – fie acestea vechi sau noi – au continuat să se adâncească, fapt ce a condus la o fragmentare și mai accentuată a cunoașterii asupra artei.
Autorii studiilor din cadrul volumului de față – Bogdan Iacob, Dan-Eugen Rațiu, Mara Rațiu, Anamaria Tomiuc și Vlad Țoca – propun o încercare de surmontare a acestei fragmentarități prin punerea împreună a unor cercetări îndatorate unor discipline precum istoria artei, estetică, sociologia artei, critica de artă sau științele comunicării. Punerea laolaltă a acestor studii constituie un prim pas înspre articularea unei noi episteme a artelor vizuale, caracterizate de pluri- și inter-disciplinaritate și orientate spre conjugarea conceptelor și metodelor disciplinelor ce abordează arta. Acest demers facilitează comparația dintre fundamentele teoretice și metodologiile puse în joc de istoria și critica de artă, de estetică și sociologia artei, respectiv de științele comunicării, permițând, astfel, identificarea asemănărilor și diferențelor dintre acestea.
Journal of Media Research, Nov 30, 2022
The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitat... more The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitative research method and a tool in a social innovation approach. It presents an exploratory research on the artistic practice of the ArtiViStory Collective, as a group of artists and faculty members from the University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca (UAD) working in the field of urban comics that have developed a specific methodology for using comics in research processes by creating specific artworks as part of the data collection process, of the data analysis process and by using curatorial approaches for results' dissemination to different audiences. Starting by inquiring the use of documentary comics and sequential storytelling as an emerging qualitative research method, the article presents the specificity of this case study that renders a new
Journal of Media Research, Nov 30, 2022
The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitat... more The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitative research method and a tool in a social innovation approach. It presents an exploratory research on the artistic practice of the ArtiViStory Collective, as a group of artists and faculty members from the University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca (UAD) working in the field of urban comics that have developed a specific methodology for using comics in research processes by creating specific artworks as part of the data collection process, of the data analysis process and by using curatorial approaches for results' dissemination to different audiences. Starting by inquiring the use of documentary comics and sequential storytelling as an emerging qualitative research method, the article presents the specificity of this case study that renders a new
Journal of Media Research Vol. 15, Issue 3 (44) , 2022
The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitat... more The present paper proposes an investigation of the use of comics and sequential art as a qualitative research method and a tool in a social innovation approach. It presents an exploratory research on the artistic practice of the ArtiViStory Collective, as a group of artists and faculty members from the University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca (UAD) working in the field of urban comics that have developed a specific methodology for using comics in research processes by creating specific artworks as part of the data collection process, of the data analysis process and by using curatorial approaches for results dissemination to different audiences. Starting by inquiring the use of documentary comics and sequential storytelling as an emerging qualitative research method, the article presents the specificity of this case study that renders a new approach in Romania on an urban comics-based research process by focusing on the evolution of the group as a community of practice as well as on the analysis of the specificity of their methodology and working process that act as catalyzers for engaging audiences in urban transitions.
IntroductionThe beginning of the third millennium comes with a technological revolution: the digi... more IntroductionThe beginning of the third millennium comes with a technological revolution: the digital sphere has been immersed in the everyday life of society. Websites, Ipads, Smartphones are only a small number of new media that have gained control over our lives. The rapid expansions of media technology, the universal access to the Internet, the continuous online presence in the social media are fundamentally changing the cultural experience. In the entertainment and the new museum era, the issue is no longer whether new media and technologies should be used by museums (the focus of our study) but how they may be used to develop a richer, deeper and more immersive visitor experience. Generally, digital media have been explored in order to strengthen the communication process between the museums and their visitors, to provide new methods of visitor interaction with the collections and the art works.In this study we investigate some of the forms used by museums to build up a digital...
IntroductionIn the world of mass consumption, art itself has become a commodity. The history of c... more IntroductionIn the world of mass consumption, art itself has become a commodity. The history of contemporary art is now written depending on art's integration in the art market while its relation to its audience gets to be highly influenced by this market. We are now facing a new type of reception of the contemporary art that is becoming more and more popular, while the success associated with the art world gets to be similar (on a reduced scale, though) to that associated with other cultural industries. Artists have become celebrities; the art world itself is extremely spectacular, while both insiders and outsiders are strongly fascinated by its aura. For example, Damien Hirst's retrospective exhibition held in Tate Modern London in 2012 has been the most popular solo show in the history of the institution, attracting record-breaking visitor numbers, as well as Jeff Koons' retrospective at Whitney Museum of American Art in 2014, which was the most visited exhibition in ...
IntroductionWe are today in the midst of a golden age of contemporary museums with new ones openi... more IntroductionWe are today in the midst of a golden age of contemporary museums with new ones opening at short intervals and playing a popular role in the cultural life. A global phenomenon, in cities large and small, museums are settled in new signature buildings, are expanding their existing facilities or reconfiguring their current places. We are facing a contemporary boom of the cultural institutions that actually write / re-write the history of humanity, by displaying their collections and sharing multiple experiences with their visitors. From unique sites to expanding global networks, museums have nowadays become worldwide brands that attract millions of visitors annually. Contemporary art museums (Tate Modem), science museums (Science Museum London, Arts & Metiers Paris), fashion or design museums (V&A London, Design Museum London), ethnology museums (Tjibaou Cultural Center Noumea, Musee du Quai Branly Paris), history museums (Osaka Museum of History) are just some of the type...
Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 2016
Once with Romania's integration in the EU, a long series of structural reforms have been at the c... more Once with Romania's integration in the EU, a long series of structural reforms have been at the core of the national, regional and local policies. There are three major aims of this paper. The fi rst is to investigate the culture-oriented policies that have been envisaged in post-communist Romania, before and after joining the EU, in order to point out the correlation with the European cultural agenda, and to observe the transition towards a decentralized vision on culture that would redirect the cities' contributions to their urban development. The second is to analyze what types of development strategies and cultural policies have been developed and implemented in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) that frame a new vision on the city and propose the concepts of 'participation, creativity and university' at the core of its transformation. The third is to question the role of the festival use (as a cultural form involving large participation) and to discuss the specifi city of the city of Cluj-Napoca where the enthusiastic support from the local authorities for this type of actions is balanced by a more reasonable consideration within the cultural strategy. The research is based on document analyses and interviews with decision-makers and stakeholders' representatives.
Once with Romania's integration in the EU, a long series of structural reforms have been at the c... more Once with Romania's integration in the EU, a long series of structural reforms have been at the core of the national, regional and local policies. There are three major aims of this paper. The first is to investigate the culture-oriented policies that have been envisaged in post-communist Romania, before and after joining the EU, in order to point out the correlation with the Europe-an cultural agenda, and to observe the transition towards a decentralized vision on culture that would redirect the cities' contributions to their urban development. The second is to analyze what types of development strategies and cultural policies have been developed and implemented in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) that frame a new vision on the city and propose the concepts of 'participation, creativity and university' at the core of its transformation. The third is to question the role of the festival use (as a cultural form involving large participation) and to discuss the specificity of the city of Cluj-Napoca where the enthusiastic support from the local authorities for this type of actions is balanced by a more reasonable consideration within the cultural strategy. The research is based on document analyses and interviews with decision-makers and stakeholders' representatives.
Although the association of the term " branding " with the world of art may still generate negati... more Although the association of the term " branding " with the world of art may still generate negative reactions, reluctant attitudes and rejection, the present article investigates the branding phenomenon within the art system, with a direct reference to the contemporary artist. Two theoretical directions – the theory of the art worlds and the institutional theory of art – constitute the background for this research and provide the tools for the use of the brand term in connection with the status of the contemporary artist. The investigation will point out its particularities, starting from the idea that the " brand " contemporary artist is the creation of the art system and thus the well spread network will contribute essentially to the celebrity of that artist: branding is a strategic tool used for the cultural establishment of the artist while the value of the art work signed by a certain artist is related to the scale of the artist's promotion and branding. The branding phenomenon is associated with the celebrity status / celebrity persona that is generally acquired and internalized by contemporary visual artists, and more especially by those who consume their art, be those collectors or general public. Keywords: the art world; the art system; the celebrity persona; the brand artist.
Postmodern Openings, 2015
As a consequence of the expansion of social media, this article explores the growing popularity o... more As a consequence of the expansion of social media, this article explores the growing popularity of fashion blogging in Romania, by pointing out the existence of three categories of blogs that render the particularities of the contemporary fashion blogosphere. Within this classification, fashion blogs are viewed as a form of social activity providing interaction spaces, promotional spaces and analytical spaces that arouse curiosity, inspiration and desire and create a unique experience for the reader, a specific mood that incites both engagement and sharing. Furthermore, this research investigates the transition towards fame and reputation of the fashion blogger whose (trans)formation as a trendsetter, attention leader, endorser or taste-maker and knowledge creator plays an essential role in the genuine fashionscape (the established fashion system, industry and fashion media). The research was conducted on 21 of Romania's top fashion blogs, focusing on an elaborate layout and content analysis of these blogs, as well as on the analysis of their feedback (public comments), their development and evolution (in time and number of followers) and their interconnectedness with other social media such as Facebook and Instagram. The findings of the analysis reveal that the fashion bloggers create a unique interaction with their readers that leads to the reshaping of the Romanian fashionscape by generating discussions concerning style, lifestyle, and fashion trends and influencing the buying behavior of these readers. Thus, the fashion blogosphere becomes an important component in communicating and promoting fashion. This research also reveals that through their influence on their fashion audiences, the fashion bloggers have the ability
Journal of Media Research, vol. 8, issue 1 (21) / 2015
We are facing a contemporary boom of museums that actually re-write the history of humanity by di... more We are facing a contemporary boom of museums that actually re-write the history of humanity by displaying their collections and sharing multiple experiences with their visitors, but very few are dedicated to advertising. In this particular context, the purpose of this article is to investigate the manners in which the history of advertising is actually written, by discussing two types of representations - within the curatorial practices of museum exhibition displays (set both in real spaces and online, in virtual museums), and within the online advertising archives, stating that we are faced with multiple histories of advertising mediated by the particular device of their settings. Our approach is focused on the creative part of advertising, or, more specifically, of advertising as a form at the borders of art.
KEY CONCEPTS: history of exhibitions, the exhibition as a mediating device, mediated histories of advertising, virtual museums, digital archives
Journal of Media Research, vol 7, issue 3 (20) / 2014
Abstract: This paper focuses on the use of mobile technologies and their ability to engage audie... more Abstract:
This paper focuses on the use of mobile technologies and their ability to engage audiences in a new type of exploration that enriches the museum experience. The rapid expansions of media technology, the universal access to the Internet, the continuous online presence in the social media are fundamentally changing the cultural experience. In the entertainment and the new museum era, the issue is no longer whether new media and technologies should be used by cultural institutions (more precisely, in this article, museums), but how they may be used so that they heighten the visitor experience. Therefore, we will explore the new relationship between technology and museums and the ways in which newly emerging technologies such as augmented reality could be used in order to transform the audience’s encounter with culture.
Key words: mobile technologies, museum experience, Smartphone apps, augmented reality, Google Glass
Faptul că practicile artistice contemporane – în speță, cele vizuale – constituie un obiect al cu... more Faptul că practicile artistice contemporane – în speță, cele vizuale – constituie un obiect al cunoașterii extrem de problematic a devenit un loc comun. Cauza primă a acestui fapt ține de extinderea continuă a frontierelor conceptuale ale artei contemporane. Eminamente poroasă, aceasta a absorbit, cu o ritmicitate din ce în ce mai accelerată începând din anii ‘60 ai secolului trecut, obiecte și practici sociale care, prin eterogenitatea lor, au făcut imposibilă identificarea unei esențe a artei. La aceasta se adaugă lărgirea și diversificarea continuă a sistemului instituțional al artei contemporane, prin apariția de noi tipuri de instituții ce complexifică raporturile dintre actorii angrenați în această lume profesională.
Această stare de fapt a constituit o puternică provocare pentru disciplinele tradiționale ale artei – estetica filosofică, istoria artei și critica de artă –, discipline orientate spre o definire esențialistă a acesteia. „Criza” discursului tradițional a fost contrabalansată de avântul unor noi discipline de studiere a artei precum sociologia artei, antropologia artei, economia culturii sau științele comunicării, interesate de mecanismele și procedurile istorico-sociale de construcție a valorii artistice. „Succesul” acestor noi discipline academice a determinat reformularea celor tradiționale: astfel, atât estetica filosofică, cât și istoria artei și critica de artă și-au reconstruit obiectul de studiu. Indiferent de maniera de reformulare, faliile dintre discipline – fie acestea vechi sau noi – au continuat să se adâncească, fapt ce a condus la o fragmentare și mai accentuată a cunoașterii asupra artei.
Autorii studiilor din cadrul volumului de față – Bogdan Iacob, Dan-Eugen Rațiu, Mara Rațiu, Anamaria Tomiuc și Vlad Țoca – propun o încercare de surmontare a acestei fragmentarități prin punerea împreună a unor cercetări îndatorate unor discipline precum istoria artei, estetică, sociologia artei, critica de artă sau științele comunicării. Punerea laolaltă a acestor studii constituie un prim pas înspre articularea unei noi episteme a artelor vizuale, caracterizate de pluri- și inter-disciplinaritate și orientate spre conjugarea conceptelor și metodelor disciplinelor ce abordează arta. Acest demers facilitează comparația dintre fundamentele teoretice și metodologiile puse în joc de istoria și critica de artă, de estetică și sociologia artei, respectiv de științele comunicării, permițând, astfel, identificarea asemănărilor și diferențelor dintre acestea.