Faculty Advisor

DeHart, Monica

Area of Study

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Publication Date

Summer 2018

Abstract

This research project focuses on the work of the International Folk Art Market (IFAM) which takes place annually in Santa Fe, New Mexico. IFAM emphasizes the importance of preserving folk art traditions, providing artists with opportunities for social innovation, and hosting a lively international event for Market attendees. The IFAM provides a unique vantage point from which to view historical forces which shape social and economic relations between individuals at the Market and, more broadly, between the Global North and the Global South. The goals of this research are to gain a better understanding of how cultures are commodified at the Market and what social and economic forces make this commodification appealing for both artists and consumers. Additionally, this research considers what impact cultural commodification has on artists and on different cultural groups around the world. I use participant observation and semi-structured interviews with IFAM staff, board members, artists, and consumers in order to engage these research questions.

Publisher

University of Puget Sound

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