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Konst åt alla, men för vem?

Fhager, André LU (2026) STVM25 20252
Department of Political Science
Abstract
In this study, the extensive debate surrounding the public artpiece bLINK in Gothenburg is explored through a quantitative content analysis of comments published on forums connected to major media companies in the western region of Sweden. The results are then further analysed through the framework of Hanna Pitkin's theory of representation. The aim of this study is to test the explanatory power of Pitkin's theory on a least likely case and to provide possible explanations to what aspects of public art that may cause such heated debate. The study finds that representation theory does contain an explanatory power for the case, which provides reason to increase our confidence in the theory. The negative attitudes towards the project, which... (More)
In this study, the extensive debate surrounding the public artpiece bLINK in Gothenburg is explored through a quantitative content analysis of comments published on forums connected to major media companies in the western region of Sweden. The results are then further analysed through the framework of Hanna Pitkin's theory of representation. The aim of this study is to test the explanatory power of Pitkin's theory on a least likely case and to provide possible explanations to what aspects of public art that may cause such heated debate. The study finds that representation theory does contain an explanatory power for the case, which provides reason to increase our confidence in the theory. The negative attitudes towards the project, which was present in a majority of the analysed comments, is explained by the theory through a lack of formal links and resemblance between citizens and decision makers, insufficient acceptance of symbolic intentions as well as a dissatisfaction with the substantive content of the project. The study also finds conflicting views concerning the societal role of public art both within the Swedish government counsel for art and within the general public, which stresses the need for future research to investigate this role. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Fhager, André LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
En analys av debatten kring konstverket bLINK utifrån Hanna Pitkins representationsteori
course
STVM25 20252
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Representation, Hanna Pitkin, Public Art, Cultural Politics, Content Analysis
language
Swedish
id
9217316
date added to LUP
2026-01-26 16:09:48
date last changed
2026-01-26 16:09:48
@misc{9217316,
  abstract     = {{In this study, the extensive debate surrounding the public artpiece bLINK in Gothenburg is explored through a quantitative content analysis of comments published on forums connected to major media companies in the western region of Sweden. The results are then further analysed through the framework of Hanna Pitkin's theory of representation. The aim of this study is to test the explanatory power of Pitkin's theory on a least likely case and to provide possible explanations to what aspects of public art that may cause such heated debate. The study finds that representation theory does contain an explanatory power for the case, which provides reason to increase our confidence in the theory. The negative attitudes towards the project, which was present in a majority of the analysed comments, is explained by the theory through a lack of formal links and resemblance between citizens and decision makers, insufficient acceptance of symbolic intentions as well as a dissatisfaction with the substantive content of the project. The study also finds conflicting views concerning the societal role of public art both within the Swedish government counsel for art and within the general public, which stresses the need for future research to investigate this role.}},
  author       = {{Fhager, André}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Konst åt alla, men för vem?}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}