The Shape of Culture: A Study of Contemporary Cultural Patterns in the United States (American Sociological Association Rose Monographs)

This book systematically examines prevailing cultural patterns in contemporary American society. Using information on several thousands of cultural organizations, including opera and chamber music companies as well as cinemas and live rock concerts, Professor Blau examines the geography of culture, the changing demands for culture, the interdependencies among cultural organizations of different kinds, the nature of labor markets for artists, and the effects of arts subsidies on nonprofit cultural establishments over a ten year period.

In this book Judith Blau conducts an empirical investigation of cultural institutions and activities in 125 cities in the United States. Her analyses reveal that cultural institutions are more evenly distributed among larger and smaller urban centers and among regions than is commonly thought. Her focus is on establishing the relationship between demographic characteristics and demand for the arts.