The course is designed to move beyond the values debate of the culture wars in order to focus on how culturehere defined as the arts and humanitiescan be evaluated analytically as a sector, an object of policy research. In what sense can it be said that there is a national interest or public interest in culture? What is the rationale for government intervention in or provision for the arts and humanities? Is it possible to define the workings of culture in a way that would permit one to recommend one form of support rather than another, one mode of collaboration or regulation over another? Is it possible to measure the benefits (or costs)economic, social, and politicalof culture? We will begin by reading some classic definitions of culture and more recent general policy statements, then address a series of problematic issues that require a combination of theoretical reflection and empirical research.
