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Towards the automatic identification of exclusionary argumentative biases in contemporary Western art

Project description

Fighting prejudice in the art world

Although the EU is legally bound by the imperative of non-discrimination, contemporary discourses of art generally exclude artists belonging to minority groups. Discourses such as Outsider Art facilitate exclusionary narratives that label some art as deviant or chaotic. Such prejudices, based on what the ArTguments project refers to as ‘exclusionary arguments’, undermine legitimacy in art not endorsed by dominant institutions. EU-funded ArTguments is applying computational methods to discover and analyse these exclusion patterns through argument mining. By revealing how that language influences perceptions, the project hopes to make the world of art more inclusive. It will provide actionable tools for museums and suggest an Observatory of Inclusive Art Discourse to help bring about systemic change throughout Europe’s cultural sector.

Objective

In contemporary Europe, art is used as a means of social exclusion, in contravention of Article 21 (Non-discrimination) of the EU Fundamental Rights Charter. Art is at the centre of exclusionary narratives that directly associate certain forms of artistic expression with dementia and crime, among other controversial issues. Specifically, Western culture has coined the term Outsider Art, along with other derogatory and patronizing labels, to marginalize creators from minority groups, arguing that artworks by those artists are not “meant” to be exhibited in traditional museums and galleries. Using biased arguments, which can be referred to as Exclusionary Arguments, the conventional art establishment questions the legitimacy or authenticity of this type of art and promulgates the idea that it is less valuable than academically recognised art. The ArTguments project seeks to address this issue by developing an automated method for identifying Exclusionary Arguments in the arts, aiming to reduce the entrenched narratives that hinder equitable representation and recognition of all forms of artistic expression in contemporary Western art. This research operates on the hypothesis that Exclusionary Arguments can be identified computationally since they display stable cognitive structures expressed through identifiable linguistic patterns. Hence, the research methodology employed involves applying Argument Mining techniques in order to identify and analyse the Exclusionary Arguments embedded in artistic discourse. ArTguments innovatively addresses exclusion in the art world by introducing Exclusionary Arguments as a novel cognitive and communicative unit, offering a systematic approach to analysing exclusion dynamics within discourse. The project will produce key resources, including a catalogue of best practices with actionable recommendations for promoting an inclusive discourse in museums, and a formal proposal for establishing an Observatory for Inclusive Art Discourse.

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

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Coordinator

BIRKBECK COLLEGE - UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
Net EU contribution

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€ 345 234,90
Address
MALET STREET
WC1E 7HX LONDON
United Kingdom

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Region
London Inner London — West Camden and City of London
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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