Examining the Role of Cultural Capital in the Environmental Perception of Urban Artworks: The Case of Shiraz Art Garden

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master’s Student in Art Research, Department of Art, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Art, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Shiraz, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

The understanding and interpretation of urban art depend on the audience's familiarity with cultural concepts and their ability to decode visual signs. In many urban spaces, a gap emerges between the artist's intended message and the audience's interpretation, which can diminish the cultural and identity-related functions of the artworks. According to Pierre Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital, differences in individuals' cultural knowledge, artistic experiences, and aesthetic preferences play a decisive role in how artistic phenomena are perceived and interpreted. Therefore, examining the impact of cultural capital on the perception of urban art is an essential research endeavor. This study aims to assess the role of cultural capital in the cultural perception of urban artworks, with an emphasis on the case of Shiraz's Art Garden. The research employed an applied approach and a descriptive-analytical method. Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire, and after data cleaning, 120 valid questionnaires were analyzed. For data analysis, Pearson's correlation test, exploratory factor analysis (PCA with Varimax rotation), Cronbach's alpha, the KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) measure, Bartlett's test, and multiple linear regression were used. The KMO value was 0.635, and Bartlett's test results were significant at p < 0.001. Three main factors were extracted, explaining approximately 52.5% of the variance. The correlation between cultural capital and cultural perception was positive and significant (r = 0.380), and the regression results indicated that cultural capital is an effective predictor of cultural perception (β = 0.256, p = 0.0001). The findings suggest that increasing levels of cultural capital can provide the foundation for a deeper and more accurate understanding of the messages conveyed by urban art.

Highlights

  • Cultural capital has a significant influence on audiences’ artistic perception.
  • Factor analysis identified three main components of artistic perception, explaining over 52% of the variance.
  • Regression results showed that cultural capital is a strong predictor of cultural perception (β = 0.256, p = 0.0001).
  • Visual literacy and prior artistic experience play an important role in deepening the understanding of urban artworks.
  • Public art spaces, such as the Shiraz Art Garden, can enhance cultural identity and foster social dialogue.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 30 March 2025
  • Revise Date: 26 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 20 May 2025
  • First Publish Date: 19 June 2025
  • Publish Date: 19 June 2025

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