Art act as platform for society basic needs that complete one society in order to ensure

that harmonious social relationship created. As a social institution, art also contains
certain value of society such as identity and nationality which accepted by audience
which strongly suggest by Paul:2005, Functional approaches generally hold that the core
of every society is a network of socially shared meanings, beliefs and values. Meaning
as a network, art has to put every member together to form a society with these elements
as a basic guideline of public acceptance to ensure that they fully succeed as a social
institution.
There are few rules that have to follows to ensure that system can survive throughout
time and changing environment of society. As example, Talcott Parsons creates the
Adaptation, Goal attainment, Integration, and Latency (which known as AGIL) schemes,
which contain four main functions in order system to survive. These functions are first,
adaptation, which define system must cope with external situation exigencies. It must
adapt to its environment and adapt the environment to its needs. Secondly is goal
attainment which states that a system must define and achieve its primary goals.
Integration is third step in AGIL regulate the interrelationship of its component parts. It
also must manage the relationship among the other three functional imperatives (A, G,
L). Whereas Latency (pattern maintenance) requires system has to furnish, maintain and
renew both the motivation of individuals and the cultural patterns that create and sustain
the motivation. This related to the four action system which structured as Cultural
System, Social System, Behavioral Organism and Personality System.
L

I
Cultural System

Social System

Behavioral Organism

Personality System

G
Structure of the General Action System

In this four action system, Parsons was interested in such a large scale components of
social systems as collectivities, norms and value. He believes that firstly, social system
must be structured so that they can operate compatibly with other systems. Second, in
order to survive, the social system must have the requisite support from other systems.
Third, the system must meet a significant proportion of the needs of its actors. Fourth, the
system must elicit adequate participation from its members. Fifth, it must have at least a
minimum of control over potentially disruptive behaviour. Sixth, if conflict becomes
sufficiently disruptive, it must be controlled. Finally, a social system requires a language
in order to survive. (Ritzer,1996). In Parsonss discussion of the functional prerequisites
of the social system that his focus was large-scale systems and their relationship to one
another. Even when he talked about actors, it was from the point of view of the system.
Also, the discussion reflects Parsonss concern with the maintenance of order within the
social system.
So, referring towards statement before it is agreeable that social institution created and
contains all these values and in this case, defining art as institution ensures art contains all
these social system norms. In Malaysia, our art scene is more towards applying the
identity, Islamic value and traditional surroundings in their painting. Some artist decides
to carry their own personal experience as uplifting point is their artwork, example Alias
Yussof in his Uprising Series has been very detailed describe by Muliyadi Mahamood
(59;2008) as;
Dari sudut yang lain pula, pemilihan dan teknik aplikasi warna dalam beberapa
karyanya telah membangkitkan kenangan pahit apabila kediamannya dilanda banjir besar
yang memusnahkan banyak harta benda dan objek-objek kesayangannya. Warna lumpur
dan sapuan bahan mengalir lesu menceritakan segala-galanya.
Artist in a way connects with audience by using nature disaster as point of argument and
this is related to environment in Malaysia such as big flood and landslide. As
environment issues have minimum exposure, art has contribute as media to express the
feeling or point of view from a member in society. In the end of the day, art once again

act as institution not only tracks down the environment of one society, but also proves
that as a main media in capturing moment of history, the timeline and process of society
develop into another civilizes mankind.
Referring to Parsons (1963) social participation been identifying as the common
outcome of systems of socialization and communal interaction which stress responsibility
to the social system. As this statement becomes the basis foundation, Functionalist does
believe central value system which is that the basis of an orderly society is the existence
of a central value system that imposes common values on all its members. Therefore,
when Functionalists look at the ways in which the various parts of society contribute to
bringing about social order they are mainly concerned with the ways in which these parts
help to perpetuate and maintain this common value system. Once again, art as social
representative does carries the responsibility and stress out value and ethics of society as
example; Raja Yusoff Ariffin (31;2008) makes commentary about film Cuci that states;
Watak Fairil dan Khai sendiri menegaskan bahawa masyarakat tempatan, khususnya
golongan muda tidak wajar membiarkan bangunan kebanggaan Negara seperti Kuala
Lumpur City Center atau Menara Berkembar PETRONAS dicuci oleh pendatang asing.
Tidak keterlaluan dikatakan Cuci memprotes dan menyindir betapa kerja mencuci
bangunan kebanggaan Negara pun terpaksa dilakukan oleh pendatang asing.
As he highlight the national patriotism in this film, he does stress out about social
responsibility that been carries by this film which immigrant problems has becoming big
issues in Malaysia. This in the other hand show that how art can be great medium to bring
awareness and social problem to the front without any feeling guilty or offends other
member of society.
Besides that, art as social institution ensure the society function of art does contains the
society itself such as identity, nation and social system itself. As stated by Roger Bastide
(1898-1974), Art is collective per se because it is connected to social institution. And it
is not only relying on other but also create its own institution. This is where art being

seen as core institution for one society in order to maintain and be as a strong foundation
for stability of society and carries all significance value of social system itself which
supported by Zolberg (137; 1990) art is loaded with multiple significance (political,
economic, psychological, symbolic), which means art itself is an ideal as a social
institution due to all the important parts of society such as politics and economic that
reflects not only the value and identity, but also how powerful the society is.
As case study: Roger Bastide does agree with art as social institution, proven with
statement which is art is collective per se because it is connected to social institutions.
Bastide gets closer to the essential questions of these complex problems by emphasizing
first a non-parallel relationship between art and society. He completely recognized the
autonomous position of art, thinking that art successfully gets into pores of social life. He
then believe that art influences collective life and that it is capable of reshaping the
destiny of society. (1981:27). Art is great medium of communication which able to take
control of society by spread propaganda, way of thinking and reshape the society
according to needs of higher ranking in social hierarchy. It is related towards Parsonss
interest in social system which as whole how system controls the actor.
Bastide also discover that there are two types of artist, one who devoted their art for
society in general and secondly is people who are from special group such as working
class which brings movement and mottoes art for art. Art has separated into two which
is national or class art, elite or folks arts. (Boilovi, 2006). As we can see, Davis and
Moore says that none of society is totally classless, ever unstratified. (Ritzer, 1996). As
DiMaggio also stated that in order to maintain high status, artwork must be display in
prestigious institution (Zolberg, 1990), it is obviously clear that Bastide agree with
functionalist point of view. According to him, art has become means "for collective
aims", has achieved social determination (and responsibility) and in any sense could be
used for the goals of "serious activities", such as magic, war, religion or the state (1981:
177-178). This messages always deliver in art, making art as a medium not only for social
interact, but also act as institution that create society towards selective identity which
chosen by higher social group from the social hierarchy. With two different type of art

class, it is automatically divide society and this is where the hierarchy of class and
ranking begins. Differentiate in way of thinking supported by the different way of life
does contribute in this matter.
Zolberg (158; 1990) stated that as example, Pierre Bourdieu (one of the influential
French scholar) from notes that those who rank high in cultural and economic capital
prefer classical art and music, while those of high cultural, but moderate economic
capital, and coming from modest origins, are more likely to prefer modern art and
music. This statement related with Roger Bastide opinion about the two major groups of
art which shows that human can be classified their hierarchy looking thru personal
economic structure and interest.
As example by Herbert Gans; which he incorporates several varieties of youth, black, and
Hispanic cultures, as well as the culture from the rural whites, treating them as
legitimates forms. As shown in his founding below;
Modern American taste cultures
1. High taste culture
Used- or creator-oriented; small audience, many artist or critics; well-educated;
classical art forms, difficult avant-garde forms, exotic art (primitive),
literature and architecture; popular art forms; similar to Adornos category of the
expert (Adorno [1962] 1976, 4)
2. Upper-middle taste culture
Upper-middle class, well educated professionals, managerial; not art
professionals; unconcerned with formal aspects except plot and stars; follow
critics and opinion leaders; fast-growing category.
3. Lower-middle taste culture
White-collar, semiprofessionals; high school and (increasingly) college graduates;
unadventurous tastes; respectable entertainment, with as little conflict as
possible.
4. Low taste culture

Skilled blue-and semiskilled whte-collar, low education; popular TV, action and
adventure movies; relatively small purchasing power; sexually segregated choices
(pin-ups for men; coloured prints for women).
5. Quasi-folk low culture
Unskilled blue-collar and service jobs, grade school education, often rural or rural
origin, frequently nonwhite; blend of folk culture and commercial low culture of
pre-World War II era.(Zolberg,151;1990)
We can see that this is mostly similarity of the society as given above with Malaysian
society. As higher the ranking of one person, it is prove that their needs and idea is
different due to environment and education given which will bring more variation of
artwork and art culture in one society.
At last, he focuses his attention on the place where art penetrates the human to change
society. (1981: 185) pointed how art, in the constellation of social life, there are factors
and indicators of social movements and changes. As society change with the environment
and time, art does change accordingly as society basic needs also increase such as
Malaysian art used to influenced by Nanyang scholars and Peter Harris, and these change
as more new artist born and start to get influences from Pratt Institute-for example and
this make way towards new era of Malaysian art scene.
As we can see, art is view as social institution because of the ability of art function as
tools in deliver messages towards audience, also as strong foundation of social identity
and nationality for certain society, includes as significance in performing high social
status, and ability to stand up for society needs and function. Functional approaches
demand a ranking of social hierarchy which art does reflects the needs with divided art
into two different groups, art for the high class society and art for art movement in
working class. This shows importance of art as social institution towards functionalist
point of view. As functionalist demand a balance in society interaction, art as foundation
that can control the society throughout ideas, needs, identity that can be forms and
moulds, also creates in depth awareness and unconscious mind about social system

mould which has been made by higher ranking of society. As human evolve, art does
move along as reflective images of society and social institution. This has been shows by
radical movement of Marcel Duchamp creating artwork using toilet bowl titled Fountain,
1917. This movement has created a different spark of artistic value which completely
changes the art world.
Whereas Roger Bastide, French anthropologist, aesthetician and sociologist convince
with the idea of art as social institution, he do comes with statement art is connected to
social institution, and create its own institution. This shows art not only act as
institution, but art is the institution.

Reference:

1. Boilovi, Nikola, The Range and Perspectives of Sociological Aesthetics.

Faculty of Philosophy, Ni, Serbia irila i Metodija 2, 2006.
2. L. Zolberg, Vera, Constructing a Sociology of The Arts. Cambridge University
Press, 1990.
3. Muliyadi, Mahamood, Alias Yussof Uprising Series. Dewan Budaya July 2008.
4. Paul, John, Art as Weltanschauung: An Overview of Theory in the Sociology of
Art. Electronic Journal of Sociology, ISSN: 1198 3655, 2005.
5. Raja Yusoff Ariffin, Protes Pendatang Asing dalam Cuci. Dewan Budaya Jun
2008.
6. Ritzer, George, Modern Sociological Theory. Fourth Ed. The McGraw-Hill Co,
1996.
7. Slattery, Martin, The ABC of Sociology. Macmillan Education Ltd, 1987.