How much is a photograph worth? mixed methods to understand the formation of value in a cultural good

Abstract

This work seeks to speculate on the possible relationship between the structure of social networks and the constitution of the value of so-called cultural goods. More precisely, this is an attempt to answer what is the relationship between the structure of social networks and the value of goods in a particular production, that of advertising and documentary photography. In this regard, this study has the following hypotheses: first, that the structure of the social network, the quality of interactions, the hierarchy of actors and the available resources are related to the economic value of cultural goods, in this case, photography — the structures of the network and its characteristics can promote different forms of production of goods, valuing more or less the product; and second, that the degree of diversity of networks may be related to economic valuation — the more diversified the networks, the greater the value of the objects produced. Finally, we understand that the analysis of the different networks of advertising and documentary photographers can show these differences in their production process.