Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
8-2018
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph. D.
Department
Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies
Degree Program
Interdisciplinary Studies (Individualized Degree), PhD
Committee Chair
Schroeder, Ryan
Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)
Morrin, Peter
Committee Member
Morrin, Peter
Committee Member
Begley, John
Committee Member
Roelfs, David
Author's Keywords
art vandalism; art theft; routine activities theory; guardianship; art museums; art galleries
Abstract
Art crime scholars and art world professionals constantly grapple with determining the most effective methods by which to reduce and prevent victimization by art thieves and art vandals. Despite the numerous accounts of this form of criminality, there is a dearth of empirical studies focused on the security and care of art collections. Using Routine Activities Theory to guide the research, the present study explores the relationship between social and physical guardianship practices and the prevalence of art theft and art vandalism using questionnaire data collected from 111 American art museums and art galleries. The results indicate an overwhelming lack of statistically significant association between the majority of the guardianship measures and art theft and art vandalism victimization, a pattern consistent with the possibility that social and physical guardianship practices are not implemented until after an act of vandalism has already occurred.
Recommended Citation
Salomon, Katharine L., "Art theft, art vandalism, and guardianship in U.S. art institutions." (2018). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3028.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/3028
