A Review of Arts and Aging Research: Revealing an Elusive but Promising Direction for the Era of the Third Age

This article examines arts and aging research over a 40-year period in four highly visible gerontology journals. We examine the content, amount, and distribution of research between 1970 and 2009, identifying dominant themes and research paradigms. Results reveal six themes, with the vast majority of arts research occurring between the late 1980s and early 1990s. Using a critical gerontology lens, we identify and explore the implications of two dominant, often conflicting paradigms that have shaped trends in arts research over the last 40 years. We conclude with recommendations for future arts research for the era of the third age.