Why Is That Art?
Aesthetics and Criticism of Contemporary Art
3rd Edition
Published on 23. February 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-19-026884-8 (ISBN)
Description
Why is that art? Why is it in an art museum? Who says it's art? Why is it good?
Why Is That Art?, Third Edition, introduces students to theories of art through the presentation of contemporary works that include abstract and representational painting, animated film, monumental sculpture, performance art, photographs, relational art, and video installations. Ideal for courses in aesthetics, art theory, art criticism, and the philosophy
of art, this unique book provides students with a newfound appreciation for contemporary art, scholarship, and reasoned argumentation.
Why Is That Art?, Third Edition, introduces students to theories of art through the presentation of contemporary works that include abstract and representational painting, animated film, monumental sculpture, performance art, photographs, relational art, and video installations. Ideal for courses in aesthetics, art theory, art criticism, and the philosophy
of art, this unique book provides students with a newfound appreciation for contemporary art, scholarship, and reasoned argumentation.
Reviews / Votes
"I have the highest praise for Barrett's clear and concise text. The information is approachable and interesting to students who have little introduction to contemporary art theory, history, or criticism. The questions offered at the ends of the chapters offer thoughtful perspectives for further discussion, inquiry, and reference." --Franc Nunoo-Quarcoo, University of Michigan"I like Why Is That Art? because it explains how to look, understand, and judge contemporary art through engaging discussions of selected stimulating art works. It highlights the reasons for accepting some works of art by merging a variety of established theories with convincing points of view." --Rihab Kassatly Bagnole, Savannah College of Art & Design
"Barrett's text serves as an ideal introduction to aesthetics and art criticism. The text really helps students in raising awareness of the complexity of the contemporary art scene and underlying ideas and theories that shape it." --Zdenko Krtic, Auburn University
More details
Edition
3rd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
Illustrations
Weight
482 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-026884-8 (9780190268848)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Terry Barrett is Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University and former Professor of Art History and Art Education at the University of North Texas.
Content
Contents
ILLUSTRATIONS PREFACE INTRODUCTION 1. Artworlds and Definitions: How That Became Art Art Honorific Definitions of "Art" The Open Definition
Classificatory Definitions
Aesthetics Art Criticism Description, Interpretation, Judgment, and Theory Critics on Criticizing Criticizing Criticism Criticism and Aesthetics
Skepticism about Art, Aesthetics, and Criticism
Aesthetics, Art Criticism, and Visual Culture Aestheticians, Artists, Critics, and Readers Questions for Further Reflection Notes 2. Realism: Art Is Realistic, Truthful, and Beautiful
A Brief Overview of Realism Greek Theories of Realism in Art
Plato Aristotle Issues Related to Realism
Kitsch Pornography Obscenity and Censorship Photography, Reality, and Truth What Does It Mean to Say That a Work Is "Realistic"? Works of Art by Jeff Koons Critical Commentary on Koons's Work Koons's Thoughts about His Own Work Paintings by Alexis Rockman Critical Commentary on Rockman's Paintings Rockman's Thoughts about His Own Work Photographs by Andres Serrano Critical Commentary on Serrano's Photographs Serrano's Thoughts about His Own Work Conclusion Realism and Artists Realism and Artworks Realism and Audiences Questions for Further Reflection Notes 3. Expressionism and Cognitivism: Art Shows Feelings, Communicates Thoughts, and Provides Knowledge Expressionism and Cognitivism Expressionist and Cognitivist Theories of Art Leo Tolstoy Benedetto Croce R. G. Collingwood Suzanne Langer John Dewey Nelson Goodman Arthur Danto Metaphor Psychoanalytic Theory Marxist Aesthetics Joan Mitchell, Painter Critical Commentary on Mitchell's Paintings Mitchell's Thoughts about Her Own Work Mitchell and Expressionism Louise Bourgeois, Sculptor Critical Commentary on Bourgeois's Sculptures Bourgeois's Thoughts about Her Own Work Bourgeois and Expressionism Kiki Smith, Printmaker and Sculptor Critical Commentary on Smith's Work Smith's Thoughts about Her Own Work Smith and Cognitivism The Problem of Artistic Intent Limitations of Expressionism and Cognitivism Strengths of Expressionism and Cognitivism Conclusion Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Artists Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Artworks Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Audiences Questions for Further Reflection Notes 4. Formalism: Art Is Significant Form Precursors to Formalism Is Beauty Objective or Subjective?
St. Thomas Aquinas
David Hume
Hume on Art Criticism
Early Formalism: Aesthetic Attitude and Aesthetic Experience Disinterestedness
Decontextualization
Aestheticization
The Sublime Immanuel Kant G. W. F. Hegel Twentieth-Century Formalism Early Modern Abstractionists: Kandinsky, Mondrian, and Malevich Clive Bell Clement Greenberg Structuralism Ferdinand de Saussure Roland Barthes Structuralism and Formalism Agnes Martin: Paintings and Drawings Critical Commentary on Martin's Work Martin's Thoughts about Her Own Work Joel Shapiro: Sculptures Critical Commentary on Shapiro's Work Shapiro's Thoughts about His Own Work Andy Goldsworthy: Environmental Sculptures Critical Commentary on Goldsworthy's Work Goldsworthy's Thoughts about His Own Work Martin, Shapiro, Goldsworthy, and Formalism Strengths and Weaknesses of Formalism Conclusion Formalism and Artists Formalism and Artworks Formalism and Audiences Questions for Further Reflection Notes 5. Postmodern Pluralism: Art Destabilizes the Good, the True, the Beautiful, and the Self Precursors to Poststructuralism and Postmodernism Friedrich Nietzsche Critical Theory, the Frankfurt School, and Neo-Marxism Poststructuralism Jacques Lacan Michel Foucault Julia Kristeva Jacques Derrida Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari Richard Rorty Slavoj %Zi%zek
Feminism Postmodernism Jean-Francois Lyotard Jean Baudrillard Fredric Jameson Postcolonialism Cindy Sherman: Photographs Critical Commentary on Sherman's Photographs
Sherman's Thoughts about Her Own Work Cindy Sherman and Postmodern Pluralism Lorna Simpson: Photographs with Words Critical Commentary on Simpson's Work Simpson's Thoughts about Her Own Work Lorna Simpson and Postmodern Pluralism Paul McCarthy: Performances, Videos, and Sculptures Critical Commentary on McCarthy's Work McCarthy's Thoughts about His Own Work McCarthy and Postmodern Pluralism Strengths and Weaknesses of Postmodern Pluralism Approaches to Postmodern Artmaking Escaping the Confines of Museums Collapsing Boundaries Between "High" and "Low" Rejecting "Originality" Jouissance Working Collaboratively Appropriating Simulating Hybridizing Mixing Media Layering Mixing Codes Recontextualizing Confronting the Gaze Facing the Abject Constructing Identities Using Narratives Creating Metaphors Using Irony, Parody, and Dissonance Conclusion Postmodern Pluralism and Artists Postmodern Pluralism and Artworks Postmodern Pluralism and Audiences Questions for Further Reflection Notes 6. Conclusion Why Is Hanging Garden Art? Art by Definitions Hanging Garden and Realism
Hanging Garden and Cognitive Expressionism Hanging Garden and Formalism Considerations Hanging Garden and Postmodern Pluralism Why Is Jellyfish Eyes Art?
Jellyfish Eyes and Realism
Jellyfish Eyes and Cognitive Expressionism
Jellyfish Eyes and Formalism
Jellyfish Eyes and Postmodern Pluralism
Why Is Do We Dream Under the Same Sky Art?
Do We Dream Under the Same Sky and Realism
Do We Dream Under the Same Sky and Cognitive Expressionism
Do We Dream Under the Same Sky and Formalism
Do We Dream Under the Same Sky and Postmodern Pluralism
Purposes of Art Selecting Criteria A Single Criterion or Multiple Criteria for All Works of Art Questions for Further Reflection Notes GLOSSARY BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
ILLUSTRATIONS PREFACE INTRODUCTION 1. Artworlds and Definitions: How That Became Art Art Honorific Definitions of "Art" The Open Definition
Classificatory Definitions
Aesthetics Art Criticism Description, Interpretation, Judgment, and Theory Critics on Criticizing Criticizing Criticism Criticism and Aesthetics
Skepticism about Art, Aesthetics, and Criticism
Aesthetics, Art Criticism, and Visual Culture Aestheticians, Artists, Critics, and Readers Questions for Further Reflection Notes 2. Realism: Art Is Realistic, Truthful, and Beautiful
A Brief Overview of Realism Greek Theories of Realism in Art
Plato Aristotle Issues Related to Realism
Kitsch Pornography Obscenity and Censorship Photography, Reality, and Truth What Does It Mean to Say That a Work Is "Realistic"? Works of Art by Jeff Koons Critical Commentary on Koons's Work Koons's Thoughts about His Own Work Paintings by Alexis Rockman Critical Commentary on Rockman's Paintings Rockman's Thoughts about His Own Work Photographs by Andres Serrano Critical Commentary on Serrano's Photographs Serrano's Thoughts about His Own Work Conclusion Realism and Artists Realism and Artworks Realism and Audiences Questions for Further Reflection Notes 3. Expressionism and Cognitivism: Art Shows Feelings, Communicates Thoughts, and Provides Knowledge Expressionism and Cognitivism Expressionist and Cognitivist Theories of Art Leo Tolstoy Benedetto Croce R. G. Collingwood Suzanne Langer John Dewey Nelson Goodman Arthur Danto Metaphor Psychoanalytic Theory Marxist Aesthetics Joan Mitchell, Painter Critical Commentary on Mitchell's Paintings Mitchell's Thoughts about Her Own Work Mitchell and Expressionism Louise Bourgeois, Sculptor Critical Commentary on Bourgeois's Sculptures Bourgeois's Thoughts about Her Own Work Bourgeois and Expressionism Kiki Smith, Printmaker and Sculptor Critical Commentary on Smith's Work Smith's Thoughts about Her Own Work Smith and Cognitivism The Problem of Artistic Intent Limitations of Expressionism and Cognitivism Strengths of Expressionism and Cognitivism Conclusion Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Artists Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Artworks Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Audiences Questions for Further Reflection Notes 4. Formalism: Art Is Significant Form Precursors to Formalism Is Beauty Objective or Subjective?
St. Thomas Aquinas
David Hume
Hume on Art Criticism
Early Formalism: Aesthetic Attitude and Aesthetic Experience Disinterestedness
Decontextualization
Aestheticization
The Sublime Immanuel Kant G. W. F. Hegel Twentieth-Century Formalism Early Modern Abstractionists: Kandinsky, Mondrian, and Malevich Clive Bell Clement Greenberg Structuralism Ferdinand de Saussure Roland Barthes Structuralism and Formalism Agnes Martin: Paintings and Drawings Critical Commentary on Martin's Work Martin's Thoughts about Her Own Work Joel Shapiro: Sculptures Critical Commentary on Shapiro's Work Shapiro's Thoughts about His Own Work Andy Goldsworthy: Environmental Sculptures Critical Commentary on Goldsworthy's Work Goldsworthy's Thoughts about His Own Work Martin, Shapiro, Goldsworthy, and Formalism Strengths and Weaknesses of Formalism Conclusion Formalism and Artists Formalism and Artworks Formalism and Audiences Questions for Further Reflection Notes 5. Postmodern Pluralism: Art Destabilizes the Good, the True, the Beautiful, and the Self Precursors to Poststructuralism and Postmodernism Friedrich Nietzsche Critical Theory, the Frankfurt School, and Neo-Marxism Poststructuralism Jacques Lacan Michel Foucault Julia Kristeva Jacques Derrida Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari Richard Rorty Slavoj %Zi%zek
Feminism Postmodernism Jean-Francois Lyotard Jean Baudrillard Fredric Jameson Postcolonialism Cindy Sherman: Photographs Critical Commentary on Sherman's Photographs
Sherman's Thoughts about Her Own Work Cindy Sherman and Postmodern Pluralism Lorna Simpson: Photographs with Words Critical Commentary on Simpson's Work Simpson's Thoughts about Her Own Work Lorna Simpson and Postmodern Pluralism Paul McCarthy: Performances, Videos, and Sculptures Critical Commentary on McCarthy's Work McCarthy's Thoughts about His Own Work McCarthy and Postmodern Pluralism Strengths and Weaknesses of Postmodern Pluralism Approaches to Postmodern Artmaking Escaping the Confines of Museums Collapsing Boundaries Between "High" and "Low" Rejecting "Originality" Jouissance Working Collaboratively Appropriating Simulating Hybridizing Mixing Media Layering Mixing Codes Recontextualizing Confronting the Gaze Facing the Abject Constructing Identities Using Narratives Creating Metaphors Using Irony, Parody, and Dissonance Conclusion Postmodern Pluralism and Artists Postmodern Pluralism and Artworks Postmodern Pluralism and Audiences Questions for Further Reflection Notes 6. Conclusion Why Is Hanging Garden Art? Art by Definitions Hanging Garden and Realism
Hanging Garden and Cognitive Expressionism Hanging Garden and Formalism Considerations Hanging Garden and Postmodern Pluralism Why Is Jellyfish Eyes Art?
Jellyfish Eyes and Realism
Jellyfish Eyes and Cognitive Expressionism
Jellyfish Eyes and Formalism
Jellyfish Eyes and Postmodern Pluralism
Why Is Do We Dream Under the Same Sky Art?
Do We Dream Under the Same Sky and Realism
Do We Dream Under the Same Sky and Cognitive Expressionism
Do We Dream Under the Same Sky and Formalism
Do We Dream Under the Same Sky and Postmodern Pluralism
Purposes of Art Selecting Criteria A Single Criterion or Multiple Criteria for All Works of Art Questions for Further Reflection Notes GLOSSARY BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX