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A review by aront
Art Theory: A Very Short Introduction by Cynthia Freeland
4.0
This is an excellent entry in the very short introductions series. Read this one instead of the art history one. It covers quite a bit of the same ground but provides more thoughtful and thought-provoking coverage.
The author provide clear and useful explanations of both classical, modern and post modern theories of art. I appreciate her ability to both give a fair presentation of ideas while challenging their validity.
While the theories presented are interesting and sometimes useful, personally I am more skeptical than her (and most of the theorists she discusses) of the “moral” or political value of art. Humans have and always will use art as a source of political power or economic exploitation or mass control. Trying to apply moral (good vs bad) or political (progressive vs fascist) categories is ultimately an exercise in futility and inevitably misleading. Nonetheless, human creativity is what defines our species, and authentic artistic expression will endure no matter what medium is used to express it.
The author provide clear and useful explanations of both classical, modern and post modern theories of art. I appreciate her ability to both give a fair presentation of ideas while challenging their validity.
While the theories presented are interesting and sometimes useful, personally I am more skeptical than her (and most of the theorists she discusses) of the “moral” or political value of art. Humans have and always will use art as a source of political power or economic exploitation or mass control. Trying to apply moral (good vs bad) or political (progressive vs fascist) categories is ultimately an exercise in futility and inevitably misleading. Nonetheless, human creativity is what defines our species, and authentic artistic expression will endure no matter what medium is used to express it.