Art School: (Propositions for the 21st Century) [Paperback]

Steven Henry Madoff (Editor, Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 11, 2009

Leading international artists and art educators consider the challenges of art education in today's dramatically changed art world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The last explosive change in art education came nearly a century ago, when the German Bauhaus was formed. Today, dramatic changes in the art world--its increasing professionalization, the pervasive power of the art market, and fundamental shifts in art-making itself in our post-Duchampian era--combined with a revolution in information technology, raise fundamental questions about the education of today's artists. Art School (Propositions for the 21st Century) brings together more than thirty leading international artists and art educators to reconsider the practices of art education in academic, practical, ethical, and philosophical terms. The essays in the book range over continents, histories, traditions, experiments, and fantasies of education. Accompanying the essays are conversations with such prominent artist/educators as John Baldessari, Michael Craig-Martin, Hans Haacke, and Marina Abramovic, as well as questionnaire responses from a dozen important artists--among them Mike Kelley, Ann Hamilton, Guillermo Kuitca, and Shirin Neshat--about their own experiences as students. A fascinating analysis of the architecture of major historical art schools throughout the world looks at the relationship of the principles of their designs to the principles of the pedagogy practiced within their halls. And throughout the volume, attention is paid to new initiatives and proposals about what an art school can and should be in the twenty-first century--and what it shouldn't be. No other book on the subject covers more of the questions concerning art education today or offers more insight into the pressures, challenges, risks, and opportunities for artists and art educators in the years ahead.ContributorsMarina Abramovic, Dennis Adams, John Baldessari, Ute Meta Bauer, Daniel Birnbaum, Saskia Bos, Tania Bruguera, Luis Camnitzer, Michael Craig-Martin, Thierry de Duve, Clémentine Deliss, Charles Esche, Liam Gillick, Boris Groys, Hans Haacke, Ann Lauterbach, Ken Lum, Steven Henry Madoff, Brendan D. Moran, Ernesto Pujol, Raqs Media Collective, Charles Renfro, Jeffrey T. Schnapp, Michael Shanks, Robert Storr, Anton Vidokle

"Stephen Henry Madoff's anthology appears at a particularly apt moment, as the development of social, research-based, and post-studio forms of artistic practice raise questions about central tenets of traditional art education. With essays and discussions by important theorists, artists, and curators, this book lays the ground for a critical debate on the future of the art school."--Bruce Altshuler, Director, Program in Museum Studies, New York University

(Bruce Altshuler )

"An indispensable source of experienced voices: artists, teachers, theorists, art historians, critics, administrators, former students, curators. Art School is an amazing cross-section of art world contributors providing as complete a picture as is imaginable on the needs and possibilities of the art school in the 21st century." Garry Kennedy , former President and Professor Emeritus, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design

"Its positive attitude and open-ended, forward-thinking discussions make this text an essential read for anyone considering any kind of arts education." Amanda Rataj C Magazine

About the Author

Steven Henry Madoff, an award-winning writer, editor, and poet, has written extensively on contemporary art for such publications as Artforum, the New York Times, and Time magazine, and published numerous monographs on leading artists. He is Senior Critic at Yale University's School of Art.

Product Details

• Paperback: 373 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (September 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262134934
• ISBN-13: 978-0262134934
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pre-school text book!, April 19, 2010

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S. R. Sopha (NH) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Art School: (Propositions for the 21st Century) (Paperback)

Some books should be required reading before attending college. This is one of them. The problems of the artworld are very real, and very dangerous. A vast amount of money is wasted each year by students who think they need to attend an art college, only to find the fire sucked out of them. Became a trained professional in a non-professional field.

The real beauty of this book, so far, is that it discerts how the art world actually functions; not refering by way to financial power, but of the history chase and denial. It explains how, probably mostly because of Duchamp, there is a constant struggle with mentor, how this pushes art forward, and how the predators with money prey upon the artists, who by the way are not innocent. In essay form, this book will make you look differently at art education in general and the art world as a whole. I just started reading it, but know it will be an important manuscript that may push forward a change in art education on all levels.

If you like thick, meaningful discussion that requires educated thought, buy this.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative, December 2, 2009

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Deniz Tirpanci (Washington,DC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Art School: (Propositions for the 21st Century) (Paperback)

This book is composed of valuable essays from critical thinkers of our century. I recommend it to young artists who are wanting to understand the artworld. This book has every subject in it that should be discussed in classrooms. It holds light in to how art schools prepare students for the art world.Consider it a proffessional seminar...Multiple opinions,and voices.Very Informative.

4.0 out of 5 stars Personal Review and thoughts...., December 7, 2011

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Bbearrat - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art School: (Propositions for the 21st Century) (Paperback)

I have had the chance to read several chapters in this book and I am impressed by the composition of the book alone. I love that the book covers several contemporary issues in art and the teaching of the visual arts. I love several of the conversations that talk about what should and should not be taught in art schools. I like how several artist's give their personal reflections of what effected them as a student of the visual arts and what they have been able to do with that knowledge gained. I feel that sometimes this book got a little bland and boring at parts but over all it was a pretty good read and can be beneficial to those who would like to learn contemporary methods in teaching art.