Customer Reviews

Believing Is Seeing: Creating the Culture of Art

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Mary Anne Staniszewski's "Believing is Seeing" is a clearly written, carefully illustrated, thought provoking overview of the meaning of "Art". Distilled from introductory lectures on contemporary art, culture and critical theory delivered at the Rhode Island School of Design more than a decade ago, "Believing is Seeing" provides a useful counterpoint to mainstream art history texts by challenging traditional, transhistorical views of aesthetic value.

Appropriately subtitled "Creating the Culture of Art", Staniszewski's book demonstrates that Art is something "that has a specific history and belongs to a particular era." What our culture generally calls "Art" is an invention of the past two hundred years. Thus, modern culture has appropriated the paintings, frescoes, sculptures, and artifacts of earlier times and cultures (where they had historically specific meanings) and labelled them "Art". Modern culture applies this label even though the original creators of these representations and objects would not have regarded their creations as Art in the way we commonly use the term.

The task of defining and identifying Art in contemporary Western society is largely a function of the institutional structures--the museums, galleries, auction houses, and publications--that create the culture of Art. In this way, Marcel Duchamp can mount a urinal on a pedestal and this plumbing fixture becomes "Art", acquires meaning and value, through validation by these institutional arbiters of the Art world. Rejecting essentialism, Staniszewski argues that aesthetic value and meaning are socially constructed, the products of a particular historical moment and culture. As individuals, we may not consider Duchamp's urinal anything more than that--a urinal--but that does not obviate the fact that cultural institutions have conferred (rightly or wrongly) some greater meaning (and value) on the object.

"Believing is Seeing" is not an important book; it is a book which, like its thesis, is the product of a particular historical moment and culture. It is, however, full of provocative and challenging ideas about how culture creates meaning and value. And for this reason alone, it is worth careful reading.

First of all, I find that most of the reviews of this book are one star because the readers didnt agree with Staniszewski's ideas, however they ignored how well written this book is. She takes the way we typically view "art" and shows us how fraudulent it is. In doing so she challenges not only are view of art, but also our view of the world around us. Even if you dont like her ideas its no reason not to acknowledge the intelligence with which she has written this book.

From Michelangelo to Madonna, when it comes to making sense of art, Staniszewski explains it all. Whether you are a student or just someone perplexed by the money, attitudes, or direction that the art world takes, I could not recommend a more readable yet comprehensive beginning. Over half of the well-designed book is a panorama of cleverly chosen pictures, but the text is a clear and simply put construction of contemporary ideas of art history. A term that is especially bandied about these days like a crowbar is post-modernism, but without much explanation. After reading this book, I am now a true believer (and hopefully a truer see-er). It has been hard to keep this book out of the hands of friends. I may have to order a case to give out as gifts!

basic info, fast and easy to read. If you have not had any art history/theory is a good beginning. Not what I thought it'd be.

Brings to fore an evaluation of art as it exists today rather than how the subject was thought of years ago. Refreshing, knowledgable.

This is a basic book, nothing overly challenging here. The concept is well explained in general terms, but then repeated far too much in the manner that there was nothing else to say yet imprudently it continues. At points I was saying to myself "get on already".
The text assumes you have a knowledge of art history while the illustrations hold your hand on the way through.
The amount of text is slim with general statements and no real depth. The illustrations are plentiful. The result is like a powerpoint presentation in book form.

Is it worth a read? Well, yes it is. The ideas contained within are worth exploring and understanding. Personally I agree with most of the concept.

I am glad I bought it used and not at the full price.

In this book Mary Staniszewski tries a nearly impossible task of defining art. Her twist on the subject is a fresh look at art in the modern movements, but she also splits the art world into two time periods. The early works by those who are termed the old masters (e.g. Michealangelo, DaVinci, Bernini and other pre-1800's artists) do not fit into the definition of modern art that she presents in the book. If she were to have answered the questions in a little more logical fasion I may have been able to follow the first chapter better. But as it stands I don't see how simply useing the date of the modern definition of art can prevent or select an artists work for either being art or not being art. Some other great questions would be: What are Mary Anne Staniszewski's credentials? Has she ever made art herself? Is she an Art Historian? As for the descriptive portion of the book, it is wonderful and well worth reading. I would recommend getting this book just for its documentation of historical events and how they effected modern art movements.

This was a poorly written, unintelligent book. The author states that the many works by Leonardo and Michelangelo are not Art, but Duchamp's urinal signed "R. Mutt" is Art. The author contradicts herself on many occasions and I would not recommend it to anyone with a critical mind. Not only does the author not make a good point, but her writing is mediocre at best. I had to read this book for a class, but it is headed for the garbage.

Mary Ann Staniszewski's "Believing is Seeing" is a GREAT book. It is articulately written with many reproductions and is used in many university and college level art courses across the country!! Navigating the unnecessarily murky waters of modern and contemporary art, this book is refreshing in its insightful directness about art, culture and value.

The author has written a senseless book trying too hard to simplify art and it's interpretation. I was expecting something elightening and informative, something that would help guide me when going to museums. She tries to succumb the "sucker" into defining what is and isn't art in HER terms.

The book is cluterred with unsubstantive one- liner, opinions about 2-d, photocopied artwork (that horde precious space in the book and will never do justice to the actual artwork).

I learned nothing except that I will think twice before buying something from Penguin Publishers. How could this laughable picture book slip through the pressing machines at a major publishing company, I will never know.