Customer Reviews

Living with Art w/ Timeline (V2)

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

 

 

I just started my summer class a few weeks ago, and I definitely agree with the instructor that it's a truly great textbook! It's not as pricey as I initially thought it was going to be and it has a ton of art information. The CD and timeline are kind of useless, but I would still use them to study for exams or quizzes. If you want to learn about art in SOOO many ways, get this book because it's a treat!

I got this book for a class, and besides just using it for tests, I haven't opened it much. Most of the paintings in the first few chapters are also the same paintings in the last few chapters, though, and I thought it would have more variations. However, the info in each section is concise, easy to read, and the whole book is a great introduction for the beginner to the study of art.

I found it to be detailed enough to learn about art without boring me. It was actually for a class I'm taking by found I read more chapters than required because it was a great overview on many diffent subjects from art to architecture

I am winding up a semester of "Understanding Art" using this text. It gives you a bit of everything including "what is art", "what do artists do?" the elements of art (line, shape, balance), and an overview of art history. I have learned alot about art and am seeing it in a new way. I feel it's a good introduction to art for someone like me who has never studied it.

That said, I do feel that female art is lacking in this book and the ones he picked I did not care for. I'm sure there are better female artists out there. As well my teacher pointed out how much this text "sanitized" history to make it non-controversial. At times it was just plain inaccurate and that is not a forgivable sin for this type of book.

The sections on photography and film in particular were very weak -- and these are two areas of interest of mine.

I feel that the glossary was sadly lacking in this book -- not enough terms. I did enjoy the CD that came with it and used it to prep for tests. It also has some excellent sections on the elements of art.

When I was in school taking Art History, there were no women artists to mentor me - none! I am so grateful there are some now however as I now teach Art History.

I have to tell you about my disappointment with this 7th edition. I'm not able to feel comfortable teaching both male and female students from this book anymore. You have been gradually making your "mark" by subtle and not so subtle changes of the last few editions but this one is particularly objectionable.

1) Why is Marie-Denise Villers (my slide says) (Constance Charpentier) on the cover? There is no relation to the text, there is no discussion of the image. Is it because she is "attractive"?
2) What is happening to the former women artist images? Are you "cleaning up" possibly more "direct" imagery by women artists? Do they make you or other male instructors uncomfortable discussing? (Artemisia, Judith Leyster, Morisat)
3) What is going on with the female nude? I am very uncomfortable with your replacement of the very influential La Grande Odolisques by Ingres with the Jupiter and Thetis image. I can discuss the dominance of the female object as significant subject but what is that other awful image? That to me is offensive.
4) Where has Rosa Boneur gone? Wasn't she famous enough for you? Put her back.

Here we have obviously run right up against the crux of the problem of a male art historian versus a female art historian. We do not perceive art history through the same lens. You do not see the huge significance that women do of the position of women historically in these cultures and the resulting use of women in art imagery. I do not want these issues swept under the art historical rug again!

By the way, how do you know about Monet's models' loose morals. Please read "Alias Olympia" by Eunice Lipton. She was a woman artist herself. Life drawing models do not have "loose morals"! Remember, you are teaching attitudes here. Your text implies that it is still there. Is it? Why?

As a note: I haven't yet received this book. I can update re: quality once i have. However, I ordered a book from this company one month ago and it still hasn't been shipped! If you actually need to receive a book for class, or any other reason, I would advise avoiding this company - doesn't really matter the cost or quality of the book if you don't ever receive it.

the purchase was simple and deleived to my house in a reasonable amount of time.

Even though I wish I had paid for two day shipping and had gotten the book earlier, It was worth it. I was sad to wait a few days longer but when I got the book I was relieved , but packaging was in excellent condition! But pretty much it was worth it. :-) As far as the book goes, It's a great book to read but there is a newer version than the one I got. I kind of wished I had gotten that one for the price I paid for this one. But It was good enough for my humanities class. I really enjoyed it!

This book is interesting and somewhat informative into the art world. Yet, when it comes to architectual design, it seems to lack information.

The most annoying aspect of this book was finding where the next chapter was and keeping track of where I was at. There are no chapter numbers at the top or bottom. You really don't know where you are in the book. So if you want to connect the dots in art history by flipping back and forth in the book, you'll have to end up going to the Table of Contents or the index.

I'd say this was a good picture book with some of the information that is read being able to be applied, but when it comes to the technical terms there is definition and description lacking. Thus, this lacking will only lead to an undeveloped mind. You need a dictionary by your side.

I don't think it emphasized on women artists enough. This is your typical art book that goes through some basic stuff. I would have like this book more if it were in correct historical order. That would have made things more interesting.

Received the book in time and actually it was very fast too. Product is great. A Million thanks.