Art: What is it Good For? (Debating Matters) (Paperback)

~ Institute of Ideas (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Art is changing, and a great deal of contemporary work does not fit into the categories of the past. Is "conceptual" work art at all? Should artists learn a traditional craft before their work is considered valuable? Can we learn to love art, or must we take it or leave it? These questions and more are discussed in six essays from people on different sides of the debate.

About the Author

David Lee, art critic and editor of 'The Jackdaw'. Ricardo P. Floodsky, editor of artrumour.com. Andrew McIlroy, an international advisor on cultural policy. Sacha Craddock, an art teacher and critic. Pavel Buchler, Professor of Art and Design at Manchester Metropolitan University. Aiden Campbell, art critic and author.

Product Details

• Paperback: 88 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340848375
• ISBN-13: 978-0340848371
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,319,738 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read, makes you think., April 12, 2007

By	Ms. Kirsty L. Collins "Kirstybookworm" (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a short book.
Essays are as follows;
1, What is art anyway ?, 2, Art: What's it all about then?, 3, Somebody's got to do it, 4, Serving a different god, 5, Art: agent or aesthetic?, 6, Reinventing the wheel.

This book is based on a great premise of making the 'what is art for?' debate simple and concise as possible. Although it's a pity it's not discussed by other critic's in the larger western world, etc (it's quite Brit-centric). For example the contemporary art market is unfortunately much smaller and more conservative in Australia. Although we have some very exciting artists here (often having to sell O/S to make a living).

Sadly to get more people to look or think about art we are going to have to make it a competitive sport where men can slug each other in tight shorts on TV.

Cheers Kirsty.