"If something isn't aesthetically pleasing or interesting, doesn't require skills I do not have, and makes a stupid point stupidly, I don't appreciate it as art. That doesn't make me a philistine. It makes me a non-rube."

--Jonah Goldberg

Sunday, March 1, 2009

The One with Look Again!

76. Title & Author: Look Again! Art History and Critical Theory by Anne D'Alleva (172 pages)
Genre: Nonfiction--Art History & Art Theory
Completed: 5 February 2009

Summary & Review:
The major art historical theories and approaches are summarized and explained within this book including Marxist, Feminist, Structuralist, Formalist, Iconological, and other methods. The author uses a lot of images as examples and analyzes them using the theoretical model she just explained.

This book was very helpful in that it clearly and concisely explained some fairly complex ideas and theories. Thus, it was a good introduction to all the major art historical approaches. But, as a white, American, heterosexual, Christian male I felt like I was constantly being attacked by D'Alleva since it seemed like she assumed all white males were sexists, racists, and bigots.

Rating: 7.0

0 comments: