Art in theory: the west in the world : an anthology of changing ideas

Uittreksel

"Covers not only the chronologically earliest period in the book but also the most extensive timespan of any part of the anthology: the first text dates from c.1204, the latest from c.1690. With the exception, however, of the first four texts, which form a chronologically separate cluster, all the rest date from the mid-fifteenth century to the late seventeenth century, a period of approximately 250 years. In the arts, this includes the Renaissance as well as the later founding of the French Academie Royale, and with it, the inception of the academic system which not only dominated French art for the next two hundred years but also provided the model that fundamentally shaped art practice throughout Europe. In a broader perspective the timespan also covers the late fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Age of Exploration and the seventeenth-century 'scientific revolution'. By any standards, that amounts to a world-historical epoch, and although the existing volumes of Art in Theory do not encompass Renaissance art theory (precisely because it was felt to constitute a subject distinct from our concern with the modern period and its academic predecessor), the present anthology of necessity does seek to address this period of Europe's earliest encounters - since antiquity."-- "Art in Theory: The West in the World is a ground-breaking anthology that comprehensively examines the relationship of Western art to the art and material culture of the wider world. Editors Paul Wood and Leon Wainwright have included over 350 texts, some of which appear in English for the first time. The anthologized texts are presented in eight chronological parts, which are then subdivided into key themes appropriate to each historical era. The majority of the texts are representations of changing ideas about the cultures of the world by European artists and intellectuals. Increasingly, as the modern period develops, and especially as colonialism is challenged, a variety of dissenting voices begin to claim their space, and a counter narrative to Western hegemony develops. Over half of the book is devoted to 20th and 21st Century materials, though the book's unique selling point is the way in which it relates to the modern globalization of art to much longer cultural histories. As well as the anthologized material, Art in Theory: The West in the World contains: a general introduction discussing the scope of the collection ; Introductory essays to each of the eight parts, outlining the main themes in their historical contexts ; Individual introductions to each text, explaining how they relate to the wider theoretical and political currents of their time. Intended for a wide audience, this book is essential reading for students on courses in art and art history. It will also be useful to specialists in the field of art history and readers with a general interest in the culture and politics of the modern world."--back cover.