Why Is That Art?: Aesthetics and Criticism of Contemporary Art Book

Each chapter opens with an Introduction and ends with Questions for Further Reflection and Notes.
Illustrations
Preface
Introduction
1. Artworlds and Definitions: How That Became Art
Art
Honorific Definitions of "Art"
The Open Definition
Classificatory Definitions
Aesthetics Art Criticism
Interpretation and Judgment
Critics on Criticizing
Criticizing Criticism
Criticism and Aesthetics
Skepticism about Art, Aesthetics, and Criticism
Aesthetics, Art Criticism, and Visual Culture
Aestheticians, Artists, Critics, and Readers
2. Realism: Art Is Realistic, Truthful, and Beautiful
A Brief Overview of Realism Plato Works of Art by Jeff Koons
Critical Commentary on Koons's Work
Koons's Thoughts about His Own Work
Kitsch
Aristotle Paintings by Alexis Rockman
Critical Commentary on Rockman's Paintings
Rockman's Thoughts about His Own Work
Photographs by Andres Serrano
Critical Commentary on Serrano's Photographs
Pornography Obscenity and Censorship Photography, Reality, and Truth What Does It Mean to Say That a Work Is "Realistic"?
Conclusion
Realism and Artists
Realism and Artworks
Realism and Audiences
3. Expressionism and Cognitivism: Art Shows Feelings, Communicates Thoughts, and Provides Knowledge
Expressionism and Cognitivism
Expressionist and Cognitivist Theories of Art
Leo Tolstoy
Benedetto Croce
R. G. Collingwood
Suzanne Langer
John Dewey
Nelson Goodman
Arthur Danto
Metaphor Psychoanalytic Theory Marxist Aesthetics Joan Mitchell, Painter
Critical Commentary on Mitchell's Paintings
Mitchell's Thoughts about Her Own Work
Mitchell and Expressionism
Louise Bourgeois, Sculptor
Critical Commentary on Bourgeois's Sculptures
Bourgeois's Thoughts about Her Own Work
Bourgeois and Expressionism
Kiki Smith, Printmaker and Sculptor
Critical Commentary on Smith's Work
Smith's Thoughts about Her Own Work
Smith and Cognitivism
Expressionism and Artistic Intent Limitations of Expressionism and Cognitivism Strengths of Expressionism and Cognitivism Conclusion
Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Artists
Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Artworks
Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Audiences
4. Formalism: Art Is Significant Form
Precursors to Formalism
Is Beauty Objective or Subjective?
Early Formalism
Aesthetic Attitude and Aesthetic Experience
The Sublime
Immanuel Kant
G. W. F. Hegel
Twentieth-Century Formalism
Early Modern Abstractionists Kandinsky, Mondrian, and Malevich
Clive Bell
Clement Greenberg
Agnes Martin: Paintings and Drawings
Critical Commentary on Martin's Work
Martin's Thoughts about Her Own Work
Joel Shapiro: Sculptures
Critical Commentary on Shapiro's Work
Shapiro's Thoughts about His Own Work
Andy Goldsworthy: Environmental Sculptures
Critical Commentary on Goldsworthy's Work
Goldsworthy's Thoughts about His Own Work
Martin, Shapiro, Goldsworthy, and Formalism Strengths and Weaknesses of Formalism Conclusion
Formalism and Artists
Formalism and Artworks
Formalism and Audiences
5. Postmodern Pluralism: Art Destabilizes the Good, the True, the Beautiful, and the Self
Precursors to Poststructuralism and Postmodernism
Friedrich Nietzsche
Critical Theory, the Frankfurt School, Neo-Marxism
Structuralism
Ferdinand de Saussure
Roland Barthes
Structuralism and Formalism
Poststructuralism
Jacques Lacan
Michel Foucault
Julia Kristeva
Jacques Derrida
Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari
Richard Rorty
Feminism Postmodernism
Jean-Francois Lyotard
Jean Baudrillard
Frederic Jameson
Postcolonialism Cindy Sherman: Photographs
Critical Commentary on Sherman's Photographs
Sherman's Thoughts about Her Own Work
Cindy Sherman and Postmodern Pluralism
Lorna Simpson: Photographs with Words
Critical Commentary on Simpson's Work
Simpson's Thoughts about Her Own Work
Lorna Simpson and Postmodern Pluralism
Paul McCarthy: Performances, Videos, and Sculptures
Critical Commentary on McCarthy's Work
McCarthy's Thoughts about His Own Work
McCarthy and Postmodern Pluralism
Strengths and Weaknesses of Postmodernist Pluralism Conclusion
Postmodern Pluralism and Artists
Postmodern Pluralism and Artworks
Postmodern Pluralism and Audiences
6. Conclusion
Why Is Stacked Art?
Art by Definitions
Is Stacked a Good Work of Art?
Realist Considerations
Expressionist Considerations
Formalist Considerations
Postmodernist Considerations
Purposes of Art Selecting Criteria
A Single Criterion or Multiple Criteria for All Works of Art
Bibliography
Index