The Art of Understanding Art: A Behind the Scenes Story

The Art of Understanding Art is a truly innovative textbookthat presents and explains behind the scene activities, methods and tools involved in the creation,dissemination, analysis and interpretation of art. Addressingtopics not usually covered in traditional introductorytexts provenance, art conservation, art classification,primary and secondary textual research sources, museums and theweb, copyrights the book is a comprehensive guide todeciphering and appreciating the riotous visual world that is nowbackdrop to our daily lives.
 
Rather than offering an inventory of masterpieces and artists, The Art of Understanding Art reveals a novel pedagogicalvision designed to educate readers to develop a global visualliteracy, and an understanding of art that is distinctly relatedto, and transformative of, the way they view the world.  Ample pedagogical material useful introductions, text boxes,a glossary of institutions and individuals, innovative classassignments, projects useful for developing lesson plans, and anaccompanying companion website enables The Art of UnderstandingArt to expose new possibilities for teaching, learning, andreflecting about art.

Acknowledgments xiii

Why Should Art Matter to You? A Message to Art Beginners xv

Introduction: What Is Art? xvi

Navigating the Book: A User′s Guide xxi

Why Is Art Made? The Purposes of Art: A Brief Overview from A to Z xxiv

The Anatomy of a Work of Art xxxii

PART ONE MAKING ART 1

1 Artists and Patrons 3

Artists and Creators 3

The Creative Process: Inspiration and Influences 14

Patronage 17

2 Environment, Materials, and Other Resources 22

Environment 23

Materials, Tools, and Technology 27

Other Resources: Knowledge and Information 36

3 Context 38

Cultural Context 39

Historical, Political, and Religious Context 43

Societal Context 48

Conclusion to Part One 53

PART TWO DISSEMINATING ART 55

4 The Dissemination of Original Art 57

Institutions 57

Beyond Institutional Walls 71

Art and Business 73

5 The Dissemination of Art through Reproductions, and Other Issues 77

Publications, Presentations, and Lectures 78

The Mass Media 80

Today′s Art World 86

Conclusion to Part Two 90

PART THREE ANALYZING ART 91

6 Visual Resources Used to Analyze Art 93

The Work of Art 94

Visual Documentation and Research 103

7 Textual and Other Resources Used To Analyze Art 109

Primary Textual Sources 110

Secondary Textual Sources 114

Additional Resources for Research 117

Comparisons 119

8 A Critical Examination of Art Classification 126

Reflections on Art Classification 126

Chronology and Artistic Periods 130

Media 132

Fine Art/High Art 132

Graphic Arts 137

"Minor Arts" 137

Architecture 138

Other Categories 139

Conclusion to Part Three 142

PART FOUR INTERPRETING ART 143

9 Interpreting Art: Criteria and Values 145

Preconceived Ideas about Art 146

Modern Art and the Audience 148

Artistic Values and Art Appreciation 150

Modernism 152

Postmodernism 155

Interpreting Art: Getting Started 157

Looking at and Interpreting Art 158

10 Methodologies of Art 162

Introduction to Art Methodologies 163

Art Interpretation: Case Study 173

Summary 179

Notes 179

Conclusion 180

Appendix 1 The Art World 182

Appendix 2 Creative Assignments and Writing Projects 189

Appendix 3 Glossary 194

Appendix 4 "Tools of the Trade" Diagrams: Form and

Content (1–5) and Art Media (6–8) 210

List of Figures and Color Plates 218

Bibliography 220

Index 227

Irina D. Costache, Ph.D., is an art historian and Professor of Art History at California State University Channel Islands. Her innovative teaching methodologies have been recognized with awards and grants. She has curated several exhibitions, including Postmodern Calligraphies, Nature and/or Technology and Line and Color. Her presentations and publications include This is Not a Painting: Art History and the Internet, Visual Culture/ Virtual Art, Italian Futurism and the Decorative Arts, and Futurist Film: an Incomplete Project.