The Art of Understanding Art: A Behind the Scenes Story

The Art of Understanding Art is a truly innovative textbook that presents and explains “behind the scene” activities, methods and tools involved in the creation, dissemination, analysis and interpretation of art. Addressing topics not usually covered in traditional introductory texts—provenance, art conservation, art classification, primary and secondary textual research sources, museums and the web, copyrights—the book is a comprehensive guide to deciphering and appreciating the riotous visual world that is now backdrop to our daily lives.   Rather than offering an inventory of masterpieces and artists, The Art of Understanding Art reveals a novel pedagogical vision designed to educate readers to develop a global visual literacy, and an understanding of art that is distinctly related to, and transformative of, the way they view the world. Ample pedagogical material—useful introductions, text boxes, a glossary of institutions and individuals, innovative class assignments, projects useful for developing lesson plans, and an accompanying companion website enables The Art of Understanding Art to expose new possibilities for teaching, learning, and reflecting 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 .