Ideas About Art

Ideas about Art is an engaging and inspirational text that teaches students to apply critical theory and develop and support their own opinions concerning aesthetics and art theory.  The text examines a range of art–based dilemmas, cases and instances of art in a multicultural context and across a wide variety of disciplines––from art and design and law to visual and museum studies. Organized into small chapters that begin with concrete stimuli for delving into deeper philosophical issues real and hypothetical––art′s value, taste, the creative process, censorship, and aesthetic taste and theory–– Ideas about Art includes stories from artists, art critics, art museum and art gallery professionals and philosophers, and brings art and aesthetics to life. 

Acknowledgements. List of Illustrations. Preface. 1. Public Opinion/Public Art. 2. Non–Western Ideas. 3. Western Ideas. 4. Beauty. 5. Expression & Aesthetic Experience. 6. Art & Ethics. 7. Political Art, Censorship & Pornography. 8. Art & Economics. 9. Feminist Art, Aesthetics & Art Criticism. 10. Postmodern Art & Attitudes. 11. Photography & New Media. 12. (Re)Discovering Design. 13. Art & Aesthetic Education. 14. Artists, Art Critics, Art Historians, Curators, Museums & Viewers. References. Index.

Kathleen Desmond is Professor of Art History and Byler Distinguished Faculty at the University of Central Missouri where she teaches aesthetics, art criticism and art history and writes about contemporary art and artists.

“This book provides many refreshingly–new ideas about art from many people and areas of the world, as well as open–ended, non–dogmatic discussions on many topics.”  ( Biz India , 10 December 2012)