Introduction to Art Criticism, An: Histories, Strategies, Voices / Edition 1

by Kerr Houston

Overview

Understand the Complexities of Art Criticism in a Straightforward and Readable Manner

An Introduction to Art Criticism offers a thorough overview of art criticism as it has been practiced since the 1700s. The text is built around excerpts from the work of hundreds of historical and contemporary critics, including a substantial history of art criticism and chapters on the fundamental aspects of criticism and the formation of an individual voice.

Learning Goals

Upon completing this book, readers should be able to:

• Understand and appreciate the rich history of art criticism as a field
• Analyze the “voice” of critics

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780205835942
Publisher:	Pearson Education
Publication date:	10/03/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Kerr Houston is a professor of art history, theory, and criticism at the Maryland Institute College of Art, where he has taught since 2002. At MICA regularly leads seminars on art criticism, and also teaches courses in the history of art history, in ancient art, and in Islamic art and architecture. He has written for a number of journals, including Camera Obscura, Gesta, Source: Notes in the History of Art, and Early Modern Visual Culture; he has also authored criticism for several magazines and newspapers. This is his first book.

Table of Contents

In this Section:
1) Brief Table of Contents

2) Full Table of Contents

BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Chapter 1: A History of Art Criticism

Chapter 2: Description and Contextualization

Chapter 3: Interpretation and Analysis

Chapter 4: Judgment and Evaluation

Chapter 5: Individual Critical Styles: Tone and Voice

FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Chapter 1: A History of Art Criticism

The Birth of a Genre

Chapter 2: Description and Contextualization

General issues involving description

Internal and External Evidence

Complexities Involving Description

Chapter 3: Interpretation and Analysis

General Issues Involving Interpretation

Interpretations Involving Internal and External Evidence

Critical Theory and Systematic Interpretations

Chapter 4: Judgment and Evaluation

The Place of Judgment in Criticism

Forms of Judgment and Related Issues

Chapter 5: Individual Critical Styles: Tone and Voice

External Factors Affecting Criticism

Tone, Voice, and the Relevance of External Factors

Debates about Tone

Editorial Reviews

Beautifully written, very thorough analysis, interesting illustrations, excellent use of examples. The history of art criticism should be required reading in any class that purports to be a serious survey of modern art.”

- Shepherd Steiner, Emily Carr University of Art and Design

“This textbook offers a thorough, comprehensive look at the major developments and approaches to art criticism in France, England and the Us over the past 3 decades. It is well-written and clearly articulates the main factors in conducting criticism. It includes hundreds of sort quotes by a wide variety of critics.”

— Paul Ryan, Mary Baldwin College

“A helpful text that fills a gap in my course — via providing a concise historical overview of art criticism and summaries of the various primary critical lenses. It also addresses the (healthy and valuable) difficulty of "defining" art criticism. The author's approach is democratic yet nicely held together by an informed tone.”

- Barbara Jaffee, Northern Illinois University

“This textbook offers a thorough, comprehensive look at the major developments and approaches to art criticism. It is well-written and clearly articulates the main factors in conducting criticism.”

- Margaret Doell,Adams State College

“I am very impressed with the clarity, directness, and breadth of knowledge that are on display.”

- Richard Eldridge, Swarthmore College

From the Publisher