Can fine art survive in an age of mass media? If so, in what forms and to what purpose? These are the challenging questions addressed in this thoroughly revised, updated and expanded edition of "Art in the Age of Mass Media," as John Walker examines the fascinating relationship between art and mass media, and the myriad interactions between high and low culture in a postmodern, culturally pluralistic world. Using a range of historic and contemporary works of art to illustrate theoretical points, Walker explores the variety of ways in which modern artists have responded to the arrival of new, mass media. He ranges from the socialist paintings of Courbet to the anti-Nazi photomontages of Heartfield, from community murals and Keith Haring's use of graffiti to the kitsch self-promotion associated with Jeff Koons. The new edition describes what happened during the 1990s, including Toscani's adverts for Benetton, the simulations of Leeds 13, art and cinema, Damien Hirst, and the cyberart currently being produced for the internet. "Art in the Age of Mass Media" is an invaluable introduction to the continuing debates between high art and low culture for students of media and cultural studies and art history.
Can fine art survive in an age of mass media? If so, in what forms and to what purpose? These are the challenging questions addressed in this thoroughly revised, updated and expanded edition of "Art in the Age of Mass Media," as John Walker examines the fascinating relationship between art and mass media, and the myriad interactions between high and low culture in a postmodern, culturally pluralistic world. Using a range of historic and contemporary works of art to illustrate theoretical points, Walker explores the variety of ways in which modern artists have responded to the arrival of new, mass media. He ranges from the socialist paintings of Courbet to the anti-Nazi photomontages of Heartfield, from community murals and Keith Haring's use of graffiti to the kitsch self-promotion associated with Jeff Koons. The new edition describes what happened during the 1990s, including Toscani's adverts for Benetton, the simulations of Leeds 13, art and cinema, Damien Hirst, and the cyberart currently being produced for the internet. "Art in the Age of Mass Media" is an invaluable introduction to the continuing debates between high art and low culture for students of media and cultural studies and art history.
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Core Terms/Concepts
2. Art Uses Mass Culture
3. The Mass Media Use Art
4. Mechanical Reproduction and the Fine Arts
5. High Culture: Affirmative or Negative?
6. Cultural Pluralism and Post-Modernism
7. Alternatives
8. Art and Mass Media in the 1980s
9. Artists and New Media Technologies
10. War, The Media and Art in the 1990s
11. Conclusion
Notes and References
Bibliography
Index
John A Walker is the author of a number of books on art theory and aspects of popular culture. His previous Pluto titles are Cultural Offensive: America's Impact on British Art since 1945, Art in the Age of Mass Media and Design History and the History of Design.
'Lucid, well documented and argumentative.' Times Literary Supplement 'A vastly entertaining read...undoubtedly one of the best entrees to this area.' The Modern Review
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
