Why Is That Art? addresses common questions that viewers raise about contemporary art: Why is that art? Why is it in an art museum? Who says it's art? If I did this, would it be art? Why is it good? Covering a broad, diverse, and engaging sampling of works--abstract and representational painting, monumental sculpture, performance art, video installations, films, and photographs--author Terry Barrett responds to these questions using three sources: the artists who created the works, philosophers of art, and art critics. Introducing students to a variety of established theories of art, he presents the traditional sets of criteria of Realism, Expressionism, and Formalism, which are in turn updated by recent sources of Poststructuralism. Barrett applies each of these theories to challenging works of contemporary art, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each mode of interpretation. He encourages students to consider many criteria when evaluating an artwork, to critically examine judgments made by others, and to make informed judgments of their own. Ideal for courses in aesthetics, art theory, art criticism, and the philosophy of art, Why Is That Art? is organized chronologically according to the history of aesthetics. It features sixty-seven illustrations (twenty-six in a full-color insert), discusses a wide range of American and European artists, and includes an exceptional overview of postmodern pluralism. This unique book will provide students with a newfound appreciation for contemporary art, scholarship, and reasoned argumentation, giving them the confidence to join the fascinating discourse on contemporary art.

Each chapter opens with an Introduction and ends with Questions for Further Reflection and Notes. Illustrations Preface Introduction 1. Artworlds and Definitions: How That Became Art Art Honorific Definitions of "Art" The Open Definition Classificatory Definitions Aesthetics Art Criticism Interpretation and Judgment Critics on Criticizing Criticizing Criticism Criticism and Aesthetics Skepticism about Art, Aesthetics, and Criticism Aesthetics, Art Criticism, and Visual Culture Aestheticians, Artists, Critics, and Readers 2. Realism: Art Is Realistic, Truthful, and Beautiful A Brief Overview of Realism Plato Works of Art by Jeff Koons Critical Commentary on Koons's Work Koons's Thoughts about His Own Work Kitsch Aristotle Paintings by Alexis Rockman Critical Commentary on Rockman's Paintings Rockman's Thoughts about His Own Work Photographs by Andres Serrano Critical Commentary on Serrano's Photographs Pornography Obscenity and Censorship Photography, Reality, and Truth What Does It Mean to Say That a Work Is "Realistic"? Conclusion Realism and Artists Realism and Artworks Realism and Audiences 3. Expressionism and Cognitivism: Art Shows Feelings, Communicates Thoughts, and Provides Knowledge Expressionism and Cognitivism Expressionist and Cognitivist Theories of Art Leo Tolstoy Benedetto Croce R. G. Collingwood Suzanne Langer John Dewey Nelson Goodman Arthur Danto Metaphor Psychoanalytic Theory Marxist Aesthetics Joan Mitchell, Painter Critical Commentary on Mitchell's Paintings Mitchell's Thoughts about Her Own Work Mitchell and Expressionism Louise Bourgeois, Sculptor Critical Commentary on Bourgeois's Sculptures Bourgeois's Thoughts about Her Own Work Bourgeois and Expressionism Kiki Smith, Printmaker and Sculptor Critical Commentary on Smith's Work Smith's Thoughts about Her Own Work Smith and Cognitivism Expressionism and Artistic Intent Limitations of Expressionism and Cognitivism Strengths of Expressionism and Cognitivism Conclusion Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Artists Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Artworks Expressionism, Cognitivism, and Audiences 4. Formalism: Art Is Significant Form Precursors to Formalism Is Beauty Objective or Subjective? Early Formalism Aesthetic Attitude and Aesthetic Experience The Sublime Immanuel Kant G. W. F. Hegel Twentieth-Century Formalism Early Modern Abstractionists Kandinsky, Mondrian, and Malevich Clive Bell Clement Greenberg Agnes Martin: Paintings and Drawings Critical Commentary on Martin's Work Martin's Thoughts about Her Own Work Joel Shapiro: Sculptures Critical Commentary on Shapiro's Work Shapiro's Thoughts about His Own Work Andy Goldsworthy: Environmental Sculptures Critical Commentary on Goldsworthy's Work Goldsworthy's Thoughts about His Own Work Martin, Shapiro, Goldsworthy, and Formalism Strengths and Weaknesses of Formalism Conclusion Formalism and Artists Formalism and Artworks Formalism and Audiences 5. Postmodern Pluralism: Art Destabilizes the Good, the True, the Beautiful, and the Self Precursors to Poststructuralism and Postmodernism Friedrich Nietzsche Critical Theory, the Frankfurt School, Neo-Marxism Structuralism Ferdinand de Saussure Roland Barthes Structuralism and Formalism Poststructuralism Jacques Lacan Michel Foucault Julia Kristeva Jacques Derrida Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari Richard Rorty Feminism Postmodernism Jean-Francois Lyotard Jean Baudrillard Frederic Jameson Postcolonialism Cindy Sherman: Photographs Critical Commentary on Sherman's Photographs Sherman's Thoughts about Her Own Work Cindy Sherman and Postmodern Pluralism Lorna Simpson: Photographs with Words Critical Commentary on Simpson's Work Simpson's Thoughts about Her Own Work Lorna Simpson and Postmodern Pluralism Paul McCarthy: Performances, Videos, and Sculptures Critical Commentary on McCarthy's Work McCarthy's Thoughts about His Own Work McCarthy and Postmodern Pluralism Strengths and Weaknesses of Postmodernist Pluralism Conclusion Postmodern Pluralism and Artists Postmodern Pluralism and Artworks Postmodern Pluralism and Audiences 6. Conclusion Why Is Stacked Art? Art by Definitions Is Stacked a Good Work of Art? Realist Considerations Expressionist Considerations Formalist Considerations Postmodernist Considerations Purposes of Art Selecting Criteria A Single Criterion or Multiple Criteria for All Works of Art Bibliography Index

Terry BarrettProfessor of Art Education, Ohio State University

"Barrett is one of a very small number of non-philosophers who understands philosophical material in aesthetics sufficiently to explain it appropriately and accurately in his writing."--Julie Van Camp, Professor of Philosophy, California State University, Long Beach