The most interesting recent work in art history and art theory is informed by methodological and critical studies which are based in other disciplines. Narrow professionalism is being challenged by a more interdisciplinary approach, but conventional art history offers few pointers to relevant reading. MODERNISM, CRITICISM, REALISM extracts from writings on art, aesthetics, psychology, epistemology language, philosophy and philosophy of science, a wide range of methods, problems and critiques relevant to the contemporary study of art and art history. The editors explain how and why these are relevant, both through their introductory discussion of Modernism as a culture of art and art history, and also in brief introductions to the individual texts. Material has been assembled from journals, books and anthologies generally addressed to a diverse range of specialised audiences.
The editors have attempted, however, to avoid those currently fashionable forms of ‘cultural analysis’ well catered for in other collections. MODERNISM, CRITICISM, REALISM aims to place the tools for an intellectually and critically informed approach to art, art history and art criticism at the disposal of both the specialist and the interested general reader.
