Art, Agency and the Continued Assault on Authorship

This book presents a counter-history to the relentless critique of the humanist subject and authorial agency that has taken place century, celebrating the agency of the artist as a powerful contribution to the wellbeing of the community. It argues that art has other social roles, such as engendering empathy and community and re-enchanting a world bereft of meaning and reduced to material values. It will appeal to practising artists and scholars working in art history, philosophy, aesthetics, and curatorial studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book offers a compelling counter-history to the relentless critique of humanist subjectivity and authorial agency that has dominated the literary landscape over the past fifty years. It serves as both an interrogation of this critique and the exploration of an alternative narrative that spans from Romanticism to the twenty-first century, celebrating the artist's agency as a vital contribution to the well-being of society. Through a rich blend of philosophical aesthetics and cultural theory, interspersed with case studies of individual artists, the book argues for the significance of the artist's role in shaping our collective consciousness. Moreover, it delves into a crucial second issue, namely the role and purpose of art in society. Since the 1990s, this question has gained heightened importance due to the social turn in art, which posits that art's sole valid role is one that explicitly addresses social consequences. In response, this book argues that while a political role for art is valuable, it is not the sole or most obvious one. Art possesses diverse social functions, serving as a means to foster empathy, build community, and re-enchante a world that has lost its meaning and been reduced to material values.

This book will appeal to a wide range of readers, including practicing artists, scholars, and enthusiasts engaged in art history, philosophy, aesthetics, and curatorial studies. Its rich insights and thought-provoking arguments will undoubtedly inspire and engage those seeking to understand the evolving role of art in shaping our world.

Weight: 560g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367643638