Art and Authority: Moral Rights and Meaning in Contemporary Visual Art

The concept of authorship is brought into question, as it is the basis for copyright law and moral rights legislation. It is often assumed that artists have a special bond with their artworks, but the nature of this bond and its function as the source of an artist's authority over their work often goes unquestioned. K. E. Gover argues that the most fundamental form of artistic freedom involves the artist's authority to accept or disavow the works that they produce and to curate the works that bear their name.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

People engage with authored works all the time. They buy paintings, read books, download songs, and even create their own art. However, the concept of authorship is rarely questioned. The basic idea that the artist, as the author, maintains some kind of claim to their creation, even as it circulates in the world, seems natural. It is the basis for copyright law and moral rights legislation, which protect the rights of authors. But what exactly is an author, and why do artists receive special legal recognition and protection that the creators of other kinds of artefacts do not? It is often assumed that artists have a special bond with their artworks, but the nature of this bond and its function as the source of an artist's authority over their work often goes unquestioned.

Art and Authority is a philosophical essay on artistic freedom, exploring its sources, nature, and limits. Artistic freedom can mean different things depending on the context in which it is invoked. K. E. Gover argues that the most fundamental form of artistic freedom involves the artist's authority to accept or disavow their works and to curate the works that bear their name. Our very concept of what an artwork is, the intentional expression of the artist for its own sake, depends on this second-order endorsement by the artist of what they have made.

Using real-world cases and controversies in contemporary visual art, Gover argues that the leading accounts of artistic authorship in the legal and philosophical literature have overlooked the significance of this moment. He suggests that the legal and philosophical accounts of artistic authorship should recognize the artist's authority.

In conclusion, the concept of authorship is fundamental to the art world, and artists receive special legal recognition and protection due to their unique relationship with their artworks. Art and Authority is a philosophical essay on artistic freedom, exploring its sources, nature, and limits. It argues that the most fundamental form of artistic freedom involves the artist's authority to accept or disavow their works and to curate the works that bear their name. This endorsement by the artist is essential for the concept of what an artwork is and for the artist's authority. Gover's essay highlights the significance.

Weight: 266g
Dimension: 138 x 214 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198867005