The Triumph of Anti-Art: Conceptual and Performance Art in the Formation of Post-Modernism.The Triumph of Anti-Art: Conceptual and Performance Art in the Formation of Post-Modernism by Thomas McEvilley. McPherson & Company/391 pp./$30.00 (hb). Ever since Diogenes of Sinope Diogenes of Sinope (born , Sinope, Paphlygonia—died c. 320 BC, probably Corinth) Greek philosopher, principal member of the Cynics. He is credited by some with originating the Cynic way of life, but he himself acknowledged his debt to Antisthenes (c. decided to illustrate philosophy with public actions, there have been repeated attempts to define, classify, and categorize what is generally known as "anti-art." While Thomas MeEvilley makes no pretensions that his book is a comprehensive treatment of the subject, The Triumph of Anti-Art successfully illustrates the historical forces that shaped the movement, intertwining detailed descriptions of the art and its artists. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Anti-art--a rejection of conventional artistic standards in exchange for a pursuit of cultural and intellectual taboos--was in the first decades of the twentieth century most strongly associated with Marcel Duchamp Noun 1. Marcel Duchamp - French artist who immigrated to the United States; a leader in the dada movement in New York City; was first to exhibit commonplace objects as art (1887-1968) Duchamp . McEvilley begins by defining the rise of anti-art in terms of Duchamp and the Dada movement. McEvilley continues in this vein, discussing the development of anti-art in its myriad manifestations through the work of specific artists. For instance, he brings Rene Magritte into a discussion of conceptual art conceptual art Any of various art forms in which the idea for a work of art is considered more important than the finished product. The theory was explored by Marcel Duchamp from c. 1910, but the term was coined in the late 1950s by Edward Kienholz. and discusses Andy Warhol's showmanship in terms of performance art. McEvilley's thought repeatedly rises to brilliant levels, particularly when he describes how world events formed and shaped anti-art. When delineating the art world's stunned reaction to World War II, he writes, "Surely if artists had produced enough beautiful objects these could have buoyed up the raft of civilization, keeping it afloat" (37). Abstract expressionism abstract expressionism, movement of abstract painting that emerged in New York City during the mid-1940s and attained singular prominence in American art in the following decade; also called action painting and the New York school. , claims McEvilley, was born from an urge to pour "a flood of color not of the white race; - commonly meaning, esp. in the United States, of negro blood, pure or mixed. See also: Color ... over Western culture as if to heal it" (37). McEvilley, a professor at the School of Visual Arts The School of Visual Arts (SVA), is an art school in the New York City borough of Manhattan, and is one of the nation's leading independent colleges of art and design. It was established in 1947 by co-founders Silas H. in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , is equally adept at discussing Plato as he is Joseph Beuys and in The Triumph of Anti-Art he has masterfully woven world history and art criticism with biography to create an enlightening read on the subject of anti-art. KATHRYN ATWOOD's writings have appeared in numerous print and online journals including Pop Matters, Void Magazine, and Wild Violet. |
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