Contemporary Art History

Contemporary art has never been so popular - but the art world is changing. In a landscape of increasing globalization, there is growing interest in questions over the nature of contemporary art today and the identity of who is controlling its future. In the midst of this, contemporary art continues to be a realm of freedom where artists shock, break taboos, flout generally received ideas, and switch between confronting viewers with works of great emotional profundity and jaw-dropping triviality.

Art history encompasses the study of the history and development of painting, sculpture, and the other visual arts. In this Very Short Introduction audiobook, Dana Arnold presents an introduction to the issues, debates, and artifacts that make up art history. Beginning with a consideration of what art history is, she explains what makes the subject distinctive from other fields of study and also explores the emergence of social histories of art (such as feminist art history and queer art history).

This book has one purpose—to offer everyone the opportunity to become as wild about modern and contemporary art as I am. I am committed that your visits to modern and contemporary art exhibits become joyful, enriching experiences that you eagerly anticipate, avidly soak in and never get over. I say that the ability to appreciate art, including every type of art, is innate to all human beings. I have discovered that unlocking this natural love of art has much more to do with clearing out what's in the way than it does with accumulating information.