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35th out of 148 books
—
48 voters
What Good Are the Arts?
by
John Carey
Hailed as "exhilarating and suggestive" (Spectator), "thought-provoking and entertaining" (David Lodge, Sunday Times), and "incisive and inspirational" (Guardian), What Good are the Arts? offers a delightfully skeptical look at the nature of art. John Carey--one of Britain's most respected literary critics--here cuts through the cant surrounding the fine arts, debunking cl...more
Hardcover, 286 pages
Published
January 1st 2006
by Oxford University Press
(first published 2005)
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At times, especially in the first half of the book, Carey is ridiculously abrasive. This is a decent trait for polemical writing, however, as the emotional reaction it can trigger in a reader leads to critical thinking. In the end, Carey puts up a pretty fierce argument that literature is by far the highest art form, in large part because it is the only art that can reason. I was like, "Whoop!"
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This is a thought provoking book. It's the kind of book that I would recommend to a book club if I was in one and then we would have one of the best discussions we've had. I would encourage anyone who works in the arts or consumes high quantities of both "high" culture and "low" culture to read this. If you think that looking at a Monet is a fundamentally more valuable experience than watching an episode of Jersey Shore, prepare to have a debate with this man. I gave it four stars instead of fiv...more
Sep 01, 2012
Quincy
marked it as to-read
From Nick Hornby's favorite books: http://theweek.com/article/index/2325.... "What Good Are the Arts? by John Carey (Oxford, $18). A brilliant and important little book — by an Oxford English professor, no less — about taste, high culture, objective artistic worth, and the absurd arguments made to prop the whole teetering edifice up. Carey has an extraordinary mind, and a wicked wit, and it's hard to read this book and end up feeling the same about what you value and why."
Stimulating and provocative, if sometimes a little annoying, Carey pricks holes in a number of theories regarding the purpose of art. The second section of the book, where are argues for the superiority of literature above all other art forms, lost my interest only in that it veered away too much from the overriding concept and seems shoehorned in just to allow himself a bit of indulgence. The postscript, where he challenges his critics, was also a bit cringeworthy and unnecessary. Overall thoug...more
Best quote from the book (in my lit. major opinion):
"..My claim is different. It is that literature gives you ideas to think with. It stocks your mind. It does not indoctrinate, because diversity, counter-argument, reappraisal and qualification are its essence. But it supplies the materials for thought. Also , because it is the only art capable of criticism, it encourages questioning, and self-questioning."
"..My claim is different. It is that literature gives you ideas to think with. It stocks your mind. It does not indoctrinate, because diversity, counter-argument, reappraisal and qualification are its essence. But it supplies the materials for thought. Also , because it is the only art capable of criticism, it encourages questioning, and self-questioning."
Rahr!!!!, tough guy!
A little overly serious for me, but otherwise a well argued and sensible definition of art.
Stimulating book club book? Maybe. I think many kinds of groups might find it difficult to identify a persective on the book that is easily accessible. I think the path to it might be more contentious than a lot of people generally enjoy.
A little overly serious for me, but otherwise a well argued and sensible definition of art.
Stimulating book club book? Maybe. I think many kinds of groups might find it difficult to identify a persective on the book that is easily accessible. I think the path to it might be more contentious than a lot of people generally enjoy.
I badly wanted to like this book. I bought it because Nick Hornby raved about it in The Complete Polysyllabic Spree. I thought it was going to knock down all the phoneyness and bullshit, which plagues the arts. I was sure I would love it. But, I got halfway through and gave up because that was enough to convince me that he doesn't know what he's talking about. His definition of a work of art is 'anything that anyone has ever considered a work of art'. In other words anything, and correspondingly...more
Dispels the self-righteous delusions about the power of Art an excellent book just for the critical thinking involved even if you don't have to agree with the author.
very interesting. nice examples. as expected: no clear answer. we'll have to keep insisting on well thought out and congruous qualitative arguments.
such an awful book. after i read it i had a heated email exchange with john carey, now i'm attacking him in my thesis.
After loving the first part of this book, in which Carey carefully examines the evidence behind the arts in general, I found myself totally hating the second party, in which Carey critical inquiry disintegrates into a rather boring interpretation of British literature. In his blind love and respect for classical literature, he falls prey to the exact vices that he critiques with such wit in other authors. He blindly presents his own opinions and elitist value judgements about literature as fact....more
Good one to read for those considering an Extended Essay /Extended Project in an Arts-related area.
Am I really a better person for having wandered around art museums, and having sat through symphonies, and having read a few classics? Does spending an afternoon staring at Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" give me character and depth? Or does it just make me feel superior to the people who prefer Archie comics and video games?
John Carey asks some really interesting questions. I don't agree with everything he says, but I like the questions. Why haven't more writers addressed this topic? I'd reco...more
John Carey asks some really interesting questions. I don't agree with everything he says, but I like the questions. Why haven't more writers addressed this topic? I'd reco...more
Found in Tate Britain bookshop.
Interested to get this well known English art reviewer's opinion on the value of the arts. The most interesting thought he had was that writing was the best form of the arts because of it's vast ability to communicate to many people. Other than that, he was quite the snob!
A really great read. There are some holes in Carey's arguments, but his combative, witty style carries him through. A very pro-art (no, not Pro Hart) book that seems to have pissed off just about every art critic in Britain.
I really enjoyed this humorous attack on pretension, which simultaneously elevates literature, including poetry, to deserving new heights for individual appreciation. Then again, who am I to judge? ;p
Some interesting points, but the whole argumentation is so narrow and self-contradictory that it makes the book a pain to read. I should have avoided this.
Well. I was curious and found out that not only do the arts serve a purpose, but that literature is supreme among them. Works for me.
Kant's definition of art is ridiculous. Music is under appreciated but well funded. more later..
I especially liked how Carey takes on high art's supposed superiority over low art.
May 11, 2013
John Wastle
is currently reading it
Apr 23, 2013
Alex Clarr
marked it as to-read
Apr 21, 2013
Alex
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Apr 19, 2013
Pedro
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Apr 19, 2013
Ismael Schonhorst
marked it as to-read
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“...literature gives you ideas to think with. It stocks your mind. It does not indoctrinate, because diversity, counter-argument, reappraisal and qualification are its essence. But it supplies the materials for thought. Also, because it is the only art capable of criticism, it encourages questioning, and self-questioning.”
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