Hot or Not: 20th-Century Male Artists

by Jessica Campbell

The history of twentieth-century art is filled with men, but one key component has always been missing: which of these men are boneable, and which are not. Campbell has created the definitive resource on the subject in this hilarious rundown of male artist hotness and notness.

Jessica Campbell is from Victoria, British Columbia, and is an enthusiast of jokes, painting and comics. She completed her MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she was the recipient of the Edward L. Ryerson Fellowship, and also a comics instructor. She has exhibited work in Canada, the United States, Australia, and Greece.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Art, Humor, Comix, Graphic Novels Comics

64 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2016

About the author

Jessica Campbell is from Victoria, BC and is an enthusiast of jokes, painting and comics. She completed her MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she is a comics instructor. In 2016, she unleashed the art world and chauvinist skewering: Hot or Not: 20th-Century Male Artists.

Reviews

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

the silver on the cover is the scratch-off stuff from lottery tickets and it does, indeed, scratch off

the most important journalistic work of the decade. five stars

[Gabriel Infierno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book about art that exist in human history.

[StrictlySequential · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended!
->male homophobic exempted.

I would've liked more exacting production of the works examined on the front of each page with her front writing and entire back of the page exactly as is to give the humour in her descriptions/examinations a bit of depth.

8===D It seems that the silver of the cover is scratch-off style because my copy came with a low swinging flaccid rig revealed from under the guy's banana hammock at the right bottom -!-

The introduction is way too formal in presentation which led me to go back for it a-ways in only to prove it too verbose and articulate. Read it afterwards to gain the appreciation it dances about instead of wondering what's up with the word processed erudition- the pomp before the romp as it were.

[Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly what I needed this week. A hilarious satire of the patriarchy of art history, and I learned a lot about Canadian artists (mostly not hot). Kind of a one-trick pony, but was laughing to hard to care

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, cheeky, and smart! Just what I needed to read this week.

[melydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, a book that addresses the most pressing question about 20th century male artists: hot or not? Each page starts with an example of the artist's work (redrawn by Campbell), followed by a portrait of the artist with a simple assessment of HOT or NOT, with a bit of commentary to back it up. And it's hilarious. My copy also has scratch-off underwear on the cover models. Definitely unique; definitely worth a read.

[Meepelous · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super FUN and super FAST read, Jessica Campbell really knows how to push my happy buttons lol! That said, on a more serious level, I also feel like this is an important look at what exactly is happing to female artists. But sometimes you just need to be silly, because you can't be serious all the time!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the art history book all of us have been waiting for-- judging art not so much by the hotness of the art but by hotness (or notness) of the artist himself. Seems right. Jessica Campbell is funny and brings fun to the world of art.

[Risa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick picture book. Funny irreverent take on "male artists"--rating them not by their art but by how hot they are.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely 100% one of the most perfect books ever. So funny.

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hoot of a book. Very short but lots of fun. It puts a feminist twist on 20th century male artists.

[Donny Forbes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been so great, kinda fell flat.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute idea but I wish the pictures were better drawn.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exquisite wit.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This highly amusing little paperback turns the tables on male chauvinism and sexism in the art world by reducing several great and highly regarded male artists to their “boneablity.” Thus according to Campbell, Malevich, for example, is a Nottie (“This is the face of an adult baby”), while Henry Moore is a definite Hottie (“...He was fending off private anatomy tutorials from every human who saw him”). Campbell's thick-lined, naive-style art works perfectly here. This would make a great gift for the horny art connoisseur in your life.

[Derek Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Campbell's sense of humor is what stands out in this book, along with her cultural/political critique whose effectiveness is enhanced by the said humor.

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

One of CBCbooks Best Books of 2016.

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun quick read. Short and witty enough that it doesn't outstay it's welcome. It took every bit of self-control in me not to scratch off the cover of the copy I got from the library.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

f@cking hilarious.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny.