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The Scandal of Pleasure: Art in an Age of Fundamentalism
Surveying a wide range of cultural controversies, from the Mapplethorpe affair to Salman Rushdie's death sentence, from canon-revision in the academy to the scandals that have surrounded Anthony Blunt, Martin Heidegger, and Paul de Man, Wendy Steiner shows that the fear and outrage they inspired are the result of dangerous misunderstanding about the relationship between art and life.
"Stimulating. . . . A splendid rebuttal of those on the left and right who think that the pleasures induced by art are trivial or dangerous. . . . One of the most powerful defenses of the potentiality of art."—Andrew Delbanco, New York Times Book Review
"A concise and . . . readable account of recent contretemps that have galvanized the debate over the role and purposes of art. . . . [Steiner] writes passionately about what she believes in."—Michiko Kakutani, New York Times
"This is one of the few works of cultural criticism that is actually intelligible to the nonspecialist reader. . . . Steiner's perspective is fresh and her perceptions invariably shrewd, far-ranging, and reasonable. A welcome association of sense and sensibility."— Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Steiner has succeeded so well in [the] task she has undertaken. The Scandal of Pleasure is itself characterized by many of the qualities Steiner demans of art, among them, complexity, tolerance and the pleasures of unfettered thought."—Eleanor Heartly, Art in America
"Steiner . . . provides the best and clearest short presentation of each of [the] debates."—Alexander Nehamas, Boston Book Review
"Steiner has done a fine job as a historian/reporter and as a writer of sophisticated, very clear, cultural criticism. Her reportage alone would be enough to make this a distinguished book."—Mark Edmundson, Lingua Franca
"Stimulating. . . . A splendid rebuttal of those on the left and right who think that the pleasures induced by art are trivial or dangerous. . . . One of the most powerful defenses of the potentiality of art."—Andrew Delbanco, New York Times Book Review
"A concise and . . . readable account of recent contretemps that have galvanized the debate over the role and purposes of art. . . . [Steiner] writes passionately about what she believes in."—Michiko Kakutani, New York Times
"This is one of the few works of cultural criticism that is actually intelligible to the nonspecialist reader. . . . Steiner's perspective is fresh and her perceptions invariably shrewd, far-ranging, and reasonable. A welcome association of sense and sensibility."— Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Steiner has succeeded so well in [the] task she has undertaken. The Scandal of Pleasure is itself characterized by many of the qualities Steiner demans of art, among them, complexity, tolerance and the pleasures of unfettered thought."—Eleanor Heartly, Art in America
"Steiner . . . provides the best and clearest short presentation of each of [the] debates."—Alexander Nehamas, Boston Book Review
"Steiner has done a fine job as a historian/reporter and as a writer of sophisticated, very clear, cultural criticism. Her reportage alone would be enough to make this a distinguished book."—Mark Edmundson, Lingua Franca
- GenresArtNonfiction
263 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 6, 2020
Reading this book made me realize that I was culturally asleep in the 1980s and 1990s. (The book was published in 1995). People actually did that? said that? believed that? cared about that? I missed the culture wars. I had no idea that they took place. I missed the evolution of college art and literature departments. I must admit that I have no idea what "art" is or why that definition could matter so much to so many.
Others who, like me, slept through that time (busy with work and family), or who weren't born yet back then, will enjoy this book as a revelation of what people are capable of.
Others who, like me, slept through that time (busy with work and family), or who weren't born yet back then, will enjoy this book as a revelation of what people are capable of.
August 4, 2007
A book that manages, almost impossibly, to be academic and entertaining. I still quote from this book when arguing against those who would repress and deny artistic expression in a public forum.
October 6, 2022
It’s hard to believe how little things have changed in the nearly thirty years since this book came out. I plucked it off my shelves due to Steiner’s essay (“Fetish or Fatwa”) on the fatwa placed on Salman Rushdie. The rest of the essays are nearly as timely.
The bottom line of this book is that art is “enlightened beguilement,” a complex, paradoxical thing, both virtual and real, etc., that is abused by both right and left, and misunderstood (at least near its borders) by most. The book ends with a demand on us: “We must learn to respond with more subtlety, tolerance, and pleasure to the paradoxes art poses.” But first we need to see it as paradoxical, not simply one thing (e.g., pornography) or another (e.g., something literal). Steiner is just the sort of generally skeptical critic that I most identify with.
The bottom line of this book is that art is “enlightened beguilement,” a complex, paradoxical thing, both virtual and real, etc., that is abused by both right and left, and misunderstood (at least near its borders) by most. The book ends with a demand on us: “We must learn to respond with more subtlety, tolerance, and pleasure to the paradoxes art poses.” But first we need to see it as paradoxical, not simply one thing (e.g., pornography) or another (e.g., something literal). Steiner is just the sort of generally skeptical critic that I most identify with.
March 20, 2022
A very difficult read for me but it’s been extremely rewarding. Such an eye opening experience on what it means to appreciate art, what happens when it deviates from our understanding - based on preconceived notions but as well, our own understanding of things (that sweet spot of distinguishing for yourself what’s true / not).
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews