The Reenchantment of Art

by Suzi Gablik

Confronts the effects of modernism on society and proposes a remedy based on a redefinition of our art and culture

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Philosophy

216 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1991

Reviews

[D. A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I'll have to revisit this to make sure it deserves the 5 star rating, this book really helped to transform my own philosophy of art, it impacted my poetry and made me horribly prolific. This book was in many ways a muse to me during a particular soul-searching episode of my life. My quarter-life crisis as it were.

That said, several of the subjects in this have stuck with me, and with the advent of the web, and free-flow of information, the ability to research at greater lengths a few of them. Only recently when trying to remember the name of this book & the author, did I renew my interest.

A desire to both read it again, and write a thorough critique of it. There are notes somewhere in a box marked Miami, which will have to be dug out first.

Yet if you see it, in the library, or elsewhere, do buy/borrow it, and read it. A snapshot of the times, and how we are struggling towards a new definition of art.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each work/each day is connected. Individual and combined. Time and change are connected to place. Real change is best understood by staying in one place.

p92- temporary, delicate, transient Nature is subject not backdrop of work. Approach premised on respect rather than domination. unobtrusive. found materials at site w/o tools. tunes in to landscape and seasons. photographs it before it crumbles.

timing is crucial he prefers works where nature pushes on him. he is ruled by nature. has no problem w/machinery or technology of photos. river of ----- not snake FLOWING time.

andy goldsworthy

[Maggi Horseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book changed my concept on what is "fine art"

[Laura Degenhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired!

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uh. I think I understood some of it. You have to really attend.

[Jean Bosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty interesting assessment of where art is at right about now and what fruitful pathways seem open to it for the future.

BUT: I do not share her enthusiasm for the sorts of socially conscious, ethical, ecological art that reconstructive postmodernists are engaging in. If people want to perform those very worthwhile human activities and describe themselves as "artists" that's fine by me.

AND: I disagree with her (and others') assessment of deconstructive postmodernism, namely that it has some sort of logical, inevitable end.

Luckily, I read her book on Magritte (written about 20 years earlier) immediately after this and felt a renewed sense of hope for the future possibilities of art...

[Hava Liberman · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting take on the purpose of art and a lot less *crunchy* than I thought it would be. but I can't buy the author's idea that art should service community and environmentalism. art is about self expression not do-goodism and despite being all in favor art and of doing good, when the two meet the result is usually not good!

[Icha Rahadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the end it'll all back to basic.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good examination of the problems with post-modern art and the sense of futility it carries with it compared to the benefits of communal, spiritual, heartfelt creation.

[Rina Corpus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful critique of artists' disenchantment over Cartesian and the Western developmental thought in art and culture.

[Duke Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book for my MA Arts Leadership course: Community Engagement for the Arts.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

mind changing book