Beyond Critique: Contemporary Art in Theory, Practice, and Instruction

Description

Critique has long been a central concept within art practice and theory. Since the emergence of Conceptual Art, artists have been expected by critics, curators, and art school faculty to focus their work on exposing and debunking ideologies of power and domination. Recently, however, the effectiveness of cultural critique has come into question. The appearance of concepts such as the “speculative,” the “reparative,” and the “constructive” suggests an emerging postcritical paradigm. Beyond Critique takes stock of the current discourse around this issue. With some calling for a renewed criticality and others rejecting the model entirely, the book’s contributors explore a variety of new and recently reclaimed criteria for contemporary art and its pedagogy. Some propose turning toward affect and affirmation; others seek to reclaim such allegedly discredited concepts as intimacy, tenderness, and spirituality. With contributions from artists, critics, curators, and historians, this book provides new ways of thinking about the historical role of critique while also exploring a wide range of alternative methods and aspirations. Beyond Critique will be a crucial tool for students and instructors who are seeking to think and work beyond the critical. Cover page Halftitle page Title page Copyright page Contents Notes on Contributors Acknowledgments Permissions Introduction: Beyond Critique References Part One History and Theory 1 An Allegory of Criticism* I II III Notes References 2 Fluxus and the Art of Affirmation Note References 3 Defining Criticality as an Historical Object of the 1970s and 1980s Invention circa 1970 Entrenchment and retrenchment circa 1984 Critiques of criticality circa 1987 Notes References 4 “The people were smart and hungry”: Criticality, Egalitarianism, and the Pictures Generation Notes References 5 Shiny Things Part Two Practice 6 Still in the Cage: Thoughts on “Two Undiscovered Amerindians,” 20 Years Later 7 Parasitism and Contemporary Art I. Theaster Gates, the face of Chicago’s urban development II. Tania Bruguera, art, migration and risk III. Parasites and their hosts Notes References 8 Time, Autonomy, and Criticality in Socially Engaged Art Notes References 9 Radical Proximity Notes References 10 Post-Critical Painting Limits of criticality The legacy of critical painting Beyond criticality References 11 Intimate Bureaucracies: A [Sweetened and Condensed] Manifesto Call to (f)action References Part Three Instruction 12 On Performing the Critical Critical pedagogies: Art, education, and subjectivity Reengaging critique Notes References 13 Consideration (As an Antidote to Critique) Antagonistic critique Analytic consideration (Religious) reconsiderations Classroom considerations Notes References 14 Re-Thinking Art Education (Revisited), or How I Learned to Love Art Schools Again This is about options: Education, art school, and other ways References 15 Pragmatics of Studio Critique Positions Pragmatics Propositions Confluences Remainders Notes References 16 Will the Circle Be Unbroken? Gift, Circulation, and Community Building in the Studio Art Crit Introduction Gift Work of the gift in the studio crit Circular critique: Models as gifts Transformation Conclusion References Index