What Art is
What Art Is by Arthur C. Danto, published by Yale University Press in 2013, is a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of art. In this first edition, Danto addresses the complex question of what constitutes a work of art, challenging the notion that art is indefinable. He presents a compelling argument that art is defined by meaning and embodiment, alongside the viewer’s interpretation, engaging with philosophical concepts and historical developments in art.
Readers will find a rich discussion that spans various genres and eras, beginning with Plato’s insights in The Republic and extending to modern interpretations, including Andy Warhol’s iconic works. Danto examines the contributions of notable philosophers such as Descartes and Kant, as well as influential artists from Michelangelo to Duchamp. This book offers a comprehensive look at the interconnectedness of art, philosophy, and aesthetics, making it a significant addition to the discourse on art criticism and theory. With 174 pages, this edition is presented in English and invites readers to reflect on the universal meanings embedded in artistic expression.
Official synopsis Publisher
A lively meditation on the nature of art by one of America’s most celebrated art critics
What is it to be a work of art? Renowned author and critic Arthur C. Danto addresses this fundamental, complex question. Part philosophical monograph and part memoiristic meditation, What Art Is challenges the popular interpretation that art is an indefinable concept, instead bringing to light the properties that constitute universal meaning. Danto argues that despite varied approaches, a work of art is always defined by two essential criteria: meaning and embodiment, as well as one additional criterion contributed by the viewer: interpretation. Danto crafts his argument in an accessible manner that engages with both philosophy and art across genres and eras, beginning with Plato’s definition of art in The Republic, and continuing through the progress of art as a series of discoveries, including such innovations as perspective, chiaroscuro, and physiognomy. Danto concludes with a fascinating discussion of Andy Warhol’s famous shipping cartons, which are visually indistinguishable from the everyday objects they represent.
Throughout, Danto considers the contributions of philosophers including Descartes, Kant, and Hegel, and artists from Michelangelo and Poussin to Duchamp and Warhol, in this far-reaching examination of the interconnectivity and universality of aesthetic production.
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