Good "What is Art?" Discussion Links/References

Hi--

not looking to start a What is Art thread,

but where can I find a really really good discussion of both sides of

the issue?

I've read sontag and camera obscura,

but i'd sort of like both sides represented in one text--

any resources/references/links?

thanks,

alex

<a href="http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/artartists/artartists.html">This</a> should give you a good start to your above question.<p>

Instead of "What is Art"? why don't you ask "What isn't Art"? and see where that takes you.

A really good and "accessible" introductory book is "The Art Question" by Nigel Warburton. It canvases just about everything from Plato to modern (and dare I say) post-modern theory with most of the emphasis placed on the two rival theories of the past century: Formalism and Expressionism. The book does not discriminate between mediums, though examples from painting are used most often with photography finishing off the book.

 

cheers,

Aaron

Aaron - I just read a review on The Art Question. Nigel Warburton is a philosopher, so it seems to me that his views on expression and theory should be solid. I've been reading books on art in general as well as individual artist and have found them to be enlightening. I will be purchasing this book. Thanks for the tip.