Art History: The Basics

This book is my first exposure to modern art histories. I am not an academic nor enrolled student; just a curious layperson. After reading this, I am more than just curious, I thirst for more.The book throws out a lot of names and complicated ideas. It scratches the surface enough to give the flavor of the contours of thought in this complex discipline and enough to leave me wanting more. Fortunately, each chapter contains a descriptive further reading section—this book is going to sell books by other authors.This book will remain my overall bibliography and starting guide for years to come as I delve further into art history, or rather, art histories.

This little book is a gem. A crash course by scholars. A+

The Basics offers exactly what it claims to offer--a quick and dirty breakdown of the theories of art history at their most basic. It is a fantastic tool and starting point (STARTING point, it does require some work on the part of the reader when it comes to fleshing out some of the content). Perfect for students, I loved it.

Whether you are just beginning in Art History or you need a quick little reference guide that easily breaks down concepts, this is the book to have. I can't emphasize enough how handy this little book has been for me!

nicely packed information in a little book. good introduction reading and easy to understand book. what i've been looking for in a very long time.

Complex discussion of Art and all it's facets, but may be too deep a discussion for the none art major.

I liked this book although for a book that says it is "the basics" I found it to be very dense.

Grant Pooke (History and Philosophy of Art at Kent University) and Diana Newall (previously an authoring consultant for Open University Teach&Learn Project) have put together a concise and intellectually subtle survey of major thinkers and movements. The book starts off on the thin side, expounding in a note format the more basic methodologies that have populated the critical landscape, but it soon proceeds to fashion a veritable journey through ideas and thinkers which have mystified the lot of writers out there who devote themselves to a commercial, democratic project such as this. In other words when the authors discuss semiotics and poststructuralism, post-marxism, T.J. Clark, or representations of gender, they assume the role of a professional teacher that seeks to explain while demanding of himself or herself to impart understanding to its audience. When it is impossible to do justice to a thinker or an artist (such as Adorno or Gerhadt Richter) they give just enough inofrmation to illustrate the relevance they had on Art History, and do so with such penetrating insights as to leave any perplexing questions in its proper perspective and within a responsible vantage point. When they can, and this happens much too often given the space they operate within, they offer exceptional readings that in a nutshell give the full panoply of the impact and wisdom of such art critics as T.J. Clark, Hal Foster, Linda Nochlin, Chasseguet-Smirgel, Baudrillard, Mulvey, Danto and Lyotard (to be honest they leave something to be desired in repsects to the October school of Art critics, but they do incorporate them just enough). They dabble just fine into Charles Sanders Pierce and Lacan - a sucess worth thebook on its own accord.In essence this is an invaluable compendium of theorists and ideas that reads fluidly and may well substitute for thousands of dollars spent on a University Course. And they give a very instructive reading of many artists (such as Smithson, Jago Max Williams, Jacques-Louis David, Judy Chicago, Eduard Manet, Duchamps, Malevich, George Dannatt, Kapoor, Koons amongst others). One should receive credits for reading the book. Yes it is that good. If you haven't the time to devote years to reading all the thinkers and movements they touchupon, do pick this book up and devote a week to it. It will soon lay by your bedside and increase your understanding of the topic exponentially. And this comes from someone who has devoted years to reading most all the critics and artists they discuss. An excellent introduction and an even better survey that gives direction and disseminates possible readings.

This was written by people who know their subject and delight in letting us mere mortals know.Even with the benefit of my doctorate, I found this just too difficult for something billed as the basics.I also feel that the left leaning anti-establishment theme is inappropriate in a book with educational ambitions.Not enjoyable.

interesting for reading

This book is great for those reading about art history for the first time but if you know a good amount about the main ideas in art there isn't anything new for you here.

Pooke & Newall`s book is a must for students of the history of art...I decided to pursue my love (probably obsession) with art and I began studying art history academically in September 2011, after a 20-odd year hiatus (first essay was a nightmare for so many reasons), with the wonderful Open University. I had developed what had become a nascent intrigue into where it had all come from, where it was heading, what it all really meant. One of the first things I discovered is that art history/the history of art are not exactly interchangeable terms, but have distinct meanings. This seemingly minor point, as well as concepts such as "what is art", are covered to begin with... it leads the undergraduate/amateur art sleuth through a structured introduction to this massive paradigm...It goes on to look at methodologies, gender issues, Marxism, semiotics, poststructuralism (good luck...), pschoanalysis, postmodernism and a look at globalisation.The book covers the subjects very well, it is well researched and sourced, it is easily readable which makes it accessible and crucially for the beginner it offers pithy summaries. It will form part of the essential introduction to learning the 'new' art history I am sure...If you are serious about getting serious about this subject, as I am, then you will do well to find a better starting point... I`d advise you not to wade in at the what I`d call the top end (other primary & secondary sources will all be revealed in time and are referred to throughout) as you will either get lost or put off.If you are like me and want to run before you can crawl then buy this book... you will be flaneuring before you know it...rw

I seldom used it for my class.

Good book which led me to the one I was looking for: 'The story of art' by Gombrich.They clearly explain basics of art and the book is not that big so it is easy to read it quickly.Recommended!

I think the title is slightly ambiguous. More knowledge of Art History is required in order to benefit from it.

This should really be titled "Theories on NEW art history". As a mature student I came to art history as an outsider and was surprised to find a debate raging in academia over re-interpreting art & history through contemporary hang-ups. This book refers mostly to modern ideologies in making a pseudo science of art history. There are plenty of "isms" - Marxism, feminism, post-colonialism, etc but not much art. It worries me when art historians identify themselves with these leanings as it surely undermines objectivity & research. I guess the book is useful to have an alternative view so I'll keep it even though I dislike it. As a holiday book I found it a very handy size for swatting wasps.

its not most interseting way of putting it!

Thanks.

Fast delivery, as expected.

I bought this book because I have developed a superficial interest in art and had enrolled on a course. It is written in an almost unintelligible manner - I hated it and only read it because it was recommended reading for the course. Talk about a glass ceiling I really tried to break through but no luck

This was recommended to me as a good basic introduction to art history.Looks promising but haven't read it yet. Good, quick delivery.