Book Reviews: Art Theory: A Very Short Introduction by Cynthia A. Freeland

Jason Roberts‘s review

If you know next to nothing about art theory, and in fact think that words like “art” and “theory” should seldom be in the same sentence, this is a good book for you. The author’s approach is to discuss major aspects of art by focusing primarily on specific authors or works, and then secondarily weaving in short introductions to theories and theorists. I found it unfortunate that philosophical treatments are scarce compared to art criticism. Of course by the end of the book you will still wonder whether a brillo box in a museum (or a dead shark, for that matter) really is art and why. But you will have been exposed to at the least the very basics of how to answer that question meaningfully and in an informed way. (My answer: no, in both the brillo and the dead shark cases.)