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The Dilemma and its Alternative Idea of Contemporary Art Criticism

  • Journal of History of Modern Art
  • 2001, (11), pp.97-117
  • Publisher : 현대미술사학회
  • Research Area : Arts and Kinesiology > Art > Arts in general > Art History
  • Received : May 31, 2001
  • Accepted : April 30, 2001
  • Published : May 31, 2001

CHOI,TAE-MAN 1

1국민대학교

ABSTRACT

In 1975, Tom Wolfe criticized that present state of American art trends became fashionable one. Because art began to serve fashion and theory, he fore­ seen that the major museums will change their exhibition materials to The Painted Word rather than real paintings. 10 years later, Victor Burgin predicated that art theory is already end. Besides, the academic philosopher, Arthur Danto has men tioned about the end of art. As an evidence, he presented Brillo box by Andy Warhol which has showed at the Stable Gallery in 1964. These contradictory theories cause many questions; what is art criticism? what is the main goal of art criticism? And art critics can offer an exact way and sight to the audience who want to accept a useful method from them for good comprehension? Although art criticism provides broad opportunity in order to appreciate and comprehend of artworks, since art criticism appeared in the West before the 19th century with the raise of art world such as market, journalism and audience, the theorization of art has been predicted. The theorization of art caused not only the alienanon of art but also reinforced art as a theory itself. The purpose of this article is to confirm about the role of art criticism in contemporary society through to prove the dilemma of art criticism. For this purpose, I reviewed several opinions on the problem of contemporary art criticism which were wrote by art critic themselves. Most critics concerned that the institutionalization and the spread expanded consumptional situation of art caused a helplessness sense of criticism, it can be seen as a decoration for art market. No matter what criticism focused on the interpretation of artwork, it seems to be a part of written ornament. With basic investigation on these references, I examined some questions in order to understand the condition of art criticism as below. Has art criticism really disappeared in our tin1e? What is the relationship between art criticism and theory? Is it possible to prove art criticism as a practice? Can we distinguish between the use and abuse of art criticism? Is it true that the excess of information caused the absence of meaning in postmodern era? According to this critical approach, I suppose that art criticism has to return to the authentic dialectic method based on critical vision on art and society. It means that art criticism take charge of cultural action as a social activity. In conclusion, contemporary art criticism is facing in front of the claim of dialectic criticism.

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