You
will find many books recommended to you throughout your work on the
course; you will also find reading lists attached to some of the teaching
material on this website. The books presented here will help you in
your work in Signposts and beyond; links are included for further
research.
The
following are essential reading for the course:
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Gombrich,
E., (1995), 'The
Story of Art', Phaidon
Although this offers a rather conventional understanding of
mainstream Western european art history, it is quite unique
in its comprehensiveness and is therefore essential to gaining
an overview of the history of current art practices (and therefore
your own work). |
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Pointon,
M., (1997), 'History of Art: A Student's Handbook', London
This is not just about history of art; it's a really useful
handbook which, amongst other things, explains how you might
analyse artwork. |
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Adams,
LS., (1996), 'The Methodologies of Art: An Introduction (Semiotics
1), HarperCollins
|
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Berger,
J., (1972), 'Ways of Seeing', London
'Seeing comes
before words. The child looks and recognises before it can speak.
But there is also another sense in which seeing comes before
words. It is seeing which establishes our place in the surrounding
world; we explain that world within words, but words can never
undo the fact that we are surrounded by it. The relation between
what we see and what we know is never settled.' [John
Berger, Ways of Seeing. London: BBC 1972, p. 7]
Although 'Ways of Seeing' was written nearly thirty years ago,
it still makes radical points about how we 'see', our assumptions
about seeing and how seeing is inscribed by gender. |
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Barthes,
R., (2000), 'Mythologies,'
Vintage, London
Semiotics, advertising and the art world are now indissolubly
linked and Barthes' theory of myth and semiotics is instrumental
in understanding this and the irreducible relationship between
art and culture. |
 |
Harrison,
C., (1997), 'Modernism', Tate Gallery Publishing
Synopsis
(from Amazon):
'Modernism is a broad term, used generally to convey a faith
in progress and a healthy scepticism for received ideas and
traditional values. More specifically, the Modernist tendency
has often been associated with the main developments in art
over the past 150 years, and with the art's highest achievements.
However, those concerned to maintain traditional values in one
form or another see "Modernist" art as merely one
alternative among many, and perhaps en empty or misguided one.
This work looks at Modernist art of the 20th century, in order
to show exactly what are the defining characteristics of modernism,
and also looks at the critical reaction, both positive and negative,
to such work.'
This book provides a sound overview of modernism which is essential
for building an understanding of the development of western
art in the twentieth century and beyond. |
The books listed below are invaluable reference texts; buy some of
them if you can. The first two are stuffed with artists' writings;
the next two provide sources for a proper understanding of modernism
and postmodernism; the last five are dictionaries which you may find
of use throughout the course:
| Artist's
Writings |
Stiles, K. & Selz, P., (1996), 'Theories
and Documents of Contemporary Art: A Sourcebook of Artists'
Writings', University of California Press
• Frascina, F. & Harrison, C., (1983), 'Modern Art
and Modernism: A Critical Anthology', HarperCollins
Book
Description (from Amazon):
'Modern Art and Modernism presents a selection of texts by the
major contributors to debate on this subject, from Baudelaire
and Zola in the nineteenth century to Greenberg and T. J. Clark
in our own times. It offers a balanced section of essays by
contributors to the mainstream of Modernist criticism, representative
examples of writing on the themes of abstraction and expression
in modern art, and a number of important contributions to the
discussion of aesthetics and the social role of the artist.
Several of these are made available in English translation for
the first time, and others are brought together from a wide
range of periodicals and specialized collections.'
 |
| Modernism/Postmodernism |
Chipp, WB., (1968), 'Theories of Modern Art: A Source Book by
Artists and Critics', University of California Press
• Docherty, T., (Ed) (1993), 'Postmodernism: A Reader',
Harvester/Wheatsheaf
|
| Critical
Dictionaries |
•
Murray, P & L., (1984), 'A Dictionary of Art and Artists',
Viking Press
 Williams,
R., (1985), 'Keywords:
A Vocabulary of Culture and Society', Oxford University
Press
 Cuddon,
JA., (1991), 'Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory',
Penguin
Rycroft,
Charles, (1995), 'Critical Dictionary of Psychoanalysis', Penguin
Hoad,TF.,
(1995), 'The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology',
Oxford Paperback Reference |
Further
links to be added
Please email suggestions for inclusion to: p1ramsay@plymouth.ac.uk
Katie MacLeod / Paul Ramsay 2006-8
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Teaching
Materials