Julian Stallabrass

This book is less about art works than it is about the art world. It attempts to evaluate the art world's self-images, and to explain the art-world economy and its place in global political economies. It is a dense book, requiring close attention to keep up with the strands of argument; but it does not reek of social-scientific verbosity. Even if one finally rejects all or part of the argument, it will have made one do some hard thinking.

I had been looking for a book that would explain to me why I should give a rat's backside about art critics' and curators' evaluations of contemporary art. This provided a partial answer to that question. I thought that the argument is well-made. I wish it were more comprehensive, but then it is constrained by being an introduction and by being about contemporary art. I know I did not fully understand it the first time through, so I will have to read it again. I look forward to doing so.… (mere)