Book Description
Exposes the charlatanry that fuels much academic art history today and leaks into the art world generally.
Customer Reviews:
Crimes Committed for the Future.......2007-07-14
Aside from many trips to the dictionary due to the fact Mr. Kimball has an enormous and delicious vocabulary, I found this book to be informative but mostly full of opportunites to chuckle. It's no surprise that given the trends in academia, the role of art critic has evolved into the practical, obedient soldier that serves a greater "social" purpose aligned with postmodernist philosophies that tend to politicize everything. However at some point, should we readily believe or not question these scholars, we could become unmoored from our sensory selves, our spirits, our inner mysteries that draw us to themes in an unplanned way. Then, we will listen to anything, we will like anything, or if we are told, we can be taught to like something. This undermines the aesthetic value of art. Moreover, if today's art critic is evaluating works via a constricted predictable prism, then my fear is that "artists" will produce to please the critics.
I have to say, as a female, I found the constant feminist and gender interpretations silly, especially with Sargent's "The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit" and with Gauguin's "Spirit of the Dead Watching". Aside from the tremendous fatigue of reading the examples of group-speak, I felt that these critics were trying to kill the first-impression appeal of the works. It made me feel as if I were at a crime scene.
In essence, Mr. Kimball demonstrates that the superimposition of current petit theories on great works has permeated art departments in higher education, just as this narrow tendency to evaluate phenomena has permeated other departments. He closes with an apropos quote from Oscar Wilde, reminding us that overcomplication may serve the interests of the viewer and not the object: "Only a shallow person does not judge by appearances."
Exposes "Theory" As An Intellectual Sewer.......2007-07-13
The "theory" people (deconstructionism, postmodernism, poststructuralism, ad infinitum, ad nauseum) have had their way with our intellectual life. Kimball exposes their work for the scam that it is. We've polluted the minds of our children, lost our own intellectual history, destroyed truth, and removed beauty because so few voices have been willing to rise in opposition to the self-referential and self-important Academy. Bravo Roger Kimball. What art "means" is perhaps not always easy, but it's certainly not what some intellectual cretin decides to invent to support their puerile theories. An A+ book that every thinking person ought to read - especially before they send their children to the Academy for political re-education ...
Less Manners, More Teeth..Please.......2007-06-20
Most people by now are familiar with the term "artspeak", which refers to the dissembling, pompous form of obfuscation which is used, purposefully, to hoodwink people who would like to be free to form their own opinions and judgments about art.
The primary perpetrators of artspeak are art critics and art historians--and also, notably, contemporary artists. In this book, Roger Kimball (himself a critic and historian) takes the first two examples on. He convincingly shows, by using a common sense approach and level-headed prose, that many art critics are more devoted to gamesmanship and specious reasoning than to scholarship. In the last chapter, Kimball reveals that the purpose of his book is to provide a "b.s. detector" for the common man.
Well and good. This is an entertaining book with a wealth of information about the examples it covers. But it's also a bit recherche in that its scope is very limited. To engage in an esoteric battle over 7 examples of iconic art is merely to address the nose of the camel. The problem is that most people really couldn't give a fig about art historians and their quarrels.
The book would have been more effective, and more relevant, if it had addressed the full establishment of the art world as it is today. Kimball could have further addressed and provided examples of contemporary art which, in his words, "have been elevated from the mediocre through false aggrandizement." He could have examined the effects of political correctness in the college art departments, the galleries and the museums--where people encounter some of the truly awful results of the failure to instill craft and honesty in students of art today.
"Rape of the Masters" is a pleasant and erudite book that addresses some foolishness regarding modern interpretations of classic art---interesting, but only a sideshow to some of the real and heavy damage that's going on. The book is simply in need of less formal manners, and a lot more teeth.
Killing of Art.......2007-03-29
Amazing. Similar to the "Killing of History," showing how similar tactics are applied in the art world. Illustrates how modern art historians and interpreters are engaged in replacing actual experiencing of art with theories of art, political relevance, the commentator's free associations - in short, with text, rather than visual response and contemplation of the actual presentation.
A related goal of the intelligentsia of this ilk is to present emotions as superior to the intellect, specifically as guides and motivators to producing, understanding, and appreciating art (and, by extension, life in general - including politics).
The irrational lengths these critics go to is bewildering; and that they are accepted in so many circles is frightening. Shows a widespread lack of intellectual discrimination.
The author provides an entertaining illustration of how postmodernism is the deadend of irrationalism. Denying the usefulness of reason even for its own ideas. All it leaves is emotionalism. Western culture appears to be on a slippery slope of intellectual incompetence, plunging into a dark age (bloody and mystical), or, hopefully, a rebirth of the Enlightenment spirit of reason will emerge thanks to books such as this.
You Might Need A Dictionary.......2007-03-15
Great subject, good insight. Some impressive vocabulary words as well! I read this while traveling and wished several times for a dictionary, but overall I enjoyed the author's perspective and explainations of how PC fervor is altering the face of art. My favorite anecdote was where the artist himself flatly stated in a letter than he had drawn a boat because he saw one - he was sorry if the viewers had attempted to draw any further interpretation because none was intended! If you would like to take a brief journey into the world of politcal-correctness-crazy academia that will make you laugh out loud, try this one.
Customer Reviews:
Great for Art Class.......2007-09-18
I use this whole series in my Art Class to Elementary children. They love this extra activity. It builds their confidence that they can draw identifible things. They even take multiple instructions and create a whole picture. I ripped the book apart and laminated the pages into easy to use cards. Works great!
Perfect for Children.......2006-07-27
Very pleased with this How to Draw Book. Our Grandchildren--ages 5 and 7--- sat down and immediately started drawing people from the book. I was amazed! Easy directions for them to understand.
Book Description
Step-by-step diagrams make it easy to draw people of all shapes and sizes, engaged in a variety of activities. By joining circles, ovals, rectangles, and other shapes, beginning artists can create a boy on a swing, a fireman, drummer, mailman, cowboy, and 25 other subjects. Includes blank practice pages.
Customer Reviews:
Just what I needed.......2007-01-04
This was a gift for my grandson who is currently drawing everything in sight
I purchased the book to encourage him to try new ways of seeing people, and to get him to draw things other than Thomas the Tank engine. It worked
Average customer rating:
- Oh nO! I paid [money]!
- it really bad. It didn't help me at all.
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How to Draw People (Young Artist Series)
A. Smith
Manufacturer: E.D.C. Publishing
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0746009984 |
Customer Reviews:
Oh nO! I paid [money]!.......2002-09-29
I tend to agree,somewhat,with the last reviewer.I can teach myself to draw faces and figures in an easier way.This was kind of useless.Thank goodness it was really cheap.When will I ceise to be disappointed by these how to draw books????
it really bad. It didn't help me at all........1999-04-19
THIS WHOLE BOOK WAS VERY BAD THAT I THINK I'M GOING TO THROWUP FROM THE HORRID STENCH OF NO SKILL THAT THIS AUTHOR HAS.
Average customer rating:
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How to Draw People (Doodle Books)
Rob Court
Manufacturer: Child's World
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
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ASIN: 1592968090 |
Customer Reviews:
a must have for young budding artists.......2006-12-29
I bought this for my 9 -1/2 y/o budding artist. She asked me one day how to draw a nose. So we went to the library and found this book among many other art books. It was a 'have-to-have'. It is perfect for 8y/o & older. Each aspect of the face(eyes, ears, etc...) is simply illustratrated across several pages. It also covers facial expressions, perpective, color, patterns and much more. What a find!
A simple way to become an artist.......2000-08-16
This book by Angela Gair is a small thesaurus for all those who want to be artists. Although not easy at first, this book guides you step-by-step to a successful design. Being an art student myself, I found this book not only very attractive to read, but also very helpful in my course. It may need time, patience and effort to achieve the desirable outcome, but I believe that in the end everyone will appreciate the value of this book.
Average customer rating:
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How To Draw People & Animals
Robert Pierce
Manufacturer: Weekly Reader Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B00071A06Q |
Book Description
For most beginners, people are the most rewarding, yet the most difficult subject. But experienced artists know a variety of secrets and shortcuts which are revealed here by a popular art educator. Ten progressive step-by-step demonstrations turn a beginner into a practiced artist by emphasizing particular challenges such as proportion, posture, balance, and clothing, as well as the elusive facial expression qualities of personality and character. Each project matches a unique combination of subject and medium: young woman standing (charcoal); young man standing (soft pencils); people on holiday (pastel pencils); child sitting (pencil); girl dancing (charcoal and chalk); wedding group (range of pencils); children playing (pastel pencils); people in sepia (conté); people sitting (colored pencils); and family gathering (line and wash).
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant!.......2007-04-11
I have taught art for the last 20 years. I teach both 11-18 year olds and adults and bought this book because the most difficult area for beginners is learning to draw the human figure. Few other books manage to help beginners; they usually assume prior knowledge and understanding of the subject, but this book begins with basics, showing and explaining to readers how to look, see, understand shape, negative space, proportion, structure, tone, fabric folds and texture. At any point, readers can stop and either leave their drawings or carry on to extremely detailed finish. The variety of subjects and materials used are also refreshing and with every project, there is an alternative picture for readers to work from and an example of the original drawing in an alternative medium.
I wish I'd had this book when I was learning to draw, or at least over the last 20 years since I've been teaching. Many of my students of all ages and levels have responded brilliantly to this book and have improved speedily and well. I would recommend it to anyone and will certainly buy more books by this author.
BIG on promise, little on delivery: I just cannot learn from a book like this. It's written for some kind of ROBOT........2006-05-04
"How to Draw People" by Susie Hodge
I have learned by now, to sense an "alert" at certain key words found on the cover of drawing books, that indicate gimmicky advertising promises, and these kind of books never measure up to their purpose. Warning Words such as: "ultimate," or "complete-guide-to" or "absolute" and so forth. Good drawing books never use extreme claims. The Warning Word in "How to Draw People" is on the back cover:
"...the ESSENTIAL starting point for beginners who want to learn the basics and enjoy drawing."
So, with the word "ESSENTIAL," the author/publisher is telling us that this method is EXCLUSIVE of all other drawing methods. None of the other methods will work. Only this method. This method is the very ....ESSENCE.
The back cover goes on to clarify:
"10 practical demonstrations broken down into STEP-BY-STEP STAGES".
So much for how the publisher saw this book. Allow me to tell you how I saw it. On the page of each "step-by-step" lesson, I saw illustrations that I could never draw, but worse, 1/2 to 3/4ths of the lesson pages were full of wordy text, attempting to clarify what the author's illustrations could not teach.
On page 13 there are 2 illustrations of the SIMPLIFIED FIGURETTE, or BLOCK PUPPETS. Mind you now, that's 2 pictures, and NOT 2 pages full of pictures of the human figure image that most books use many times over to show the human figure sitting, standing, bending, and/or lying down. NOT a single SIMPLIFIED FIGURETTE is used to show any kind of human ACTION, or activity at all. No ball-throwing, no jumping, no kicking, no bending around, no punching. Nothing. Nada. Ninguno. Zip. This book is supposed to be ONLY about drawing PEOPLE and nothing else. But they are people who just sit or stand like posing for some photograph.
The author is limited to using only one single style of drawing. There are several styles or methods possible. Most drawing books show a little of each. For example, you can use blocks, or cubes, or triangles to roughly draw the human figures. You might use sticks, or even OVALS. Then there are Line Drawings, and Gesture Drawings. This author relies almost entirely on Line Drawings Only. So if you hope to get a broad or general view such as most beginner books teach, you will not find that here. The author's drawings are rather perfect. So if a beginner tries to draw perfect LINE DRAWINGS, and fails, how is that beginner going to feel? Just terrible. I know I would. That's a method of STEP-BY-STEP instruction that I call very hurtful to a BEGINNER.
This book is so strange, that it does not even mention drawing on ordinary NEWSPRINT [the common drawing paper that is the same stuff that newspapers are printed on] in the section on MATERIALS. I just reviewed another book today that says: "Newsprint is invaluable for sketching and preliminary work." Go figure.
Many BEGINNER artists are children. With all the wordy text on the lesson pages, this would not be an easy drawing book for children at all.
Average customer rating:
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How to draw people at work
Arthur Zaidenberg
Manufacturer: Abelard-Schuman
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Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: 0200716727 |
Book Description
All aspects of drawing are made easy in this comprehensive, fully illustrated step-by-step guide which is packed with expert advice and illustrated with more than 550 colour photographs.
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Industrial film maker (Real people at work)
James R Willard
Manufacturer: Educational Research Council of America
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Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: B00071U9NU |
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Card Captor Sakura, tome 5
Clamp
Manufacturer: Pika
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 2845990456 |
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Card Captor Sakura #5
Clamp
Manufacturer: Editorial Ivrea
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ASIN: 9871071078 |
Books:
- The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
- Tibetan Designs (Dover Pictorial Archives)
- To Paint Her Life: Charlotte Salomon in the Nazi Era
- Type in Motion 2
- Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book: A Primer for Tender Young Minds
- Walter Benjamin: Selected Writings, Volume 2, part 1, 1927-1930 (Walter Benjamin)
- Watercolor Workbook
- What Good Are the Arts?
- Wolf Kahn Pastels
- Zen of Seeing: Seeing/Drawing as Meditation
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