The Strange Place of Religion in Contemporary Art Commentary

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Start your review of On the Strange Place of Organized religion in Contemporary Art

May xxx, 2021 Filip Šimek rated it information technology was amazing

Really interesting essay/book. Elkins is just amazing in the style he can communicate often hard ideas in very playful and though provoking way. Using a stories for explaining complicated ideas is equally old as humanity, although we don't run across it that often in scientific or academic writing. Really interesting essay/book. Elkins is just amazing in the fashion he tin can communicate often difficult ideas in very playful and though provoking way. Using a stories for explaining complicated ideas is as quondam as humanity, although we don't meet it that often in scientific or academic writing. ...more

I was quite disappointed past this book. The author sadly does not claiming our assumptions near the traditional divide betwixt religion and gimmicky art.

He relates the WHOLE history of religious art in one chapter, stating in vague terms that "something changed during the Renaissance" and affirming that past the 20th century "organized religion had sunk out of sight." (Even though many avant-gardes were securely religious, such as the Blaue Reiter, de Stijl, Russian constructivism, Abstract Expressionis

I was quite disappointed by this book. The author sadly does not challenge our assumptions about the traditional divide between organized religion and contemporary art.

He relates the WHOLE history of religious fine art in one affiliate, stating in vague terms that "something changed during the Renaissance" and affirming that past the 20th century "religion had sunk out of sight." (Fifty-fifty though many avant-gardes were securely religious, such every bit the Blaue Reiter, de Stijl, Russian constructivism, Abstract Expressionism, etc.).

While citing mod artists who dealt with religious christian motifs, such as Emil Nolde, Dali, Rouault, Chagall, and Francis Bacon, the author dismisses these examples as not being truly religious, since Nolde was "in a state of ecstatic trance" at the time (p. 13), Dali was simply applying his "paranoiac-critical" surrealist method (p. 14), and equally for Bacon, his painting is "gruesome" and is "hardly the kind of religious image that could be placed in a church building." Therefore, these artworks are apparently not taken into consideration.

"When organized religion does come upward in the art globe, it is because at that place has been a scandal: someone has painted a Madonna using elephant dung, or put a statuette of Jesus into a jar of urine." While he does take a betoken, this does non prove that serious religious art isn't being created, it only doesn't receive every bit much attention as the "scandalous" work, PRECISELY because serious work isn't interesting for reporters.

Also, Elkins affirms that "fine art" is the source of all other forms of art, which also deserves to be questioned. Or not, manifestly: "If y'all notice yourself at variance with these definitions or the assumptions that atomic number 82 me to them, then this book may pose a trouble that isn't a problem for y'all. In which case I would only say that your sense of fine art might take been compromised (simplified, reduced) by the need to imagine that information technology is different from and equal to other kinds of fine art-making." So apparently I was just wrong, sorry!

Religious art is oftentimes bad and "kitsch" and simply has "no place" in the art world. "Modernism is merely like that." (But WHY though?) The style he disses his ain Korean fine art educatee is pretty hilarious- because her English isn't and so skilful he assumes she isn't able to follow his classes and he concludes to himself that she could probably produce religious commercial posters or something merely definitely not "fine art." I can't tell to what degree he's beingness serious or if it's meant to be ironic then I won't insist on that one.

That being said, if you want to read this book go ahead, it'southward far from a waste matter of time and quite entertaining, I just had a few problems with it.

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Not a definitive overview of the identify of organized religion in contemporary fine art, just an intelligent (and entertaining!) starting point for further thought.

Dec 16, 2009 Nathaniel rated it really liked it

While this short book is mildly dissatisfying in some respects, I accept still come abroad from the feel with a chock handful of fresh leads/citations to follow and with a newfound perspective on my own piece of work, which does engage with religion, admitting indirectly. For sparking off a dozen internal conversations and explicitly defining the source and quality of the deep squeamishness I have felt concerning the religious and contemporary art, I give this book an overall positive rating, even thousand While this brusk book is mildly dissatisfying in some respects, I have notwithstanding come abroad from the experience with a chock handful of fresh leads/citations to follow and with a newfound perspective on my ain work, which does appoint with faith, albeit indirectly. For sparking off a dozen internal conversations and explicitly defining the source and quality of the deep squeamishness I accept felt concerning the religious and gimmicky art, I requite this book an overall positive rating, fifty-fifty though I tend to disagree with a slap-up bargain of the conclusions the author draws and find his like shooting fish in a barrel esprit with Art Earth ideas provocative and vaguely unpleasant.

If you lot are interested in the human relationship of art and faith, or if you lot brand art and your work takes organized religion equally its subject field affair or influence in any fashion, shape, or form, I recommend reading this volume. It may be mildly infuriating at times (depending on your position on Fine art World definitions of art), merely so over again it is ever good to know what the opponent's argument may exist.

Bottom line: B+. A quick read about postmodern art and religion with lots of loose ends to follow to one'south own decision(s).

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Jun 06, 2007 Rob rated information technology really liked it

Artists who are besides religiously minded alive in two, often competing, worlds. The fine art world does not understand nor trust religion (see Postmodern Heretics). Religious communities practice not trust nor understand the art world (run into State of the Arts: From Bezalel to Mapplethorpe). James Elkins has at present washed justice to both worlds with intellectual curiously and respect.

The book offers a scattering of scenerios of how fine artists, including art students, have treated religion in their works from the i

Artists who are also religiously minded live in two, ofttimes competing, worlds. The fine art globe does not empathise nor trust religion (run across Postmodern Heretics). Religious communities do not trust nor empathise the art globe (meet State of the Arts: From Bezalel to Mapplethorpe). James Elkins has now done justice to both worlds with intellectual curiously and respect.

The book offers a handful of scenerios of how fine artists, including fine art students, take treated religion in their works from the ironic and condemning to the naive and sentimental. As well addressed is the full general art communities posture towards the subject field, which is often hostile or at least critically skeptical. This is the finest book on faith and the arts I take read, which is many. I recommend information technology.

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Dec 04, 2012 Jason Cytacki rated it really liked it

Nice and curtailed, Elkins discusses ane of the white elephants of the art globe, religion, in a way that is idea provoking. I savour how he points out that most art that is considered religious today is either critical or ironic, with very little "serious" devotional work created or perhaps accepted in the art earth today. Nice and concise, Elkins discusses 1 of the white elephants of the art world, religion, in a way that is thought provoking. I enjoy how he points out that most art that is considered religious today is either critical or ironic, with very little "serious" devotional piece of work created or peradventure accepted in the fine art globe today. ...more

Nov 11, 2012 Poy Born rated it really liked information technology

perfectly reasoned, well organized, etc. Deviates occasionally (and usefully) into pretty amusing art-school ethnography. Possibly no real potent conclusions are reached but definitely gave me a lot to recollect well-nigh.

Если закрыть глаза на косяк с именем Тимура Новикова книга блестящая работа по важной теме религиозного в современном искусстве.

the title and expectations weren't fulfilled in the book. i expected something more what it is...a bit more shallow than i wished. i was originally fascinated by the title. the championship and expectations weren't fulfilled in the book. i expected something more than what it is...a scrap more shallow than i wished. i was originally fascinated by the title. ...more than

James Elkins (1955 – present) is an art historian and art critic. He is E.C. Chadbourne Chair of art history, theory, and criticism at the School of the Art Plant of Chicago. He too coordinates the Stone Summer Theory Institute, a short term school on gimmicky fine art history based at the Schoolhouse of the Fine art Institute of Chicago.

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