Introduction to Art Criticism, An

Kerr Houston is a professor of art history, theory, and criticism at the Maryland Institute College of Art, where he has taught since 2002. At MICA regularly leads seminars on art criticism, and also teaches courses in the history of art history, in ancient art, and in Islamic art and architecture. He has written for a number of journals, including Camera Obscura, Gesta, Source: Notes in the History of Art, and Early Modern Visual Culture; he has also authored criticism for several magazines and newspapers. This is his first book.

• In this Section: 1) Brief Table of Contents2) Full Table of Contents BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:Chapter 1: A History of Art CriticismChapter 2: Description and ContextualizationChapter 3: Interpretation and AnalysisChapter 4: Judgment and EvaluationChapter 5: Individual Critical Styles: Tone and Voice FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS:Chapter 1: A History of Art CriticismThe Birth of a GenreChapter 2: Description and ContextualizationGeneral issues involving descriptionInternal and External EvidenceComplexities Involving DescriptionChapter 3: Interpretation and AnalysisGeneral Issues Involving InterpretationInterpretations Involving Internal and External EvidenceCritical Theory and Systematic InterpretationsChapter 4: Judgment and EvaluationThe Place of Judgment in CriticismForms of Judgment and Related IssuesChapter 5: Individual Critical Styles: Tone and VoiceExternal Factors Affecting CriticismTone, Voice, and the Relevance of External FactorsDebates about Tone

"Beautifully written, very thorough analysis, interesting illustrations, excellent use of examples. The history of art criticism should be required reading in any class that purports to be a serious survey of modern art." - Shepherd Steiner, Emily Carr University of Art and Design "This textbook offers a thorough, comprehensive look at the major developments and approaches to art criticism in France, England and the Us over the past 3 decades. It is well-written and clearly articulates the main factors in conducting criticism. It includes hundreds of sort quotes by a wide variety of critics." - Paul Ryan, Mary Baldwin College "A helpful text that fills a gap in my course -- via providing a concise historical overview of art criticism and summaries of the various primary critical lenses. It also addresses the (healthy and valuable) difficulty of "defining" art criticism. The author's approach is democratic yet nicely held together by an informed tone." - Barbara Jaffee, Northern Illinois University "This textbook offers a thorough, comprehensive look at the major developments and approaches to art criticism. It is well-written and clearly articulates the main factors in conducting criticism." - Margaret Doell,Adams State College "I am very impressed with the clarity, directness, and breadth of knowledge that are on display." - Richard Eldridge, Swarthmore College