"Among the most influential artists of the last hundred years, Marcel Duchamp holds great allure for many contemporary artists worldwide and is largely considered to be one of the founding fathers of modern art. Despite this popularity, books on Duchamp are often hyper-theoretic…
"In 1916, as World War I raged around them, a group of bohemians gathered at a small nightclub in Zurich, Switzerland for a series of bizarre performances. Three readers simultaneously recited a poem in three languages; a monocle-wearing teenager performed a spell from New Zeala…
"Defamiliarisation or ostrannenie, the artistic technique of forcing the audience to see common things in an unfamiliar or strange way, in order to enhance perception of the familiar, ihas become one of the central concept of modern artistic practice, ranging over movements incl…
The avant-garde: a very short introduction
For over a hundred years 'the avant-garde' has been the most influential concept in modern art ; its impact on the history of modern culture has been profound. In this Very Short Introduction, David Cottington explores why the avant-garde carries so much authority, and places it…
"Tracing the group's development from the bohemian Paris of the '50s to the explosive days of May '68, Wark presents the Situationists as an ensemble, rather than the brainchild and dominion of its most famous member, Guy Debord. Roaming through Europe and the lives of those who…
